Halifax Treatment Refractory Depression Trial

August 12, 2022 updated by: Joel Town

Halifax Treatment Refractory Depression Trial: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) Compared to Secondary Care Treatment as Usual

This study will use a randomized parallel group design to examine the effects of Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) for depressed patients non-remitting following at least one course of antidepressants. The effects of ISTDP will be judged through comparison against secondary care treatment as usual. The aim is to establish the clinical and cost effectiveness of ISTDP treatment.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Major depression is a common morbid condition resulting in chronicity, recurrent disability, loss of physical health, and in many cases, death through suicide or medical conditions. By 2020, depression is projected to account for 4.4% of global disease burden (1) and the loss of 65 million disability-adjusted life years (2). A United Kingdom study (3) estimated direct treatment costs would reach three billion pounds by 2026 and indirect costs have been found to be 23 times larger (4).

Anti-depressant treatment is considered a bona fide first line agent for major depression. In some real-world studies, however, anti-depressant medications have not fared well. A large scale report, including the STAR-D study, reports remission rates that are disappointing: the percentage of patients attaining remission in first line and second line trials was 37% and 31% with relapse rates of 40% and 55%, respectively (5). Studies show that when depression does not remit with first line medication, it is more common to consider medication changes rather than commencing psychotherapy (6, 7). For treatment refractory depression (TRD), this situation may be due to insufficient empirical evidence demonstrating the efficacy of psychotherapy.

Current Canadian guidelines for depression (8) recommend psychodynamic psychotherapy as a third-line individual psychotherapy treatment option for major depressive disorder. However, two systematic reviews (9, 10) failed to identify any controlled trial data for any psychodynamic therapy for TRD and only three good quality randomized controlled trials (RCT) for other psychotherapy approaches. Although the empirical evidence for psychotherapy was described as limited, the authors concluded that it appears to be an effective option for TRD (10). Practitioners continue to provide psychodynamic therapies in routine clinical practice despite the shortage of empirical evidence; this suggests that formal study of psychodynamic therapies for TRD are urgently needed.

Within this broad treatment rubric, Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) is a category of treatments derived from psychoanalytic theories but by definition distinguishable by the time-limited focus and emphasis on symptom reduction, in comparison to longer-term models where treatment is less structured and the therapist is typically less active. Interventions used in STPPs can be understood on a continuum between 'supportive' and 'expressive' techniques (11). More expressive therapies (e.g., ISTDP) emphasize greater attention to defences and anxiety that block the experiencing of underlying emotions. These emotional factors are understood to culminate in the exacerbation and perpetuation of depression. A meta-analysis found STPPs to be superior to control modalities in studies of major depression (Cohen's d = 0.69) but that further high-quality, randomized control trials are required (12). Of paramount importance however, the gains obtained with STPPs were maintained in long-term follow-up. Three studies have demonstrated direct treatment intervention outcome relationships between STPP and subsequent improvements in depressive symptoms (13-15).

One subtype of STPP is a method called Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). ISTDP has been studied in 18 published clinical studies. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated its beneficial effects in patients with personality disorders, panic disorder and somatoform disorders (16-18). In a single case series of patients with treatment resistant depression, patients fared well with ISTDP with 8 of 10 achieving complete remission (19). These patients responded to a relatively short course of treatment with reduction and stoppage of the majority of medications. At the Centre for Emotions & Health (CEH), data were collected from a naturalistic sample of non-psychotic patients presenting with depression. The number of sessions varied from 2 to 62, with a mean (SD) of 8(11). Self-report scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (20) (N = 95) and Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) (21) (N = 84) were collected at time of intake and termination of ISTDP. The severity of clinical symptoms was markedly and significantly reduced after treatment.

Eight published studies have evaluated the cost-effectiveness of ISTDP (16, 19, 22-26). Two studies included patients with major depression. In one study of treatment-resistant depression (n = 10), we saw major drops in disability cost as 4 of 5 disabled patients returned to work and medications were stopped or reduced (19). In the second study of 231 patients with major depression now being analyzed (Abbass, in preparation), there was a $4,400 hospital and physician cost saving maintained year over year, while waiting list controls had no significant change over time. The post treatment cost savings in the subsequent 3 years were $5000, $5900 and $5100 per patient, thus supporting the concept of lasting cost reductions after treatment with ISTDP.

