Effectiveness of ipsapirone, a 5-HT-1A partial agonist, in major depressive disorder: support for the role of 5-HT-1A receptors in the mechanism of action of serotonergic antidepressants

Desensitisation of serotonin 1A (5-HT-1A) receptors is a leading hypothesis for the mechanism of action of antidepressants which block serotonin reuptake. This hypothesis predicts that direct-acting 5-HT-1A agonists should also exhibit anti-depressant properties. Here we report the results of the first large-scale controlled study of the efficacy and tolerability of a 5-HT-1A agonist in outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Three hundred and seventy-three subjects meeting DSM-III-R criteria for MDD participated in this randomised, double-blind comparison of the 5-HT-1A partial agonist ipsapirone (5 mg, 7.5 mg and 10 mg t.i.d.) to placebo t.i.d. Improvement in depressive symptoms relative to placebo, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, occurred in the ipsapirone (7.5 mg t.i.d.) group with a magnitude of effect (D=-2.53 points) that was statistically significant (p=0.010). Adverse events occurred in 76% of the placebo patients and 92% of the ipsapirone patients. A dose-related increase in the incidence of adverse events led to discontinuation of treatment with the 10 mg t.i.d. Results of this study demonstrate that ipsapirone, at a dose of 7.5 mg t.i.d., is an effective antidepressant agent in the treatment of MDD, supporting the hypothesised role of 5-HT-1A receptors in the mechanism of action of serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, as a potential therapeutic agent for depression, ipsapirone shows only a modest magnitude of drug-placebo differences as well as a side-effect profile less favorable than many of the newer antidepressants.