Methylene blue treatment for residual symptoms of bipolar disorder: randomised crossover study.

Alda M, McKinnon M, Blagdon R, Garnham J, MacLellan S, O'Donovan C, Hajek T, Nair C, Dursun S, MacQueen G

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science9 Jun 2016Cited by 44 (Europe PMC)

PMID27284082DOI10.1192/bjp.bp.115.173930PepBankPUB-27284082

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In lamotrigine-treated bipolar patients, active-dose methylene blue improved Montgomery-Åsberg depression scores versus low-dose methylene blue.
In plain wordsIn lamotrigine-treated bipolar patients, active-dose methylene blue improved Montgomery-Åsberg depression scores compared with low-dose methylene blue.
Peptide
Methylene blue
Outcome
DecreaseMontgomery-Åsberg depression score
Study
n = 37
Comparator
Methylene blue 15 mg
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
195 mgAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The active dose of methylene blue significantly improved symptoms of depression both on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (P = 0.02 and 0.05 in last-observation-carried-forward analysis).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a double-blind crossover study of a low dose (15 mg, 'placebo') and an active dose (195 mg) of methylene blue in patients with bipolar disorder treated with lamotrigine.
Summary · context
Thirty-seven participants were enrolled in a 6-month trial (trial registration: NCT00214877).
Report a problemFND-2728408201
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In lamotrigine-treated bipolar patients, active-dose methylene blue improved Hamilton depression scores versus low-dose methylene blue.
In plain wordsIn lamotrigine-treated bipolar patients, active-dose methylene blue improved Hamilton depression scores compared with low-dose methylene blue.
Peptide
Methylene blue
Outcome
DecreaseHamilton depression score
Study
n = 37
Comparator
Methylene blue 15 mg
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
195 mgAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The active dose of methylene blue significantly improved symptoms of depression both on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (P = 0.02 and 0.05 in last-observation-carried-forward analysis).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a double-blind crossover study of a low dose (15 mg, 'placebo') and an active dose (195 mg) of methylene blue in patients with bipolar disorder treated with lamotrigine.
Summary · context
Thirty-seven participants were enrolled in a 6-month trial (trial registration: NCT00214877).
Report a problemFND-2728408202
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In lamotrigine-treated bipolar patients, active-dose methylene blue reduced Hamilton anxiety scores versus low-dose methylene blue.
In plain wordsIn lamotrigine-treated bipolar patients, active-dose methylene blue reduced anxiety scores compared with low-dose methylene blue.
Peptide
Methylene blue
Outcome
DecreaseHamilton anxiety score
Study
n = 37
Comparator
Methylene blue 15 mg
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
195 mgAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
It also reduced the symptoms of anxiety measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (P = 0.02).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a double-blind crossover study of a low dose (15 mg, 'placebo') and an active dose (195 mg) of methylene blue in patients with bipolar disorder treated with lamotrigine.
Summary · context
Thirty-seven participants were enrolled in a 6-month trial (trial registration: NCT00214877).
Report a problemFND-2728408203
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In bipolar patients receiving methylene blue, mania symptoms remained low and stable throughout the study.
In plain wordsIn bipolar patients receiving methylene blue, mania symptoms remained low and stable throughout the study.
Peptide
Methylene blue
Outcome
No significant changeMania symptoms
Study
n = 37
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
The symptoms of mania remained low and stable throughout the study.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a double-blind crossover study of a low dose (15 mg, 'placebo') and an active dose (195 mg) of methylene blue in patients with bipolar disorder treated with lamotrigine.
Summary · context
Thirty-seven participants were enrolled in a 6-month trial (trial registration: NCT00214877).
Report a problemFND-2728408204
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In lamotrigine-treated bipolar patients, methylene blue had no significant effect on cognitive symptoms versus the low-dose control.
In plain wordsIn lamotrigine-treated bipolar patients, methylene blue did not significantly change cognitive symptoms compared with the low-dose control.
Peptide
Methylene blue
Outcome
No significant changeCognitive symptoms
Study
n = 37
Comparator
Methylene blue 15 mg
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
195 mgAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The effects of methylene blue on cognitive symptoms were not significant.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a double-blind crossover study of a low dose (15 mg, 'placebo') and an active dose (195 mg) of methylene blue in patients with bipolar disorder treated with lamotrigine.
Summary · context
Thirty-seven participants were enrolled in a 6-month trial (trial registration: NCT00214877).
Report a problemFND-2728408205
06HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In bipolar patients, methylene blue was well tolerated with transient, mild side effects.
In plain wordsIn bipolar patients, methylene blue was well tolerated with temporary, mild side effects.
Peptide
Methylene blue
Outcome
Not applicableTolerability and unspecified side effects
Study
n = 37
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
The medication was well tolerated with transient and mild side-effects.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a double-blind crossover study of a low dose (15 mg, 'placebo') and an active dose (195 mg) of methylene blue in patients with bipolar disorder treated with lamotrigine.
Summary · context
Thirty-seven participants were enrolled in a 6-month trial (trial registration: NCT00214877).
Report a problemFND-2728408206

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · 1 completed · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedPhase 3NCT00214877

Methylene Blue for Cognitive Dysfunction in Bipolar Disorder

Nova Scotia Health Authorityn = 40Nov 2003 to Oct 2007

Bipolar Disorder

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 1 Apr 2008

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
14 Oct 2026, 05:02 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
14 Oct 2026, 01:46 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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