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Depressive Disorder, Treatment-ResistantEarly Phase 1NCT03887624

Investigate the Clinical Responses of Ethosuximide in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression.

A Early Phase 1 study testing Ethosuximide and Escitalopram in people with Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, run by Zhejiang University at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of ethosuximide in the treatment of refractory depressive disorder in adults. Half of participants will receive ethosuximide and escitalopram in combination, while the other half will receive a placebo and escitalopram. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant
What is being tested?
Ethosuximide and Escitalopram
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
16 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
21 May 2019to 1 Apr 2021
Phase
Early Phase 1
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Inpatient of both sexes are aged from 18 to 65 years;
  • Diagnosis of major depressive disorder(single or recurrent episodes) is made according to DSM-V(the fifth Edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria;
  • Subjects with previous or current depressive episodes did not response to two different antidepressants with recommended doses and adequate duration (maximum treatment dose of at least 6 weeks);
  • The subjects who will score more than or equal to 22 points on the MADRS scale at screening and baseline period;
  • The subjects who will score more than or equal to 3 points on the first clause of MADRS scale at screening and baseline period;
  • Subjects who will sign written informed consent and volunteer to participate in the clinical study.

Who cannot join

  • Diagnoses of other mental disorders (such as organic mental disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar and related disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and so on) are made according to DSM-V criteria;
  • Depressive episodes, such as depression caused by hypothyroidism, secondary to a systemic disease or an organic mental disorder caused by a neurological disease;
  • Subjects with a history of attempted suicide, or currently at high suicide risk, or with suicide behavior/attempt, or scoring more than or equal to 3 points on the 10th clause of MADRS scale;
  • Subject whose score of MADRS scale in baseline period will be 25% lower than that in screening period;
  • Subjects with a history of severe or poorly controlled cardiovascular, liver, kidney, blood, endocrine, respiratory diseases, etc;
  • Subjects with a history of epileptic seizures, except for a single febrile convulsion in children;
Show all 16Show fewer
  • Researchers believe that the results of subjects' physical and laboratory examinations are clinically significant abnormalities in screening or baseline period. The following indicators exceed the following criteria: 1)ALT or AST levels are 1.5 times higher than the upper limit of laboratory normal values. 2)Thyroid Function are 1.1 times higher than the upper or lower limit of normal values. 3) Serum creatinine values are 1.1 times higher than the upper limit of normal values. 4)The levels of blood urea nitrogen are higher than the upper limit of normal values;
  • The result of electrocardiogram (ECG) is abnormal in screening or baseline period, such as male subjects with QTc interval (> 450 ms) and female subjects with QTc interval (> 470 ms) , and the researchers thought it is not suitable for selection;
  • Subjects could not swallow oral medicines or have a history of gastrointestinal surgery or any other diseases that may interfere with drug absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion;
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are taken by subjects now or within 2 weeks before screening. Subjects who took antipsychotics, antidepressants or mood stabilizers before randomization and these drugs' cleaning phase had less than five half-lives. Subjects who took fluoxetine within 1 month before screening. Subjects who continue to take Chinese medicines with antidepressant effects specified in the instructions after signing informed consent.
  • Subjects who received modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) , transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), or systematic psychotherapy within 3 months before screening;
  • Subjects with a history of allergies to two or more foods or drugs;
  • Subjects who addicted to alcohol or substances within 6 months before screening;
  • Prenatal, lactating, or reproductive women who had positive results of HCG tests before participating in the study; Male and female subjects will not take effective contraceptive measures or plan to be pregnant within 3 months after the study;
  • Subjects who participated in clinical research within 30 days before signing the informed consent form for this study;
  • According to the judgement of the researchers, other situations are not suitable for clinical research.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: A Randomized, Parallel-group,Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ethosuximide in Chinese Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression.

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of ethosuximide in the treatment of refractory depressive disorder in adults. Half of participants will receive ethosuximide and escitalopram in combination, while the other half will receive a placebo and escitalopram.

Read the detailed description

Ethosuximide is a inhibitor of low-voltage-sensitive T-type calcium channels(T-VSCCs). It has higher selectivity to T-VSCCs and can enter cerebrospinal fluid through the blood-brain barrier, inhibit T-VSCCs on the lateral habenular nucleus neurons, and then inhibit the cluster discharge of neurons, resulting in a rapid antidepressant effect.

Being tested
Ethosuximide, Placebo, Escitalopram
Keywords
Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, ethosuximide
Medical subject headings
Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • EthosuximideDrug

    Also called Zarontin

    2 times/day, take it orally after breakfast/dinner; take 500mg in the morning and 500mg in the evening on day1, 500mg in the morning and 750mg in the evening on day2, 750mg in the morning and 750mg in the evening on day3, 750mg in the morning and 1000mg in the evening on day4, 1000mg in the morning and 1000mg in the evening on day5, maintain this dose until the end of treatment for 2 weeks.

  • PlaceboDrug

    Also called Placebo(for Ethosuximide)

    2 times/day, take it orally after breakfast/dinner; take 500mg in the morning and 500mg in the evening on day1, 500mg in the morning and 750mg in the evening on day2, 750mg in the morning and 750mg in the evening on day3, 750mg in the morning and 1000mg in the evening on day4, 1000mg in the morning and 1000mg in the evening on day5, maintain this dose until the end of treatment for 2 weeks.

