The purpose of this study is to determine whether the amino acid taurine has effects on mood stability in bipolar disorder.
Taurine is an amino acid that has some actions similar to mood stabilizers. Taurine is widely sold as a component of over-the-counter mood enhancing agents. However, controlled studies examining the mood effects of taurine are limited. An initial study in this laboratory looked at taurine's mood effects in individuals with bipolar disorder. This follow-up study is designed to further examine taurine's effects on manic symptoms. Subjects in the current follow-up study will add taurine or placebo to their current treatment regimen. Both depressive and manic symptoms will be tracked for three months to determine whether the addition of taurine affects mood symptoms.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
60
taurine 2mg BID po
McLean Hospital
Belmont, Massachusetts, United States
Scores on standardized measures of manic and depressive symptoms (HAM-D, MADRS, YMRS)
MADRS and YMRS
Time frame: 12 weeks
Side-effect ratings, general health ratings
SF36
Time frame: 12 weeks
Drop-outs due to medication changes
subjects leaving study before completion
Time frame: 12 weeks
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