Project Summary

Brian P. Brennan, M.D. (Young Investigator 2008) of McLean Hospital/Harvard University, aims to explore the use of a pharmaceutical drug in the treatment of bipolar depression. Dr. Brennan proposes a 6-week placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study investigating the use of ALCAR 1000mg and ALA 600mg or placebo taken twice daily as an augmentation treatment in 30 men and women with bipolar depression who have not responded to an adequate trial of lithium or valproate. He will measure change in brain lactate and glutamate using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) enabling correlation of clinical response with improvement in mitochondrial functioning. Primary analysis will be the association between clinical response and change in brain lactate and glutamate levels. Because there are no reports of use of these medications in patients with bipolar disorder, this preliminary study to test the principle of whether enhancing mitochondrial functioning may be a viable treatment in bipolar depression, and to correlate clinical findings with direct corroboration of chemical brain changes.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Bipolar

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