Acceleration and Relapse Prevention With Triiodothyronine (T3) as an Adjunct to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2012-04-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this study is:

• To evaluate liothyronine (Cytomel) as an accelerating agent (i.e. faster rate to clinical remission) to electroconvulsive therapy.

• To evaluate whether thyroid supplement acceleration can reduce the neurocognitive side effect of ECT treatment.

• To evaluate whether thyroid status at the time of remission is associated with subsequent relapse rate.

• To evaluate genetic polymorphisms in enzymes responsible for thyroid metabolism and the serotonin transporter promoter gene in depression (5-HTTLRP).

• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18-64, male and female, any race/ethnicity

• Current diagnosis of major depression (unipolar)

• Currently Hospitalized at Mayo Clinic Physician recommendation for ECT treatment at Mayo Clinic

• Willing to return to Mayo Clinic for follow-up

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to speak English

• Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent

• Psychotic depression (SCID-confirmed)

• Court-ordered involuntary ECT

• Currently receiving maintenance ECT

• Unstable current medical condition

• A condition that would deem triiodothyronine treatment unsafe

• Diagnosis of primary thyroid disorder

• Lithium treatment within 6 weeks of randomization

• Currently taking levothyroxine (Synthroid®) or triiodothyronine (Cytomel®)

• Subclinical hypo- or hyperthyroidism

• History of atrial fibrillation or any cardiac arrhythmia except sinus bradycardia

• History of myocardial infarction within the past 12 months or unstable coronary artery disease

• Pregnancy

• History of Osteoporosis