NCT00026585

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine how the drug tamoxifen affects the brain in patients with bipolar I disorder. Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a severe, chronic, and often life-threatening illness for which safe and effective treatments are necessary. The mood stabilizing effects of lithium and valproate have revolutionized the treatment of patients with BD. However, a significant percentage of patients do not respond fully to these drugs, and the biochemical basis for the antimanic and mood-stabilizing actions of lithium and valproate is unclear. Both drugs inhibit protein kinase C (PKC). There is a need to investigate the efficacy of a direct PKC inhibitor in the treatment of acute mania. Tamoxifen is currently the only relatively selective PKC inhibitor available for human use. Participants in this study will be screened with a physical, psychiatric, and eye examination and blood and urine tests. Eligible participants will be hospitalized at the Clinical Center for at least 4 weeks. They will be tapered off all psychiatric medication and kept drug free for 2 to 7 days. They will also be put on a low-monoamine, low-caffeine diet. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either tamoxifen or placebo (an inactive pill) for 3 weeks. During this time, participants will have daily pulse and blood pressure measurements, several electrocardiograms (EKGs), and blood draws. Weight measurements will be taken at least twice during the study, and caffeine or dextromethorphan will be given at the beginning and end of the study to test how tamoxifen affects the way the body eliminates other medications. Participants will have a physical examination at the end of the study. At the end of this 4-week study, some participants may continue the study and will receive tamoxifen for an additional 3 weeks. At the conclusion of the study, participants' psychiatric status will be reassessed and long-term psychiatric treatment for their mood disorders will be arranged.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2001

Longer than P75 for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 9, 2001

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 10, 2001

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 12, 2001

Completed
6 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 2, 2007

Completed
Last Updated

July 2, 2017

Status Verified

May 20, 2008

First QC Date

November 10, 2001

Last Update Submit

June 30, 2017

Conditions

Keywords

Bipolar DisorderAntimanicPlacebo ControlledRandomizedCytochrome P450ManiaPKC InhibitorTamoxifenBipolarManicBPD

Interventions

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexmale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients may be included in the study only if they meet all of the following criteria:
  • Male and female patients, 18 to 65 years of age. \[Note: Only females who are premenopausal with regular menstrual cycles will be able to participate\].
  • Female subjects of childbearing potential must be using a medically accepted means of contraception.
  • Each patient must have a level of understanding sufficient to agree to all tests and examinations required by the protocol.
  • Each patient must understand the nature of the study and must sign an informed consent document. We will not permit patients with a Durable Power of Attorney (DPA) to participate in this study. We will however, encourage all patients to sign a DPA after signing the informed consent. However, signing a DPA is not a requirement for participating in this study.
  • Patients must have a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder and currently display an acute manic or mixed episode (with or without psychotic features) according to the DSM-IV based on clinical assessment and confirmed by structured diagnostic interview SCID-P. This includes the following diagnoses: 296.4x, Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Manic; 296.6x, Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Mixed.
  • Patients must have a YMRS total score of greater than or equal to 14 at both Visits 1 and 2.
  • No decrease in total score of YMRS of greater than or equal to 20% during washout (between Visits 1 and 2).
  • DSM-IV rapid cyclers will be permitted to participate in this study.
  • Duration of current manic episode of not more than 4 weeks.
  • Previous trial with any one of the following antimanic agents: lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, typical antipsychotic drug, or atypical antipsychotic drug (olanzapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, aripiprazole, quetiapine). If the subject has not previously taken one of these antimanic treatments, then the research physician may start one of them at NIH. Subjects not responding to a 3 week trial of an antimanic agent of their choice (at least a 50% decrease on the YMRS rating scale from baseline) will be eligible to be randomized if they continue to meet study criteria.

You may not qualify if:

  • Patients will be excluded from the study for any of the following reasons:
  • Female patients who are either pregnant, nursing, or who are perimenopausal or postmenopausal.
  • QTc of greater than 450 msec.
  • Participation in a clinical trial of another investigational drug within 1 month (30 days) prior to study entry (Visit 1).
  • Has received an antidepressant within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 \[8 weeks for fluoxetine\].
  • Serious, unstable illnesses including hepatic, renal, gastroenterologic, respiratory, cardiovascular (including ischemic heart disease), endocrinologic, neurologic, immunologic, or hematologic disease.
  • Presence of a coagulation disorder, history of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
  • History of breast or uterine cancer, or abnormal uterine bleeding.
  • Uncorrected hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
  • Presence of retinal pathology.
  • One or more seizures without a clear and resolved etiology.
  • Current leukopenia or thrombocytopenia.
  • Clinical significant abnormal laboratory tests.
  • Documented history of hypersensitivity or intolerance to TAM.
  • DSM-IV substance abuse or dependence (except nicotine and caffeine) within the past 30 days.
  • +8 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Howard University Hospital

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20060, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Alfaro CL, Lam YW, Simpson J, Ereshefsky L. CYP2D6 status of extensive metabolizers after multiple-dose fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, or sertraline. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1999 Apr;19(2):155-63. doi: 10.1097/00004714-199904000-00011.

    PMID: 10211917BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Bipolar DisorderMania

Interventions

Tamoxifen

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bipolar and Related DisordersMood DisordersMental DisordersNeurobehavioral ManifestationsNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

StilbenesBenzylidene CompoundsBenzene DerivativesHydrocarbons, AromaticHydrocarbons, CyclicHydrocarbonsOrganic Chemicals

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Purpose
TREATMENT
Sponsor Type
NIH

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 10, 2001

First Posted

November 12, 2001

Study Start

November 9, 2001

Study Completion

November 2, 2007

Last Updated

July 2, 2017

Record last verified: 2008-05-20

Locations