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A Pilot Study of Citicoline add-on Therapy in Patients With Bipolar Disorder or Major Depressive Disorder and Amphetamine Abuse or Dependence

A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study of Citicoline add-on Therapy in Patients With Bipolar Disorder or Major Depressive Disorder and Amphetamine Abuse or Dependence

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00377299
Enrollment
60
Registered
2006-09-18
Start date
2006-10-31
Completion date
2009-05-31
Last updated
2013-08-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Amphetamine Abuse, Amphetamine Dependence, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder

Keywords

Amphetamine Abuse, Amphetamine Dependence, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Citicoline

Brief summary

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common and severe psychiatric illness. Drug and alcohol abuse are very common in people with BD and other mood disorders and are associated with increased rates of hospitalization, violence towards self and others, medication non-adherence and cognitive impairment. However, few studies have investigated the treatment of dual-diagnosis patients as substance use is frequently an exclusion criterion in clinical trials of patients with BD. To address this need, we have developed a research program that explores the pharmacotherapy of people with BD and substance related-disorders. A potentially very interesting treatment for BD is citicoline. Some data suggest that this supplement may stabilize mood, decrease drug use and craving, and improve memory. We found promising results with citicoline in patients with BD and cocaine dependence. In recent years the use of amphetamine and methamphetamine has become an important public health concern. However, virtually no research has been conducted on the treatment of amphetamine abuse. We propose a double-blind placebo controlled prospective trial of citicoline in a group of 60 depressed outpatients with bipolar disorder, depressed phase or major depressive disorder and amphetamine abuse/dependence, to explore the safety and tolerability of citicoline, and its efficacy for mood symptoms, stimulant use and craving and its impact on cognition. Our goal is to determine which symptoms (e.g. mood, cognition, substance use) citicoline appears to be most effective and estimate effect sizes for future work.

Detailed description

Sixty outpatients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled after completing an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved informed consent process. Baseline evaluation will include a medical and psychiatric history, structured clinical interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) (SCID), mood assessment with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (IDS-C), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and cognitive assessment with the Hopkins Auditory Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) (similar to the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) but more alternative equivalent versions are available), Stroop and computer assessments including Sternberg Memory Task and the Running Memory Continuous Performance Test. Alternate but equivalent versions of all cognitive tests, except the Stroop, will be used to minimize practice effects with repeated administration. Days and amounts of amphetamine and other substance use will be assessed at each visit with urine drug screens, and through self-report using the timeline follow-back method. Amphetamine, and other drug, craving will be assessed with a visual analogue scales. Citicoline or placebo add-on therapy will be given beginning at one tablet (500mg)/day with an increase to two tablets 1000 mg/day at week 2, three tables 1500 mg/day at week 4 and four tablets 2000 mg/day at week 6.

Interventions

DRUGCiticoline

Citicoline is an over the counter supplement that may have neuroprotective properties and may have antidepressant effects. Citicoline or placebo (identical in appearance) add-on therapy was given beginning at one tablet (500mg/day) with an increase to two tablets (1000 mg/day) at week 2, three tablets (1500 mg/day) at week 4 and four tablets (2000 mg/day) at week 6. Doses were decreased, if needed, due to side effects.

DRUGPlacebo

Placebo matching active medication in all other physical aspects

Sponsors

Stanley Medical Research Institute
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Men and women ages 18-70 years * Meeting criteria for a current major depressive episode (bipolar I,II, not otherwise specified (NOS) , depressed phase) or major depressive disorder on the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (SCID) with a duration of at least 4 weeks * Meeting criteria for amphetamine abuse or dependence with use within 14 days prior to baseline * No psychotropic medication changes within 14 days prior to study entry

