Buspirone and Melatonin for Depression Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Description

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common. Post-TBI depression is associated with anxiety, aggression, fatigue, distractibility, anger, irritability, and rumination. The current research group conducted a pilot clinical trial, which investigated the novel treatment combination of buspirone and melatonin (B+MEL) in outpatients with clinical depression. Compared to placebo, B+MEL was associated with a significant improvement in depressive symptoms. Depression following TBI may be different from clinical depression. The B+MEL combination has never been studied in patients with post-TBI depression. The B+MEL has shown promise in ameliorating cognitive difficulties in people with depression. Because cognitive problems are typical in people with post-TBI depression, we plan to measure the effect of the B+MEL combination on cognitive ability in post-TBI depression. Additionally, we are interested in measuring functional magnetic resonance imaging changes before and after treatment with B+MEL in order to gain insight into the brain mechanisms of our hypothesized clinical symptom changes. The goals of the proposed pilot research project are to assess changes in symptoms in patients with post-TBI depression following Buspirone + Melatonin combination (B+MEL), and the corresponding brain mechanisms underlying these hypothesized changes by measuring: 1) depressive symptoms; 2) cognitive symptoms; 3) functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Conditions

Depression, Brain Injuries, Traumatic

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common. Post-TBI depression is associated with anxiety, aggression, fatigue, distractibility, anger, irritability, and rumination. The current research group conducted a pilot clinical trial, which investigated the novel treatment combination of buspirone and melatonin (B+MEL) in outpatients with clinical depression. Compared to placebo, B+MEL was associated with a significant improvement in depressive symptoms. Depression following TBI may be different from clinical depression. The B+MEL combination has never been studied in patients with post-TBI depression. The B+MEL has shown promise in ameliorating cognitive difficulties in people with depression. Because cognitive problems are typical in people with post-TBI depression, we plan to measure the effect of the B+MEL combination on cognitive ability in post-TBI depression. Additionally, we are interested in measuring functional magnetic resonance imaging changes before and after treatment with B+MEL in order to gain insight into the brain mechanisms of our hypothesized clinical symptom changes. The goals of the proposed pilot research project are to assess changes in symptoms in patients with post-TBI depression following Buspirone + Melatonin combination (B+MEL), and the corresponding brain mechanisms underlying these hypothesized changes by measuring: 1) depressive symptoms; 2) cognitive symptoms; 3) functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Buspirone and Melatonin for Depression Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Buspirone and Melatonin for Depression Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Condition
Depression
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Boston

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02144

Charlestown

Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States, 02129

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. Non-penetrating mild or moderate traumatic brain injury that occurred 3 or more months prior to study entry (to minimize natural recovery from TBI)
  • 2. Age: 18-64 years
  • 3. Meeting any one of the following severity criteria, as documented in the patient's medical records:
  • 1. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9-15 within 4 hours after injury
  • 2. Loss of consciousness (LOC) \>1 minute and \<=24 hours
  • 3. Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) \< 7 days
  • 4. English-speaking
  • 5. Current DSM-5 diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode by medical record diagnosis
  • 6. HAM-D-21 score of 18 or higher
  • 7. Patients who are considered to be appropriate by their clinician and who are willing to be started on Buspirone and Melatonin for clinical purposes.
  • 1. History of neurological disorder (e.g., stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, HIV, neurodegenerative disorders) or any acute or unstable medical condition that is likely to interfere with the assessments or with participation in treatment, as determined by history by the patient or review of their medical records.
  • 2. Evidence from the history of TBI severity greater than moderate, i.e., GCS of 8 or less, LOC \> 24 hours, or PTA \> 7 days.
  • 3. Inability to attend regular appointments
  • 4. Imminent risk of suicide, as determined by the assessing clinician; HAM-D, Question 3, answers \> 1; SDQ, Question 11, answers \> 3; spontaneous expressions of suicidal ideation will result in emergency evaluation by a licensed clinician member of study staff for appropriate assessment and triage.
  • 5. Lifetime history of schizophrenia or other primary psychotic disorders, as determined by history by the patient or review of their medical records.
  • 6. History of bipolar disorder, as determined by history by the patient or review of their medical records.
  • 7. Alcohol or substance dependence in the past 3 months, as determined by history by the patient or review of their medical records.
  • 8. Pregnancy or breast-feeding
  • 9. Concomitant use of buspirone, any psychostimulant, or modafinil/armodafinil
  • 10. Patients currently on an antidepressant or who have been on antidepressant in the past 4 weeks
  • 11. Patients with prior intolerances to buspirone or melatonin.
  • 12. Conditions that would preclude a subject from participating in the MRI procedures (e.g., metal implants, aneurysm clips, shrapnel/retained particles, pacemakers, claustrophobia).

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 64 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Massachusetts General Hospital,

Study Record Dates

2026-07-31