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Corticosteroid

Hydrocortisone for Memory Impairment

Phase 4
Recruiting
Led By Sherwood Brown, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Baseline QIDS-C between 11-20 (≥ moderate depressive symptoms but < very severe depressive symptoms) for the 'depressed' group
BMI between 18.5-35.0 (neither underweight nor severely obese)
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 3 days
Awards & highlights

Study Summary

This trial will use hydrocortisone or placebo to study the effects of chronic corticosteroid exposure on memory and the hippocampus in both men and women.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for men and women aged 18-40 with normal to slightly overweight BMI, at least a high school education, and normal memory function. Healthy participants must have minimal depressive symptoms, while the depressed group should have moderate but not severe depression. Participants need good vision (correctable) for MRI tasks.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The study tests how a short-term high-dose hydrocortisone treatment affects memory and brain structure/function in healthy individuals versus those with depression. It involves taking either hydrocortisone or a placebo pill and undergoing advanced neuroimaging to observe changes in specific areas of the hippocampus.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
Potential side effects from hydrocortisone may include mood swings, increased blood pressure, sleep problems, weight gain around the midsection or face (moon face), increased blood sugar levels, weakened bones over time if used long term.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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My depression is moderate to severe, but not very severe.
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My BMI is between 18.5 and 35.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~3 days
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 3 days for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Hippocampal subfield activation
Hippocampal subfield volume

Trial Design

4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Healthy Controls: Placebo, then HydrocortisoneExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants in the "healthy control" arm will receive a Placebo tablet (matching Hydrocortisone 160 mg tablet) every day for 3 days. After a washout period of 25 days, they then will receive a Hydrocortisone 160 mg tablet every day for 3 days.
Group II: Healthy Controls: Hydrocortisone, then PlaceboExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants in the "healthy control" arm will receive a Hydrocortisone 160 mg tablet every day for 3 days. After a washout period of 25 days, they then will receive a Placebo tablet (matching Hydrocortisone 160 mg tablet) every day for 3 days.
Group III: Depressed: Placebo, then HydrocortisoneExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants in the "depressed' arm will receive a Placebo tablet (matching Hydrocortisone 160 mg tablet) every day for 3 days. After a washout period of 25 days, they then will receive a Hydrocortisone 160 mg tablet every day for 3 days.
Group IV: Depressed: Hydrocortisone, then PlaceboExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants in the "depressed' arm will receive a Hydrocortisone 160 mg tablet every day for 3 days. After a washout period of 25 days, they then will receive a Placebo tablet (matching Hydrocortisone 160 mg tablet) every day for 3 days.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Placebo Oral Tablet
2017
Completed Phase 4
~2160

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterLead Sponsor
1,055 Previous Clinical Trials
1,054,681 Total Patients Enrolled
University of California, IrvineOTHER
546 Previous Clinical Trials
1,923,013 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Hydrocortisone
158 Patients Enrolled for Hydrocortisone
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)NIH
2,799 Previous Clinical Trials
2,660,976 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Hydrocortisone (Corticosteroid) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03896659 — Phase 4
Hydrocortisone Research Study Groups: Depressed: Placebo, then Hydrocortisone, Depressed: Hydrocortisone, then Placebo, Healthy Controls: Hydrocortisone, then Placebo, Healthy Controls: Placebo, then Hydrocortisone
Hydrocortisone Clinical Trial 2023: Hydrocortisone Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03896659 — Phase 4
Hydrocortisone (Corticosteroid) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03896659 — Phase 4
Hydrocortisone Patient Testimony for trial: Trial Name: NCT03896659 — Phase 4
~26 spots leftby Mar 2025