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant or nursing women * Current citicoline therapy * Active suicidal or homicidal ideation with plan and intent * Dementia, mental retardation or other severe cognitive impairment that might interfere with the informed consent process * Currently incarcerated at a prison or jail * Severe or life threatening medical condition (e.g. terminal cancer, congestive heart failure)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Depression Symptoms12 weeksInventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician Rated (IDS-C), (a clinician-administered depression scale) is used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms.Scores can range from 0 to 84. The higher the score, the worse the depressive symptoms(worse outcome).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Amphetamine Craving12 WeeksVisual Analog Scale (VAS) assessing Methamphetamine craving with a 1-100 scale.Higher values on the VAS scale indicate a higher Methamphetamine craving(worse outcome).
Amphetamine Use12 weeksParticipant reported days per 7-day week of methamphetamine use.
Hopkins Auditory Verbal Learning Test (HVLT)12 weeksThe Hopkins Auditory Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) is a measure of cognition (memory/recall). Raw scores are derived for Total Recall, Delayed Recall, Retention (% retained), and a Recognition Discrimination Index. Raw scores are calculated into T-scores. T-scores are standardized scores on each dimension for each type. A score of 50 represents the mean. A difference of 10 from the mean indicates a difference of one standard deviation. Thus, a score of 60 is one standard deviation above the mean, while a score of 30 is two standard deviations below the mean.
Stroop Color Word Test12 weeksThe Stroop Color Word Test measures the individual's ability to separate the word and color naming stimuli thus the ability to sort information from the environment and selectively react to this information. The scoring is a measure of time to complete 100 items and the numbers of items that can be completed. THe scores are converted into T-scores which have a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Sixty depressed outpatients with methamphetamine dependence were enrolled and randomized for 12 weeks of acute treatment after completing an IRB-approved written informed consent The study was conducted at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. The first participant was enrolled on 10/11/06 and the final assessment was on 4/7/09.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Citicoline
Citicoline is an over the counter supplement that may have neuroprotective properties and may have antidepressant effects.
32
Placebo28
Total60

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyAdverse Event01
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up1419
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject54

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPlaceboTotalCiticoline
Age Continuous34.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.4
37.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.3
41.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.6
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants1 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
7 Participants11 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
20 Participants48 Participants28 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
28 participants60 participants32 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
11 Participants28 Participants17 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
17 Participants32 Participants15 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
2 / 320 / 28
serious
Total, serious adverse events
1 / 324 / 28

Outcome results

Primary

Depression Symptoms

Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician Rated (IDS-C), (a clinician-administered depression scale) is used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms.Scores can range from 0 to 84. The higher the score, the worse the depressive symptoms(worse outcome).

Time frame: 12 weeks

Population: The intent to treat (ITT) group includes all who returned for at least one post baseline visit. Analysis uses Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF) method.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
CiticolineDepression Symptoms26.2 scores on a scaleStandard Error 2.5
PlaceboDepression Symptoms33.1 scores on a scaleStandard Error 3
p-value: 0.05ANCOVA
Secondary

Amphetamine Craving

Visual Analog Scale (VAS) assessing Methamphetamine craving with a 1-100 scale.Higher values on the VAS scale indicate a higher Methamphetamine craving(worse outcome).

Time frame: 12 Weeks

Population: ITT includes those returning for at least one post baseline visit. LOCF used for end point data.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
CiticolineAmphetamine Craving31.9 scores on a scaleStandard Error 8
PlaceboAmphetamine Craving44.1 scores on a scaleStandard Error 9.7
p-value: >0.05ANCOVA
Secondary

Amphetamine Use

Participant reported days per 7-day week of methamphetamine use.

Time frame: 12 weeks

Population: ITT includes those returning for at least one post baseline visit. LOCF used for end point data.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
CiticolineAmphetamine Use2.9 days per weekStandard Error 0.6
PlaceboAmphetamine Use2.3 days per weekStandard Error 0.5
p-value: >0.05ANCOVA
Secondary

Hopkins Auditory Verbal Learning Test (HVLT)

The Hopkins Auditory Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) is a measure of cognition (memory/recall). Raw scores are derived for Total Recall, Delayed Recall, Retention (% retained), and a Recognition Discrimination Index. Raw scores are calculated into T-scores. T-scores are standardized scores on each dimension for each type. A score of 50 represents the mean. A difference of 10 from the mean indicates a difference of one standard deviation. Thus, a score of 60 is one standard deviation above the mean, while a score of 30 is two standard deviations below the mean.

Time frame: 12 weeks

Population: ITT includes those returning for at least one post baseline visit. LOCF used for end point data.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
CiticolineHopkins Auditory Verbal Learning Test (HVLT)38.5 T scoreStandard Error 3.8
PlaceboHopkins Auditory Verbal Learning Test (HVLT)47.5 T scoreStandard Error 4.7
p-value: >0.05ANCOVA
Secondary

Stroop Color Word Test

The Stroop Color Word Test measures the individual's ability to separate the word and color naming stimuli thus the ability to sort information from the environment and selectively react to this information. The scoring is a measure of time to complete 100 items and the numbers of items that can be completed. THe scores are converted into T-scores which have a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10.

Time frame: 12 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
CiticolineStroop Color Word Test56.2 T scoreStandard Error 2.6
PlaceboStroop Color Word Test54.3 T scoreStandard Error 3.1
p-value: >0.05ANCOVA

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026