Treating Insulin Resistance as a Strategy to Improve Outcome in Refractory Bipolar Disorder

Summary

In a previous study by Dr. Calkin, the principal investigator of this study, persons with bipolar disorder and either type II diabetes or insulin resistance were found to experience more severe symptoms of bipolar illness and a lower response to treatment, compared to persons with bipolar disorder who did not have type II diabetes or insulin resistance. To further explore these findings, the investigators have developed this study to see if treating insulin resistance (using metformin, a drug used to improve the body's use of insulin) may also help improve the symptoms of bipolar illness.

Timeline

Start

2015-09

Primary completion

2020-09

Completion

2020-09

Publications

• Background Calkin CV, Ruzickova M, Uher R, Hajek T, Slaney CM, Garnham JS, O'Donovan MC, Alda M. Insulin resistance and outcome in bipolar disorder. Br J Psychiatry. 2015 Jan;206(1):52-7. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.152850. Epub 2014 Oct 16.
• Background Ruzickova M, Slaney C, Garnham J, Alda M. Clinical features of bipolar disorder with and without comorbid diabetes mellitus. Can J Psychiatry. 2003 Aug;48(7):458-61. doi: 10.1177/070674370304800705.
• Background Calkin CV, Gardner DM, Ransom T, Alda M. The relationship between bipolar disorder and type 2 diabetes: more than just co-morbid disorders. Ann Med. 2013 Mar;45(2):171-81. doi: 10.3109/07853890.2012.687835. Epub 2012 May 24.
• Calkin CV, Chengappa KNR, Cairns K, Cookey J, Gannon J, Alda M, O'Donovan C, Reardon C, Sanches M, Ruzickova M. Treating Insulin Resistance With Metformin as a Strategy to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression (the TRIO-BD Study): A Randomized, Quadruple-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2022 Feb 1;83(2):21m14022. doi: 10.4088/JCP.21m14022.

Drugs

Indications