title: Double-blind, randomized crossover study of intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate versus 5% dextrose on depressive symptoms in adults with treatment-resistant depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment-resistant depression patients are more likely to suffer from comorbid physical and mental disorders, experience marked and protracted functional impairment, and incur higher health-care costs than non-affected individuals. Magnesium sulfate is a treatment option that may offer great potential for patients with treatment-resistant depression based on prior work in animals and humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve subjects with mild or moderate treatment-resistant depression were randomized into a double-blind crossover trial to receive an infusion of 4 g of magnesium sulfate in 5% dextrose or placebo infusion of 5% dextrose with a 5-day washout in between the 8-day intervention period. Subjects were assessed before and after the intervention for serum and urine magnesium, lipid panel, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a difference in serum magnesium from day 2 to 8 (pre-infusion) (P < 0.002) and from baseline to day 8 (P < 0.02). No changes were noted on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression or the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 24 h post-treatment, but as serum magnesium increased from baseline to day 7, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 decreased from baseline to day 7 (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnesium sulfate did not significantly affect depression 24 h post-infusion, but other results were consistent with the literature. The association between changes in serum magnesium and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 supports the idea that magnesium sulfate may be used to address treatment-resistant depression, an ongoing medical challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Syed M A
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mehdi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Atlas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Sidra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qadir
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Musselman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Judi M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Woolger
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corredor
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Muhammad H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arosemena
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caccamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen S G
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Ashar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farooqi
authors.affiliation: Barclay's, Inc, Wilmington, USA.
authors.forename: Jinrun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konefal
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Lucas C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lages
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lantigua
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasul
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Herbert G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tiozzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D061218:Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D005947:Glucose
keywords: depressive symptoms; intervention study; intravenous infusions; magnesium sulfate; treatment-resistant depression