In summary, based on these preliminary empirical data highlighting the effectiveness of ISTDP, coupled with the current paucity of empirical support for all psychotherapies with this population, formal study of the efficacy of this approach for treatment refractory depression is warranted in the setting of a controlled efficacy trial. As a relatively brief and non-invasive treatment option, should research demonstrate evidence of cost effectiveness and clinical efficacy, this would support the call for this treatment to be made more readily available.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

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 Locations

  • Canada
    • Nova Scotia
      • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 2E2
        • Capital District Health Authority

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 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion criteria:

  • Patients aged 18 - 65 years.
  • Patients must identify depression as their primary problem (rather than being secondary to other mental health diagnosis).
  • Any DSM-IV diagnosis of Major Depression as assessed by the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview plus (M.I.N.I. plus) at time of research intake interview.
  • Patients will have had at least one treatment trial of antidepressants at an acceptable therapeutic dose (length ≥ 6 weeks) for the current depressive episode without adequate response (score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ≥ 16 ) at time of screening interview.
  • Patients will not have started new medications in the previous ≥ 6 weeks, or have received psychotherapy treatment in the 12 months prior to being invited to participate in the study.
  • Participants will agree to video-taped sessions and will consent to the investigator accessing their information in clinical files and hospital database (e.g., medications, number of visits to health care professionals).

Exclusion criteria

  • Psychotic depression, bipolar depression, substance dependence, severe cluster A or B personality disorders, active suicidality, or cognitive impairment: such that patients require an intervention other than psychotherapy (as per the current protocol for the experimental treatment arm) or patients unable to give consent to treatment.
  • Patients with depression due to a general medical condition or secondary to a comorbid mental health or psychosocial condition will be excluded.

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Secondary Care Treatment as Usual
At the four secondary health care sites, treatment as usual will consist of a multidisciplinary team approach including pharmacotherapy and clinical management, supportive or structured activities focused around symptom management and in some cases, individual or group psychotherapy. Pharmacotherapy treatment strategies will be individualized regimes informed by evidence-based recommendations. TAU will not be regulated in order to get a naturalistic assessment of standard secondary care treatment delivery with the exception that trial participants not be offered a psychodynamic / psychoanalytic based psychotherapy treatment during the course of the trial. Therapeutic interventions are likely to be heterogeneous therefore the trial coordinator will document in detail the dose and approaches delivered to each participant in order to account for this heterogeneity.
Behavioral: Secondary Care Treatment as Usual
At the four secondary health care sites, treatment as usual will consist of a multidisciplinary team approach including pharmacotherapy and clinical management, supportive or structured activities focused around symptom management and in some cases, individual or group psychotherapy. Pharmacotherapy treatment strategies will be individualized regimes informed by evidence-based recommendations. TAU will not be regulated in order to get a naturalistic assessment of standard secondary care treatment delivery with the exception that trial participants not be offered a psychodynamic / psychoanalytic based psychotherapy treatment during the course of the trial. Therapeutic interventions are likely to be heterogeneous therefore the trial coordinator will document in detail the dose and approaches delivered to each participant in order to account for this heterogeneity.
Experimental: Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) Group
The ISTDP model is an emotion focused brief format of psychotherapy that helps the patients identify and address emotional factors that culminate into exacerbation of depression and perpetuation of depression. The emphasis is on awareness of emotions and how they affect the person's behavioral patterns and mood. The research protocol calls for the treatment to be delivered according to a 20-session time-limited format. The first session is an extended 2-3 hour appointment (21), then sessions are planned to occur on a weekly basis lasting 60 minutes in duration. Termination in fewer sessions is based upon agreement between therapist and patient.
Behavioral: Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy
The ISTDP model is an emotion focused brief format of psychotherapy that helps the patients identify and address emotional factors that culminate into exacerbation of depression and perpetuation of depression. The emphasis is on awareness of emotions and how they affect the person's behavioral patterns and mood. The research protocol calls for the treatment to be delivered according to a 20-session time-limited format. The first session is an extended 2-3 hour appointment (21), then sessions are planned to occur on a weekly basis lasting 60 minutes in duration. Termination in fewer sessions is based upon agreement between therapist and patient.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18 months
Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Inventory of Interpersonal Problems 32-item
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Toronto Alexithymia Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Baseline, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18 months
Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18 months
Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure (CORE-OM)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Trimbos and Institute of medical technology Assessment Cost Questionnaire for Psychiatry
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 12, 18 months
Baseline, 6, 12, 18 months
9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months
Patient Health Questionnaire-somatic symptom scale (PHQ-12)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18-month
Baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18-month
Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory plus (M.I.N.I. plus)
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Baseline, 6 months
Computerized Assessment SCID for DSM-IV (CAS-II)
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Baseline, 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Joel Town

Collaborators

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Joel Town, Capital District Health Authority and Dalhousie University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

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)

September 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2017

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 9, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 9, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

June 10, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 16, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 12, 2022

Last Verified

August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AA002

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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