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Efficacy of EMONO as an add-on Therapy to Conventional Antidepressants for the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms in Nursing-home Residents With Neurocognitive Disorders: a Randomized Controlled Trial-

Efficacy of EMONO as an add-on Therapy to Conventional Antidepressants for the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms in Nursing-home Residents With Neurocognitive Disorders: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06382389
Acronym
PROTO-EHPAD
Enrollment
96
Registered
2024-04-24
Start date
2026-09-01
Completion date
2028-09-01
Last updated
2026-06-17

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

Conditions

Depression, Neurocognitive Disorders

Keywords

Nitrous Oxide

Brief summary

Depression in neurocognitive disorders (Alzheimers' disease and related disoders) is a highly prevalent condition, especially in nursing homes. While it is associated with significant distress, the current conventional antidepressants have shown only modest efficacy and exposed to potentially severe side effects. Recent evidence suggests that nitrous oxide (N2O) in its most commonly used packaging of EMONO (Equimolar Mixture of Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide) has rapid antidepressant properties and a good safety profile. However, no study has investigating the antidepressant effect of EMONO in a population of depressed older adults with moderate to severe neurocognitive disorders in nursing homes. The principal goal of the PROTO-EHPAD study is to compare the changes in depressive symptoms in such individuals in a randomized controlled trial with a follow up period of 8 weeks, with a dosage escalation procedure.

Detailed description

Participants will be exposed to 3 sessions of EMONO (or Medical Air), with intervals of 1 week between sessions : a first session of 20 minutes, a second of 40 minutes one week later and a final session of 60 minutes one week later. Efficacy will be assessed 1 week after each session and 4 weeks after the last session.

Interventions

DRUGEMONO

Exposure of Emono via facial mask

DRUGMedical air

exposure to Medical Air

Sponsors

University Hospital, Tours
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Intervention model description

Parallel assignement

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Men and women aged 60 and over living in nursing home * Diagnosis of major neurocognitive disorder according to DSM-V for at least 6 month * MMSE \<= 20/30 * NPI depression \>= 4/12 * Patient, family and legal representive consent where applicable Person affiliated to a social security schem

Exclusion criteria

* NPI agitation \> 6/12 * Unstable somatic pathology (in particular unstable neurological or cardiological pathologies at risk of interfering with the diffusion of MEOPA) and any unexplained recent neurological abnormality. * Contraindications to the use of MEOPA * Patients who have already been treated with MEOPA in the 6 months prior to inclusion, for example for painful treatment * Sub-physiological plasma vitamin B12 or B9 concentration (below the lower limit of the laboratory value). * A person participating in a clinical drug study or in a period of exclusion from any clinical study due to previous participation * Personne participant à une étude clinique médicamenteuse ou en période d'exclusion de toute étude clinique du fait d'une précédente participation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in the CORNELL depression severitý scale between S4 (one week after the last administration of MEOPA or medical air) and S1 (baseline).baseline, week 4The CORNELL is a validated scale specifically designed for depression in major neurocognitive disorders

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
CORNELL scale and GDS scale at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8baseline, weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8The Geriatric Depression Scale is a self assessed scale for depression in older individuals
CGI-S and CGI-I scales at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8baseline, weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8CGI assesses the clinical global impression of the clinician
The measurement of well-being by the EVIBE visual analogue scale at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8baseline, weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8EVIBE is a visual analog scale specifically designed to measure well being in major cognitive disorders
Collection of adverse events at all study visitsbaseline, weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8any adverse events will be collected

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jun 18, 2026