Description Module
The Description Module contains narrative descriptions of the clinical trial, including a brief summary and detailed description. These descriptions provide important information about the study's purpose, methodology, and key details in language accessible to both researchers and the general public.
Description Module path is as follows:
Study -> Protocol Section -> Description Module
Description Module
Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-24 @ 4:46 PM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-24 @ 4:46 PM
NCT ID:
NCT01520350
Brief Summary:
Aripiprazole is a new antipsychotic agent which possesses unique capabilities compared to other antipsychotic agents, especially because of its partial dopaminergic agonistic activity. Moreover, like the other atypical agents, aripiprazole is an antagonist of the 5-HT2a receptor, and an agonist of the 5-HT1a receptor. These pharmacological properties should enable this molecule to provide antidepressant potentiating capabilities based on what has been observed with other compounds sharing similar pharmacological profiles.
Aripiprazole is now well recognized for its capacity to potentiate antidepressants in the treatment of unipolar depression. However, two randomized controlled trials of aripiprazole in the treatment of bipolar depression were negative. This surprising result may stem from the fact that the doses of aripiprazole used in these studies were rather high (17.6 ± 8.3 mg/d in study 1 and 15.5 ± 7.5 mg/d in study 2) and could have contributed to inhibit dopaminergic activity in key brain areas involved in the modulation of rewards, motivation and concentration. Bipolar depression is indeed heavily loaded with general symptoms of psychomotor retardation including poor concentration, low energy level, hypersomnolence, and hyperphagia. All these functions are modulated by dopamine and strategies aimed at improving dopaminergic function are used frequently to resolve residual symptoms of bipolar depression.
It is expected that aripiprazole used at a more adequate lower dose than in previous studies, should be efficacious in the treatment of bipolar type I depression.
Study:
NCT01520350
Study Brief:
Protocol Section:
NCT01520350