Mineralocorticoid Receptor in the Treatment of Severe Depression
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The proposed research aims to compare the onset of action and the efficacy of
fludrocortisone, a mineralocorticoid receptor agonist vs. spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid
antagonist, vs. placebo as augmentation to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in
65 inpatients with severe depression. The study will also explore the utility of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in predicting treatment response. The study will be
a 5-week randomized and double-blind trial of fludrocortisone vs. spironolactone vs. placebo
during three years.