Cognitive difficulties such as indecisiveness or inability to concentrate are core symptoms
of depression with up to 90% of untreated depressed individuals experiencing these symptoms.
As many as half of those who remit from a major depressive episode continue to experience
residual cognitive deficits, but these symptoms are frequently overlooked in clinical
practice. This leads to persistent cognitive deficits which can cause reduced level of
functioning and loss of productivity. As standard antidepressants have an inadequate impact
on these residual cognitive symptoms, further treatment options are required. Modafinil is a
wakefulness agent with evidence that it improves some domains in cognition such as memory in
those whose non-cognitive depressive symptoms have been treated over a short term period.
This medication may have favourable lasting effects on cognition, such as the ability to plan
and execute tasks in those who receive modafinil for a longer time period. The aim of this
study is to investigate whether modafinil can enhance cognition and have additional effects
on functioning and work productivity in a sample of participants who were treated for
depression but who continue to experience cognitive deficits.
Phase:
Phase 3
Details
Lead Sponsor:
St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto Unity Health Toronto
Collaborators:
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care The Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression