title: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of memantine in the treatment of major depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to assess possible antidepressant effects of memantine, a selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 32 subjects with major depression were randomly assigned to receive memantine (5-20 mg/day) (N=16) or placebo (N=16) for 8 weeks. Primary efficacy was assessed by performance on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The linear mixed models for total MADRS scores showed no treatment effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an 8-week trial, the low-to-moderate-affinity NMDA antagonist memantine in doses of 5-20 mg/day was not effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder.
authors.affiliation: Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Department of Human Health Services, Bethesda, MD, USA. zaratec@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Jaskaran B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Quiroz
authors.forename: Georgette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Jesus
authors.forename: Kirk K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Denicoff
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Luckenbaugh
authors.forename: Husseini K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Manji
authors.forename: Dennis S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charney
mesh_terms: D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D010919:Placebos; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D008559:Memantine