Pilot Study of the Effects of Circadian Rhythms on the Treatment of Bipolar I Depression. (Rhythms)

Rhythmicity as a Moderator of Treatment Outcomes of Bipolar I Depression -Pilot Study

The objective of this pilot study is to test the feasibility of a larger planned trial. The objective of this larger trial will be to determine the extent to which aspects of circadian rhythmicity, including, sleep/wake rhythms, daily social routines (i.e., social rhythms), circadian type (morningness/eveningness), endogenous circadian rhythms and polymorphisms associated with altered circadian function in specific genes (namely, CLOCK, Period 2 and Period 3) moderate treatment response in bipolar disorder.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Bipolar Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: IPSRT; Behavioral: Collaborative Care

Detailed Description

This study is a small scale pilot study which will be used to support a larger trial. The major aims of the larger study are to determine the extent to which aspects of circadian rhythmicity, including, sleep/wake rhythms, daily social routines (i.e., social rhythms), circadian type (morningness/eveningness), endogenous circadian rhythms and polymorphisms associated with altered circadian function in specific genes (namely, CLOCK, Period 2 and Period 3) moderate treatment response in bipolar disorder.

The overarching aim of the study is to clarify the nature of rhythm abnormalities in bipolar disorder and, especially, their relation to clinical state. We propose to do this in the context of a randomized intervention protocol in which half of the subjects will receive a treatment aimed at rhythm regularization. We expect to study individuals with a range of circadian and sleep-wake abnormalities, social rhythm disturbances, and circadian type and to examine the extent to which these parameters predict subjects' clinical outcomes. Since one half of the subjects will receive IPSRT as part of their treatment regimen (with increasing regularity of social routines as a goal of treatment), we will be able to examine the extent to which changes in social rhythm regularity and sleep quality are associated with clinical and functional improvement and whether these outcomes are mediated by changes in endogenous circadian rhythms.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
      • Western Psychiatric Institute And Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 to 60 years
2. Able to give basic informed consent
3. Meets DSM-IV criteria for current acute episode of bipolar I depression
4. Women of childbearing potential must agree to use a doctor-approved birth control throughout participation in the study
5. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17-item) score > or equal to 15
6. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17-item) item 1 score > or equal to 2
7. Young Mania Rating Scale score < or equal to 12

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unwilling or unable to comply with study requirements (i.e., complete forms, attend scheduled evaluations)
2. Not competent to provide informed consent in the opinion of the investigator
3. Rapid cycling (4 or more episodes per year) bipolar I disorder
4. Present treatment for index depressive episode with lithium or quetiapine unless does or serum level are deemed inadequate
5. Lithium intolerance or a past failed adequate trial of Lithium
6. Quetiapine intolerance or a past failed adequate trial of quetiapine
7. Presence of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, antisocial or pervasive developmental disorder, psychotic disorder, current substance dependence, and organic mental disorder
8. Axis II borderline disorder
9. Mini-Mental State Examination score <24
10. Current alcohol and illicit substance abuse
11. Women who are currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant or currently breast-feeding

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: IPSRT; Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) focuses specifically on rhythmicity. IPSRT is based on the social zeitgeber hypothesis (Ehlers et al., 1988; 1993) and the conviction that regularity of social routines and stability of interpersonal relationships have a protective effect in recurrent mood disorders. In IPSRT, resolution of depressive symptoms is theorized to come about through the exploration of the links among mood symptoms, stability of social rhythms and quality of social relationships and social role performance, and the identification and management of potential precipitants of rhythm disruption.	Behavioral: IPSRT; Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) focuses specifically on rhythmicity. IPSRT is based on the social zeitgeber hypothesis (Ehlers et al., 1988; 1993) and the conviction that regularity of social routines and stability of interpersonal relationships have a protective effect in recurrent mood disorders. In IPSRT, resolution of depressive symptoms is theorized to come about through the exploration of the links among mood symptoms, stability of social rhythms and quality of social relationships and social role performance, and the identification and management of potential precipitants of rhythm disruption.; Other Names: Psychotherapy
Other: Collaborative care; The collaborative care (CC) condition is a less intensive psychosocial intervention that was employed as the control condition in the STEP-BD study of psychosocial treatment (see Miklowitz et al., 2007). Participants assigned to this condition will receive a psychoeducational videotape and a workbook including information about: 1) the diagnosis, management, and treatment of bipolar illness; 2) the importance of medication adherence; 3) schedule management including daily mood charting; 4) typical biases in thinking relevant to mood states; 5) improving relationships through communication skills; and 6) developing a treatment contract geared toward preventing episodes.	Behavioral: Collaborative Care; The collaborative care (CC) condition is a less intensive psychosocial intervention that was employed as the control condition in the STEP-BD study of psychosocial treatment (see Miklowitz et al., 2007). Participants assigned to this condition will receive a psychoeducational videotape and a workbook including information about: 1) the diagnosis, management, and treatment of bipolar illness; 2) the importance of medication adherence; 3) schedule management including daily mood charting; 4) typical biases in thinking relevant to mood states; 5) improving relationships through communication skills; and 6) developing a treatment contract geared toward preventing episodes.; Other Names: psychotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
This is a pilot feasibility study. The primary endpoint is depression severity at week 16, which will be measured via the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 25-item score (HRSD-25).	2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Other secondary endpoints include the social rhythm regularity, sleep/wake function, quality of life, social and occupational functioning. These will be measured by various data collection forms and questionnaires	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ellen Frank, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 28, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 30, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): July 31, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 11, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 10, 2012
• Last Verified: January 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Bipolar Disorder; Moderators; Circadian Rhythm; Quetiapine; Lithium
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Bipolar and Related Disorders; Bipolar Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 08020410