Bipolar disorder is a common and often chronic and debilitating mental illness. The depressive phase of bipolar disorder contributes the largest portion of the disorder, and treatment resistant bipolar depression represents a significant public health problem. Recent research has suggested that bipolar depression is associated with elevated brain glutamate activity. We hypothesize that riluzole, a drug approved for ALS which inhibits glutamate activity, will lead to clinical improvement in patients with bipolar depression.
We hypothesize that riluzole will lead to significant reduction in depressive symptoms as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Additionally, improvement in depressive symptoms will be associated with reduced glutamate levels in the anterior cingulate cortex, but not parieto-occipital cortex, both at day two and day 42.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
14
50 mg twice daily for 2 weeks 50 mg in the morning and 100 mg in the evening for 1 week 100 mg twice daily for 3 weeks
McLean Hospital
Belmont, Massachusetts, United States
Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
The Hamilton Depression rating Scale is a clinician-rated scale that measures the severity of depression symptoms using 21 items. Minimum score is zero and maximum score is 65. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline (week 0) - week 6
Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale
The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale is a clinician-rated scale that measures the severity of depression symptoms. The 10 items measured are apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts. Minimum score is zero and maximum score is 60. Higher scores represent more severe depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline (week 0) - week 6
Young Mania Rating Scale
The Young Mania Rating Scale is a clinician-rated scale that measures the severity of mania symptoms. The 11 items measures are elevated mood, increased motor activity, sexual interest, sleep, irritability, speech, language-thought disorder, thought content, aggressive behavior, appearance, and insight. Minimum score is zero and maximum score is 60. Higher scores represent more severe mania symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline (week 0) - week 6
Clinical Global Impression Scale
The Clinical Global Impression Scale is a clinician-rated scale that evaluates the severity of illness at the time of assessment. The score ranges from 1 (normal, not at all ill) to 7 (among the most extremely ill patients).
Time frame: Baseline (week 0) - week 6
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