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Efficacy of adjunctive infliximab vs. placebo in the treatment of anhedonia in bipolar I/II depression

Lee Y, Mansur RB, Brietzke E, Carmona NE, Subramaniapillai M, Pan Z, Shekotikhina M, Rosenblat JD et al.

Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2020

47 participants

Abstract

We investigated the efficacy of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α antagonist infliximab on a measure of anhedonia amongst individuals with bipolar I/II depression (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02363738). Adults (ages 18-65) with bipolar I/II disorder currently experiencing a major depressive episode with a higher probability of inflammatory activity (i.e., meeting one or more of the following inflammatory/metabolic criteria: obesity and dyslipidemia/hypertension, daily cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, migraine, inflammatory bowel disease, and/or C-reactive protein level of ⩾5 mg/L) were enrolled in a double-blind, 12-week clinical trial of adjunctive infliximab (5 mg/kg) and saline control, which were administered at weeks 0, 2, and 6. The primary outcome measure for the present secondary analysis was change in the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) total score between placebo- and infliximab-treated subjects from baseline to weeks 6 and 12. Plasma concentrations of TNF-α and soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR) 1 and 2 were assessed at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 12. Sixty eligible adults received treatment with infliximab (n=29) or placebo (n=31); 47 subjects completed the study (infliximab: n=21, placebo: n=26). Overall, infliximab-randomized subjects exhibited significantly larger increases in SHAPS total score, denoting greater reductions in anhedonic symptoms, when compared to placebo-randomized subjects (treatment × time interaction effect: χ2=7.15,df=2,p=0.03).…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 47 participants or records.

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