NCT05762887

Clinical Evaluation of the Antidepressant Effect of the Use of Probiotics in Bipolar Disorder

Clinical Evaluation of the Antidepressant Effect of the Use of Probiotics in Bipolar Disorder and Possible Mediating Effects of Systemic and Intestinal Inflammatory Markers in the Microbiota

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 84 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is highly incapacitating and associated with premature mortality. Depressive symptoms and episodes are the most frequent cause of disability in subjects with BD and over half of patients do not respond adequately to approved treatments for this condition, showing the need for new classes of treatments to complement current pharmacotherapy. Previous studies demonstrated that the intestinal flora have potential positive or negative effects on the Central Nervous System and suggest that adding specific strains of bacteria to people's diet may have antidepressant properties.The study proposes to evaluate the clinical benefit of adding probiotics to pharmacological treatments for bipolar depression. This will be a study with 84 subjects (42 receiving probiotics and 42 placebo). The research team in this department has focused especially on non-pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder (psychotherapy, nutrition and exercise) and is multidisciplinary in scope with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, physiotherapists and nutritionists participating in research projects.

Detailed description

It will test, in a proof-of-concept study, the antidepressant efficacy of adjunctive administration of probiotics in bipolar depression and evaluate potential inflammatory and metabolic markers associated with response to treatment. With this objective, 84 individuals with bipolar disorder type I or type II presenting subsyndromal depressive symptoms or a major depressive episode will be recruited. The study design lasts 12 weeks and is expected to last two years.

Conditions

• Bipolar Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Probiotic Group	The 84 participants will participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in two arms. The probiotic group will consist of 42 patients. These patients will be recruited from the USP Bipolar Disorder Program. This program has an outpatient clinic that offers free medical care to a population of different ethnic groups, with the majority of subjects coming from the middle and lower social classes.
OTHER	Placebo Group	The 84 participants will participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in two arms. The placebo group will consist of 42 patients. These patients will be recruited from the USP Bipolar Disorder Program. This program has an outpatient clinic that offers free medical care to a population of different ethnic groups, with the majority of subjects coming from the middle and lower social classes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-01-09
• Primary completion: 2024-08-30
• Completion: 2024-12-30
• First posted: 2023-03-10
• Last updated: 2023-12-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Brazil