Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D)

Summary

STAR\*D focuses on non-psychotic major depressive disorder in adults who are seen in outpatient settings. The primary purpose of this research study is to determine which treatments work best if the first treatment with medication does not produce an acceptable response. Participants will first receive citalopram, an SSRI medication; if symptoms remain after 8-12 weeks of treatment, up to four other levels of treatment will be offered, including cognitive therapy and other medications. There are no placebo treatments. Some patients may require a combination of two or more treatments to obtain full benefit. Participation could last from 15 to 27 months and involve up to 30 clinic visits. Participants will be interviewed by telephone throughout the study about their symptoms, daily functioning, treatment side effects, use of the health care system, and satisfaction with treatment. There will be a one-year follow up for participants once their depression has been successfully treated

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

DRUG

citalopram

DRUG

BuproprionSR

DRUG

buspirone

DRUG

Lithium

DRUG

mirtazapine

DRUG

nortriptyline

DRUG

sertraline

DRUG

tranylcypromine

DRUG

VenlafaxineXR

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Therapy

DRUG

T3 (Triiodothyronine)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  lead NIH

Principal Investigators

• A. John Rush, MD · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Department of Psychiatry

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2001-07-31

Completion

2006-09-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations