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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Effects of Acute Exercise and Ibuprofen on Symptoms, Immunity, and Neural Circuits in Bipolar Depression

Effects of Acute Exercise and Ibuprofen on Symptoms, Immunity, and Neural Circuits in Bipolar Depression (NCT06088732) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Bipolar Depression, sponsored by Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc.. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This is a 2x2, within-subjects, cross-over trial to test the anti-depressant effects of acute exercise in 20 participants with bipolar depression. Participants will complete four experimental sessions, two with an exercise challenge and two with a resting control condition in a counterbalanced order. Participants will receive either 800mg of ibuprofen or placebo before exercise or rest in order to test whether blocking the inflammatory response to exercise interferes with the neural and psychological effects of exercise.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Bipolar Depression, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 20 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Provision of signed and dated willing to sign a consent form form 2. Has an established residence and phone 3. Agrees to and is eligible for behavioral testing, magnetic resonance imaging, and blood draws. 4. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and lifestyle considerations (see Section 5.3, Lifestyle Considerations) and availability for the duration of the study 5. Males and females; Age 18-55 years 6. DSM-V diagnosis of bipolar disorder 7. Has a current major depressive episode 8. Depression at enrollment of sufficient severity to score \> 11 on the QIDS 9. Be stably medicated for at least 4 weeks (a non-medicated subject may be included in the study if judged to be appropriate in the medical/psychiatric opinion of the investigator) 10. BMI between 18.5 and 35 Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. Diagnosis of any other major psychiatric disorder such as schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, or current psychotic depression 2. A history of bipolar disorder with rapid cycling 3. Concurrent manic symptoms of sufficient severity to pose a substantial risk of the development of a manic episode (\>19 on the YMRS) 4. Current drug or alcohol or substance use disorder moderate or severe, except nicotine (within 6 months for severe use disorder; 2 months for moderate use disorder) 5. Volunteers currently receiving more than 4 mood-relevant psychotropic medications in a daily regimen (since this may signify a more brittle or complex clinical state) 6. Taking any of the following medications: medications with significant interactions with ibuprofen; immune-modulating medications (e.g. oral steroids); regular use of NSAIDs (\> 3 times per week) 7. Current or prior cardiac disease, cardiac arrhythmia (e.g. supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation), or history of cardiac ablation therapy ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form 2. Has an established residence and phone 3. Agrees to and is eligible for behavioral testing, magnetic resonance imaging, and blood draws. 4. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and lifestyle considerations (see Section 5.3, Lifestyle Considerations) and availability for the duration of the study 5. Males and females; Age 18-55 years 6. DSM-V diagnosis of bipolar disorder 7. Has a current major depressive episode 8. Depression at enrollment of sufficient severity to score \> 11 on the QIDS 9. Be stably medicated for at least 4 weeks (a non-medicated subject may be included in the study if judged to be appropriate in the medical/psychiatric opinion of the investigator) 10. BMI between 18.5 and 35 Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of any other major psychiatric disorder such as schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, or current psychotic depression 2. A history of bipolar disorder with rapid cycling 3. Concurrent manic symptoms of sufficient severity to pose a substantial risk of the development of a manic episode (\>19 on the YMRS) 4. Current drug or alcohol or substance use disorder moderate or severe, except nicotine (within 6 months for severe use disorder; 2 months for moderate use disorder) 5. Volunteers currently receiving more than 4 mood-relevant psychotropic medications in a daily regimen (since this may signify a more brittle or complex clinical state) 6. Taking any of the following medications: medications with significant interactions with ibuprofen; immune-modulating medications (e.g. oral steroids); regular use of NSAIDs (\> 3 times per week) 7. Current or prior cardiac disease, cardiac arrhythmia (e.g. supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation), or history of cardiac ablation therapy 8. Unstable medical condition, including significant respiratory disease (e.g., asthma, reactive airway disease (i.e., exercise induced asthma), or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), liver disease, hypothyroidism (i.e., condition not adequately stabilized for 3 months), or other conditions likely to require hospitalization or with a life expectancy of \< 6 months (e.g., cancer). 9. History of claustrophobia that would prevent participation in imaging scans 10. Actively suicidal, as defined by expressive ideation with a plan and intent for suicide or developing suicidal ideation that requires immediate medical or treatment intervention or a suicide attempt within the previous six months 11. Participants who endorse a history of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (\>30 min. loss of consciousness or \>24 hours posttraumatic amnesia) or other neurocognitive disorder with evidence of neurological deficits 12. Inadequate understanding of English 13. Currently pregnant or breast-feeding; fecund women not using adequate contraceptive methods; plan to become pregnant within 12 months 14. Metal in the body (e.g. history of working as a sheet metal worker) or pacemaker which is a contra-indication to magnetic resonance imaging 15. Has epilepsy, a neuromuscular disorder, or tardive dyskinesia 16. Has a chronic infectious illness 17. Requires immediate hospitalization for psychiatric disorder 18. Requires medications for a general medical condition that contraindicate any study medication 19. Receiving or have received during the index episode vagus nerve stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or other somatic treatments 20. Allergy to, or other medical contraindication to ibuprofen (e.g. stomach ulcers) 21. Symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or "long-COVID". 22. Current use of medications or dietary supplements for weight or appetite control, whether prescribed or not 23. Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or other autoimmune disorder (except treated hypothyroidism) 24. Activity restrictions that limit the subject's ability to engage in intense physical activity 25. Use of beta-blockers, calcium channel inhibitors, or other heart-modulating medications (e.g., amiodarone) 26. Clinically significant abnormality on EKG 27. Hypertension, hepatitis, renal dysfunction, and/or anemia of sufficient severity to pose a risk to the participant 28. Moderate or heavy smoker based on Fagerstrom 29. Resting heart rate \>100 beats per minute, systolic blood pressure \> 160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg 30. Clinically significant screening laboratory abnormalities not covered above 31. Any reason not listed herein that would make participation in the study hazardous

Treatments Being Tested

OTHER

Exercise Session

30 min cycling on bicycle ergometer at 60% peak power output

DRUG

Ibuprofen 800 mg

A single oral dose of Ibuprofen

OTHER

Rest

Resting for 30 min in chair

DRUG

Placebo

Matched placebo

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Laureate Institute for Brain Research
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06088732), the sponsor (Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc.), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06088732 clinical trial studying?

This is a 2x2, within-subjects, cross-over trial to test the anti-depressant effects of acute exercise in 20 participants with bipolar depression. Participants will complete four experimental sessions, two with an exercise challenge and two with a resting control condition in a counterbalanced order. Participants will receive either 800mg of ibuprofen or placebo before exercise or rest in order to test whether blocking the inflammatory response to exercise interferes with the neural and psychological effects of exercise. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06088732?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06088732?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06088732. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06088732. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.