The primary aim of the Prolonging Remission in Depressed Elderly (PRIDE) trial is to compare, in a randomized clinical trial of patients with late-life depression, the relative efficacy, functional outcomes, and tolerability of two strategies to sustain antidepressant effect after a successful acute course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

The two strategies include:

1. Combination pharmacotherapy with venlafaxine and lithium
2. The same combination of pharmacotherapy plus symptom-titrated ECT

At seven sites, patients will receive an acute course of ECT augmented by standardized medication (Phase 1); remitters will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups and followed for six months (Phase 2).

Duke University Medical Center
Sarah H. Lisanby, MD

For more information, call 919-681-0603.