Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy and Target Engagement of Pramipexole in Anhedonic Depression

Ventorp, Filip LU ; Lindahl, Jesper LU ; van Westen, Danielle LU orcid ; Jensen, Jimmy ; Björkstrand, Johannes LU and Lindqvist, Daniel LU (2022) In Psychiatric research and clinical practice 4(2). p.42-47
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate feasibility and target engagement of high-dose, add-on pramipexole treatment in anhedonic depression.

METHOD: In this open-label pilot study, we included 12 patients with unipolar or bipolar, moderate-to-severe depression and with significant anhedonia symptoms. All patients were on a stable dose of one or a combination of antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers and received 10 weeks of adjunctive pramipexole titrated to a maximum dose of 4.5 mg salt/day. All patients were rated with the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS), the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating (MADRS) and the Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was analyzed pre- and... (More)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate feasibility and target engagement of high-dose, add-on pramipexole treatment in anhedonic depression.

METHOD: In this open-label pilot study, we included 12 patients with unipolar or bipolar, moderate-to-severe depression and with significant anhedonia symptoms. All patients were on a stable dose of one or a combination of antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers and received 10 weeks of adjunctive pramipexole titrated to a maximum dose of 4.5 mg salt/day. All patients were rated with the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS), the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating (MADRS) and the Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was analyzed pre- and post-treatment. Eight patients underwent fMRI pre- and post-treatment and a simplified version of the monetary incentive delay task was used to investigate the effect of treatment on striatal activity during reward anticipation.

RESULTS: DARS, MADRS and SHAPS scores all improved significantly over 10 weeks of pramipexole treatment (p<0.01). Mean levels of hs-CRP decreased significantly over the course of treatment from mean 3.8 mg/L at baseline to 2.6 mg/L at endpoint (p<0.01). There were significant treatment-associated increases in reward related activity in several brain areas including the right lateral putamen, anterior left caudate, left posterior putamen, right dorsal caudate, left anterior putamen, and the right nucleus accumbens.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to suggest efficacy and target engagement of pramipexole in anhedonic depression. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm or refute these preliminary findings.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Psychiatric research and clinical practice
volume
4
issue
2
pages
42 - 47
publisher
Wiley
external identifiers
  • scopus:85148084145
  • pmid:36225720
ISSN
2575-5609
DOI
10.1176/appi.prcp.20210042
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2022 The Authors. Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Psychiatric Association.
id
6bfba9d6-77c0-4cbc-a26a-986897b4f699
date added to LUP
2023-01-09 22:54:36
date last changed
2024-06-29 02:25:53
@article{6bfba9d6-77c0-4cbc-a26a-986897b4f699,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: To investigate feasibility and target engagement of high-dose, add-on pramipexole treatment in anhedonic depression.</p><p>METHOD: In this open-label pilot study, we included 12 patients with unipolar or bipolar, moderate-to-severe depression and with significant anhedonia symptoms. All patients were on a stable dose of one or a combination of antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers and received 10 weeks of adjunctive pramipexole titrated to a maximum dose of 4.5 mg salt/day. All patients were rated with the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS), the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating (MADRS) and the Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was analyzed pre- and post-treatment. Eight patients underwent fMRI pre- and post-treatment and a simplified version of the monetary incentive delay task was used to investigate the effect of treatment on striatal activity during reward anticipation.</p><p>RESULTS: DARS, MADRS and SHAPS scores all improved significantly over 10 weeks of pramipexole treatment (p&lt;0.01). Mean levels of hs-CRP decreased significantly over the course of treatment from mean 3.8 mg/L at baseline to 2.6 mg/L at endpoint (p&lt;0.01). There were significant treatment-associated increases in reward related activity in several brain areas including the right lateral putamen, anterior left caudate, left posterior putamen, right dorsal caudate, left anterior putamen, and the right nucleus accumbens.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to suggest efficacy and target engagement of pramipexole in anhedonic depression. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm or refute these preliminary findings.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ventorp, Filip and Lindahl, Jesper and van Westen, Danielle and Jensen, Jimmy and Björkstrand, Johannes and Lindqvist, Daniel}},
  issn         = {{2575-5609}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{42--47}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley}},
  series       = {{Psychiatric research and clinical practice}},
  title        = {{Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy and Target Engagement of Pramipexole in Anhedonic Depression}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.prcp.20210042}},
  doi          = {{10.1176/appi.prcp.20210042}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}