Pattern Separation in Major Depressive Disorder
Examining the Effects of Escitalopram and Memantine on Pattern Separation in Major Depressive Disorder
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 18 Years to 50 Years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
In plain language
This study is for adults ages 18–50 with major depression. It tests escitalopram, a depression medicine, with either extended-release memantine or a placebo (a pill with no active medicine). Researchers will measure thinking skills, depression symptoms, and brain activity using MRI scans.
This study seeks to examine the effects of treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), escitalopram, a first-line treatment for depression, in combination with placebo or with extended-release memantine, on neuropsychological function, regional brain activity assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging, and depressive symptoms, in participants with Major Depressive Disorder. Escitalopram is administered in an open-label fashion in this study; extended release memantine is administered in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled manner.
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Who can join
- Be 18–50 years old.
- Have major depression without psychosis, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there. This must be checked within 3 weeks before joining.
- Score at least 17 on the 17-item Hamilton depression scale within 3 weeks before joining.
- If able to become pregnant, use effective birth control when joining and throughout the study.
- Be able to understand the study and agree to take part.
- Be able to use English well.
- Be willing to give an emergency contact.
Who can't join
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding; have an unstable medical illness, including liver, kidney, heart, or breathing problems; have a heart rhythm test result called QTc over 500 ms; or have certain conditions that make urine less acidic.
- Have a significant brain or nerve condition, such as stroke, head injury with thinking problems, or seizures, or a history of cancer. Also excluded: any past bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, or dementia; current active thoughts of suicide; or a current substance use disorder other than tobacco use.
- Take an antidepressant now; took antipsychotic medicine in the past 6 months or benzodiazepines in the past month; or currently take prescribed stimulants, amantadine, ketamine, dextromethorphan, disulfiram with oral concentrate, MAOIs (including linezolid or IV methylene blue), or pimozide.
- Have had an allergic reaction to memantine, citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, or their ingredients.
- Are in another mental illness trial testing a product or device, or were in one in the past 6 months; or had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the past 6 months.
- Tried at least two SSRI depression medicines at a suitable dose for long enough, but they did not help or caused side effects you could not tolerate.
- Have a condition or material in your body that makes MRI unsafe, weigh over 300 pounds, or cannot fit in the MRI scanner.
- Have an MST LDI test score above 0.5.
Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-50 * Current diagnosis of MDD without psychotic features assessed within three weeks of study enrollment * 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score ≥17 assessed within 3 weeks of study enrollment * Using an effective form of contraception at study enrollment and agrees to continue throughout study participation for individuals of child-bearing potential * Capacity to provide informed consent * Proficient in English * Willing to provide emergency contact Exclusion Criteria: * Currently taking an antidepressant medication at study enrollment * Pregnant or breastfeeding at time of enrollment * Evidence of current unstable medical illness, including liver or renal impairment, or unstable cardiovascular or respiratory illness * QTc interval greater than 500 ms * Current genitourinary conditions that raise urine pH such as a) renal tubular acidosis or b) severe infection of the urinary tract. * Clinically significant neurological conditions, including a) history of stroke, b) previous head injury with evidence of cognitive impairment, c) history of malignancy or d) history of seizure disorder. (headache, migraines, pain disorders, and other conditions not exclusionary) * Lifetime diagnosis of a) bipolar disorder, b) psychotic disorder, or c) dementia * Current active suicidal ideation * Current substance use disorder other than tobacco use disorder * Current or recent (past 6 months) treatment with antipsychotics; current or recent (past 1 month) treatment with benzodiazepines; current use of prescribed stimulant medication; current use of other NMDA antagonists (amantadine, ketamine, dextromethorphan) * Current use of disulfiram with oral concentrate, MAOIs (including linezolid or IV methylene blue), or pimozide * History of hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to a) memantine hydrochloride or any of its components/excipients, b) citalopram, escitalopram, or any other component of the product, or c) sertraline or any other component of the product * Concurrent or recent (past 6 months) participation in another clinical trial for mental illness involving an investigational product or device * Lack of response to or intolerable side-effects from trials of two or more selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors of adequate dose and duration at study enrollment * Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the past 6 months * Any condition or material in the body that is a contraindication for MRI procedures * Weight that exceeds 300 lbs or inability to fit into MRI scanner * MST LDI score greater than 0.5
Study sites (1)
NY
- New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) · New York, NY 10032Jeffrey M Miller, MD · Study contact · 646-774-7613 · HDRFstudy@nyspi.columbia.eduAbigail Byrnes, BA · Study contact · HDRFstudy@nyspi.columbia.eduJeffrey M Miller, MD · Principal investigatorMore trials in New York