Depression, Stress and Vulnerability Factors in Drug Resistant Focal Epilepsies

Psychiatric disturbances, notably depression, occur frequently as co-morbid conditions with epilepsy. A complex, probably bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and depression has been postulated. Both epilepsy and depression also interact with stressful life events, but only some patients develop these disorders after a stressful event, indicating the possibility of a "vulnerable" population. Animal and human studies have looked at the role of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in this context. Low serum and/or CSF levels of BDNF are associated with higher incidence of depression, and thus indicate the vulnerable population.

Animal studies of BDNF have looked specifically at the relation between epilepsy and depression using a novel "double hit" design. After chronic stress exposure, measurement of BDNF levels allowed identification of 2 sub-groups: a vulnerable population and non-vulnerable population. A "second hit" of kainic acid induced status epilepticus (SE) was then applied to both the vulnerable and non-vulnerable populations. Only the vulnerable population exposed to SE developed a depression-like profile.

In a proof of concept approach we propose studying the relation between epilepsy, depression, anxiety and stressful life events, using serum BDNF levels in patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Evaluation of epilepsy type and co-morbid psychiatric profile will be performed in 150 subjects. By comparing BDNF levels for different epilepsy subgroups to BDNF levels for healthy subjects and for depressed subjects without epilepsy, we hope to identify whether risk of co-morbid depression and/or anxiety in epilepsy may be predicted using BDNF levels. In addition, in a subgroup of 25 patients, we propose a pilot study in which cortisol and C-reactive protein will be measured in addition to BDNF.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

150

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Definite diagnosis of epilepsy, of any type (partial or generalised) and at any stage from diagnosis onwards
  • Known or unknown etiology (symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
  • Psychotic disorders and bipolar disorders

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Epileptic patient
Patient will answer self-questionner on Depression

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depression
Time Frame: 24 months
Score assessment of Becks Depression Inventory sacle
24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 20, 2017

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

February 20, 2020

Study Completion (Anticipated)

February 20, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 7, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 7, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

August 9, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 9, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 7, 2017

Last Verified

August 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2016-19
  • 2016-A00708-43 (Other Identifier: IDRCB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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