  • EscitalopramDrug

    Also called Lexapro

    1 time/day, 20mg/day, take it orally after breakfast, take it for 4 weeks without interruption.

Study groups in NCT03887624
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental groupExperimentalEthosuximide(2 weeks) + Escitalopram (4 weeks)
Receives: Drug: Ethosuximide; Drug: Escitalopram
Control groupPlacebo comparatorPlacebo(2 weeks)+Escitalopram(4 weeks)
Receives: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Escitalopram

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale(MADRS) score

    The MADRS is a ten-item diagnostic questionnaire which psychiatrists use to measure the severity of depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders. Higher MADRS score indicates more severe depression, and each item yields a score of 0 to 6. The overall score ranges from 0 to 60. Usual cutoff points are: 0 to 6 - normal/symptom absent, 7 to 19 - mild depression, 20 to 34 - moderate depression, >34 - severe depression.

    Changes of MADRS score at therapeutic visit point compare with baseline.

    Measured: baseline and 43 days

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report(QIDS-SR) score

    The QIDS-SR is a psychological questionnaire used by clinicians to measure 16 factors across 9 different criterion domains for major depression. It is scored by summing the highest response in each of a set of questions relating to sleep, weight and psychomotor symptoms and then adding the remaining items. Scores range from 0 to 27 which may then be categorised as indicating none [0-5], mild [6-10], moderate [11-15], severe [16-20] and very severe [21-27] depressive symptoms.

    Changes of QIDS-SR score at therapeutic visit point compare with baseline.

    Measured: baseline and 43 days

  2. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAMA) score

    The HAMA is a psychological questionnaire used by clinicians to rate the severity of a patient's anxiety. Scores range from 0 to 56. A score of 17 or less indicates mild anxiety severity. A score from 18 to 24 indicates mild to moderate anxiety severity. Lastly, a score of 25 to 30 indicates a moderate to severe anxiety severity.

    Changes of HAMA score at therapeutic visit point compare with baseline.

    Measured: baseline and 43 days

  3. MADRS score

    Higher MADRS score indicates more severe depression, and each item yields a score of 0 to 6.

    Changes of individual score of MADRS at therapeutic visit point compare with baseline.

    Measured: baseline and 43 days

  4. Young manic rating scale(YMRS) score

    The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) is an eleven-item multiple choice diagnostic questionnaire which psychiatrists use to measure the severity of manic episodes in children and young adults. The scores from each question are added together to form a total score ranging from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating a greater severity of symptoms. Extremely high scores increase the risk of the child having bipolar disorder by a factor of 9, while extremely low scores decrease the risk by a factor of 10. A score of 13 or higher indicates a potential case of mania or hypomania, while a score of 21 or above indicates a probable case. The average score for children with mania is 25, while the average score for children with hypomania is 20.

    Changes of YMRS score at therapeutic visit point compare with baseline.

    Measured: baseline and 43 days

  5. Efficiency after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment.

    Efficiency means that the score of MADRS decreases by more than or equal to 50% compared with its baseline score.

    Measured: baseline, week 2 and week 4

  6. Remission rate after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment.

    Remission means that the total score of MADRS is less than 10.

    Measured: baseline, week 2 and week 4

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Mar 2019
  2. Study start21 May 2019
  3. Primary completion1 Apr 2021
  4. Study completion1 Apr 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
16 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03887624
Sponsor's protocol ID
2019-716
Status last verified
Jun 2025
First submitted
2 Mar 2019
Last updated
18 Jun 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Sackeim HA. The definition and meaning of treatment-resistant depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;62 Suppl 16:10-7.

    PubMed 11480879
  • Berman RM, Cappiello A, Anand A, Oren DA, Heninger GR, Charney DS, Krystal JH. Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients. Biol Psychiatry. 2000 Feb 15;47(4):351-4. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00230-9.

    PubMed 10686270
  • Yang Y, Cui Y, Sang K, Dong Y, Ni Z, Ma S, Hu H. Ketamine blocks bursting in the lateral habenula to rapidly relieve depression. Nature. 2018 Feb 14;554(7692):317-322. doi: 10.1038/nature25509.

    PubMed 29446381
  • Cui Y, Yang Y, Ni Z, Dong Y, Cai G, Foncelle A, Ma S, Sang K, Tang S, Li Y, Shen Y, Berry H, Wu S, Hu H. Astroglial Kir4.1 in the lateral habenula drives neuronal bursts in depression. Nature. 2018 Feb 14;554(7692):323-327. doi: 10.1038/nature25752.

    PubMed 29446379
  • Sarkisova KY, Kuznetsova GD, Kulikov MA, van Luijtelaar G. Spike-wave discharges are necessary for the expression of behavioral depression-like symptoms. Epilepsia. 2010 Jan;51(1):146-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02260.x. Epub 2009 Aug 8.

    PubMed 19674046
  • Cui Y, Hu S, Hu H. Lateral Habenular Burst Firing as a Target of the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine. Trends Neurosci. 2019 Mar;42(3):179-191. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.12.002.

    PubMed 30823984

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Early Phase 1 study testing Ethosuximide and Escitalopram in people with Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, run by Zhejiang University at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 16 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Early Phase 1 (sometimes called Phase 0) studies give a very small amount of a treatment to a few people, mainly to see how the body handles it.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale(MADRS) score (time frame: baseline and 43 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03887624, which also lists 6 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Jun 2025.

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