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Dopamine Modulation of Motivation and Motor Function in Major Depression & Inflammation

NCT05909267 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 165

Last updated 2026-03-18

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

A large body of evidence on depression heterogeneity point to an "immunometabolic" subtype characterized by the clustering of immunometabolic dysregulations with atypical behavioral symptoms related to energy homeostasis. Motivational and motor impairments reflected by symptoms of anhedonia and psychomotor retardation in major depression are closely related to alterations in energy homeostasis, are associated with increased inflammation, and may be a direct consequence of the impact of inflammatory cytokines on the dopamine system in the brain. In the proposed project, the investigators will examine the effect of dopamine stimulation on motivation and motor function in patients with major depression and healthy controls and the role of inflammation using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. If successful, this study would provide crucial evidence that pharmacologic strategies that increase dopamine may effectively treat inflammation-related symptoms of anhedonia and psychomotor retardation in major depression.

Conditions

  • Depressive Disorder, Major

Interventions

DRUG

L-dopa/Carbidopa

Patients and healthy controls will receive one time administration of L-dopa/Carbidopa (100/25 mg).

DRUG

Placebo

Patients and healthy controls will receive one time administration of Placebo.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Prof. Dr. Stefan M. Gold

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • Prof. Dr. Soyoung Q Park

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • Dr. Ulrike Grittner

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • Motognosis GmbH

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • Charite University, Berlin, Germany

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Woo Ri Chae, MD MSc · Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-07-26
Primary Completion
2026-07-31
Completion
2026-07-31

Countries

  • Germany

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Drugs

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05909267 on ClinicalTrials.gov