Bipolar disorder is a chronic and recurrent illness which involves episodes of mania and
depression. It is believed that disturbance of the stress hormone system (the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal or HPA axis) may cause thinking and memory problems and make
the depressive symptoms worse in bipolar disorder. Early studies have shown that mifepristone
may have antidepressant effects (may improve the symptoms of depression) and may also
maintain or enhance cognition (memory and thinking functions).
The purpose of this study is to determine the potential therapeutic efficacy (usefulness) of
mifepristone in bipolar depression by assessing the effects of the medication on depressive
symptoms and on cognition. This will be done by questionnaires and thinking tests.
This study will also try to clarify the functional changes that accompany bipolar disorder by
analyzing saliva samples (assessing the stress response by measuring the levels of 2 stress
hormones: cortisol and DHEA).
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of British Columbia
Collaborators:
Stanley Medical Research Institute Western Economic Diversification Canada