SSRI Effects on Depression and Immunity in HIV/AIDS

This is a 10 week, double-blind, placebo controlled trial to evaluate SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) effects for treatment of depression in HIV/AIDS with a focus on innate immunity and inflammation. Depressed population is HIV + on cART (Combination Antiretroviral Therapy), not currently on pharmacotherapy for depression. Subjects will complete computerized cognitive behavior therapy, CCBT for their depression. Blood samples collected for virologic, neuroendocrine, and immunologic evaluation. Our overarching hypothesis is that SSRI treatment of depression and improvement of depressive symptoms leads to increased innate immunity and decreased inflammation, resulting in better control of HIV disease and decreased morbidity.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression; HIV; AIDS
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Escitalopram; Other: Placebo

Detailed Description

To pursue our long-term objective of successfully treating co-morbid mental and medical disorders in HIV/AIDS, this study aims to determine whether: 1) SSRI treatment significantly increases innate immunity and decreases chronic inflammation and immune activation, and 2) changes in depressive symptoms correlate with changes in immunity in HIV/AIDS.

HIV-seropositive, depressed subjects will be randomized to 10 weeks of double blind therapy with either escitalopram or placebo. All participants will concurrently begin CCBT (Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) using the program Good Days Ahead.

Subject visits will occur weekly for the first 6 weeks and then at weeks 8 and 10. The treating clinician will assess side effects, review symptomatic progress, and adjust the study medication as clinically appropriate. An independent clinical evaluator will assess patients at baseline, and weeks 1-6, 8 and 10. Blood samples collected at baseline and weeks 2, 4, and 10 will be used to assay markers of innate immune suppression (lytic units of NK cells, LUNK, and intracellular IFN gamma in NK cells) and markers of inflammation (IL-6 and C-Reactive Protein). At the end of the 10-week treatment phase, all participants will be referred for appropriate clinical treatment of their depression.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 108
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 66 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women aged 18-70 years, of any race and ethnicity,
2. HIV-seropositive by ELISA and Western Blot assays, infected by behavioral transmission (perinatal HIV excluded),
3. Willing and able to comply with antidepressant medication regimen and scheduled follow-up visits,
4. Currently on a documented regimen of cART for at least 3 months and Viral load less than 200 copies/ml,
5. Current depressive symptoms (HAM-D-17 score ≥ 13 and a SCID diagnosis of either Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia), Unspecified Depressive Disorder, or Other Specified Depressive Disorder)
6. Able to understand and provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Acute suicidal ideation, gestures, or attempts (e.g., HAM-D suicide item score of 3 "Ideas or gestures of suicide" or 4 "Attempts at suicide" at intake or HAM-D suicide item score of 4 "Attempts at suicide" during study),
2. Significant cognitive impairment or dementia including HIV Associated Dementia (HAD),
3. Use of a medication known to alter immune function within 4 weeks prior to randomization (the following are not excluded: a. acyclovir and related antiviral medications, b. topical corticosteroids, c. corticosteroid nasal sprays or inhalers, d) statin medications,),
4. Immunization with HIV vaccine,
5. Presence of psychotic symptoms or known diagnosis of a primary psychotic disorder,
6. Currently taking an anti-psychotic medication,
7. Pregnant or within nine months post-delivery, lactation,
8. Current or chronic medical condition that would likely preclude adherence to protocol or completion of the trial (per investigator judgment),
9. Bipolar disorder (I or II) or schizophrenia,
10. Current pharmacotherapy for treatment of depression,
11. A history of intolerance or nonresponse to an adequate trial of escitalopram (or other SSRIs),
12. Renal failure, including those who require dialysis,
13. History of epilepsy or seizure disorder,
14. Taken MAOIs within 14 days,
15. On the antibiotic Linezolid and taking IV methylene blue,
16. On a regular regime of medication known to have anticoagulant properties such as NSAID, aspirin or warfarin,
17. A history of acute narrow/closed angle glaucoma,
18. Currently taking CNS drugs (the following are not excluded: gabapentin, pregabalin, varenicline, antihistamines, and hypnotics (e.g. zolpidem, zaleplon, eszopiclone),
19. On any triptan medications,
20. Undergoing ECT.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental; CCBT plus Escitalopram, oral, for 10 weeks, once daily, starting at 10mg/day. Tapered up or down, based on tolerability and clinical response, to 20mg/day max.	Drug: Escitalopram; 10 week trial
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; CCBT plus Placebo, oral, for 10 weeks, once daily, starting at 10mg/day. Tapered up or down, based on tolerability and clinical response, to 20mg/day max.	Other: Placebo; 10 week trial

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Natural Killer Cell Activity, Measured in Lytic Units [Bryant J, Day R, Whiteside TL, and Herbeman RB: Calculation of Lytic Units for the Expression of Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity. J Immunol Methods 1992;146:91-103.]	The outcome was determined by biological assays. Natural killer cells (NK cells) are white blood cells, a type of lymphocytes, that destroy infected and cancer cells through antigen independent recognition. Higher numbers indicate higher levels of cytotoxicity, that is, stronger cellular response. In the present summaries, we calculated the within-participant median value of the outcome over their available data at weeks 2, 4 and 10, and obtained overall and within-group summaries for these within-participant distributions.	Post randomization to 10 weeks
Percent of Natural Killer (NK) Cells Producing Intracellular Interferon Gamma (IFN-g)	The outcome was determined by biological assays, which determined the number of NK cells, and the number of these cells that produced IFN-g, and combined these to calculate the outcome. Higher numbers are associated with stronger cellular response. In the present summaries, we calculated the within-participant median value of the outcome over their available data at weeks 2, 4 and 10, and obtained overall and within-group summaries for these within-participant distributions.	Post randomization to 10 weeks
Units of Concentration of Plasma Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Expressed as Picograms Per Milliliter	The outcome was determined by biological assays, which determined the concentration of IL-6, expressed as pg/ml. Higher concentrations indicate greater inflammation. In the present summaries, we calculated the within-participant median value of the outcome over their available data at weeks 2, 4 and 10, and obtained overall and within-group summaries for these within-participant distributions.	Post randomization to 10 weeks
Units of Concentration of Plasma C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Expressed as Milligrams Per Liter	The outcome was determined by biological assays, which determined the concentration of CRP, expressed as mg/l. Higher concentrations indicate greater inflammation. In the present summaries, we calculated the within-participant median value of the outcome over their available data at weeks 2, 4 and 10, and obtained overall and within-group summaries for these within-participant distributions.	Post randomization to 10 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Correlation Between Change in Overall Score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Change in Natural Killer Cell Activity	The outcome was determined by calculating the Spearman correlation between decrease in overall score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and decrease on Natural killer cell activity.	10 weeks
Correlation Between Change in Overall Score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Change in Percent of Natural Killer (NK) Cells Producing Intracellular Interferon Gamma (IFN-g)	The outcome was determined by calculating the Spearman correlation between decrease in overall score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and decrease on the Percent of Natural Killer (NK) Cells Producing Intracellular Interferon Gamma (IFN-g)	10 weeks
Correlation Between Change in Overall Score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Change in Units of Concentration of Plasma Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Expressed as Picograms Per Milliliter	The outcome was determined by calculating the Spearman correlation between decrease in overall score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and decrease on Units of Concentration of Plasma Interleukin 6 (IL-6)	10 weeks
Correlation Between Change in Overall Score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Change in Units of Concentration of Plasma C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Expressed as Milligrams Per Liter	The outcome was determined by calculating the Spearman correlation between decrease in overall score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and decrease on Units of Concentration of Plasma C-Reactive Protein (CRP)	10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dwight L Evans, MD, University of Pennsylvania

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 16, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): March 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 20, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 1, 2015
• First Posted (Estimated): December 2, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 7, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 11, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Depression; HIV; Immunity; AIDS; Escitalopram; SSRI
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; Membrane Transport Modulators; Serotonin Agents; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Escitalopram
• Other Study ID Numbers: 823405

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No