Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 4 Interventional Ages 18 to 60

Using patient education and duloxetine to treat multisystem functional somatic disorder

Official title: Efficacy of Patient Education and Duloxetine, Alone or in Combination, for Patients With Multisystem Functional Somatic Disorder

Run by University of Aarhus · NCT06232473 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if combining patient education with the medication duloxetine can help people with multisystem functional somatic disorder feel better compared to other treatments.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 60 Years
SexAll
Enrollment424 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Aarhus
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Aarhus)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJanuary 1, 2024
Main results expectedNovember 1, 2027
Study endsNovember 1, 2029
Registry record updatedJanuary 30, 2024
Trial IDNCT06232473 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates for this study are individuals diagnosed with multisystem functional somatic disorder who have experienced symptoms for at least six months.

Probably not a fit

Patients with unstable concurrent physical or psychiatric illnesses may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of patient education and duloxetine in treating multisystem functional somatic disorder (FSD). Participants will be assigned to one of six treatment groups, including patient education alone, duloxetine, and combinations of both. The study will compare the outcomes of these treatments against a placebo and usual care to determine which approach yields the best results for managing FSD symptoms. The trial seeks to provide insights into the role of education in enhancing treatment efficacy for patients with complex, medically unexplained symptoms.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide new treatment options that effectively alleviate symptoms for patients suffering from multisystem functional somatic disorder.

How similar studies have gone: While evidence on treatment options for multisystem FSD is emerging, the specific combination of patient education and duloxetine has not been extensively tested, making this approach relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria for the parent trial:

* A diagnosis of multisystem functional somatic disorder (operationalized as fulfilling the criteria for the research diagnosis multiorgan bodily distress syndrome)
* Symptoms present for at least six months at the time of inclusion
* Multisystem functional somatic disorder is the predominant health complaint, i.e. concurrent physical or psychiatric illness is stable and well controlled and symptoms can be separated from BDS symptoms
* Understands and speaks Danish fluently and is able to follow and benefit from an educational program
* First-time referral to specialized treatment for functional somatic disorder

Additional inclusion criteria for the nested study drug trial:

* Use of efficient contraception for women in the fertile age (contractive pills, intrauterine device, deposit injections of gestagen, subdermal implant, hormone vaginal ring, or transdermal deposit plaster)
* Men with a pregnant or non-pregnant female partner in the fertile age must use a condom in the full length of the trial plus a minimum of one week after end of study drug treatment

Exclusion criteria for parent trial:

* Participation in psychotherapy or educational programs specifically for FSD within the past 12 months
* Current or previous diagnosis of mania, bipolar disorder, psychosis, severe agitation, imminent deliria or psychotic symptoms
* SCAN or clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe depression, anxiety or other psychiatric disorders
* Current affective disorder requiring fast initiation or continuation of psychiatric pharmacological treatment or psychiatric monitoring
* Alcohol, substance or medicine abuse or addiction

Additional exclusion criteria for the nested trial

* Treatment with duloxetine for a period of at least 8 successive weeks within the past 6 months
* Allergy to study medication or excipients in study medication
* Serious or unstabile somatic illness, e.g. stroke, Alzheimers disease, ischemic heart disease, epilepsy, fructose intolerance, glucosegalactose malabsorption, invertase-isomaltase insufficiency, increased intraocular pressure, uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma, hemodialysis, hemophilia, reduced platelet function, increased bleeding tendency, Raynaud's phenomenon, uncontrolled hypertension, prostate hypertrophy, urin retension or previous anaphylactic shock
* Severe renal impairment with creatinine clearance \<30 ml / min. (risk of increased plasma concentration of duloxetine)
* Liver disease with reduced function with affected blood tests (risk of increased plasma concentration of duloxetine)
* Sweat gland disorder (risk of hyperthermia in high temperatures related to use of benztropine)
* Current pregnancy or lactation
* Concomitant use of CNS-acting drugs (drugs with pain-modulating or antidepressant properties and others) besides paracetamol and ibuprofen (escape medication in restricted doses). When clinically relevant and safe, the prohibited medication is gradually titrated down at the time of study inclusion, and treatments are discontinued at least 2 weeks before the study drug treatment begins)
* Concomitant use of drugs interacting with or contraindicating duloxetine treatment, e.g. serotonergic antidepressants (SSRI og TCA præparater, e.g. clomipramine or amitriptyline), dietary supplement St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), venlafaxine, MAO inhibitants or triptanes, tramadol, pethidin and tryptophan (risik of serotonin syndrome)
* Concomitant use of potent CYP1A2-inhibitants, e.g. fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacine og enoxacine (risk of increased plasma concentration of duloxetine)
* Concomitant use of non-selective, irreversible or selective, reversible monoaminoxidase (MAO) inhibitants; at least 14 days between termination of treatment with MAO-inhibitants and beginning of treatment with duloxetine. Additionally, treatment with MAO-inhibitants are not allowed before duloxetine treatment has been terminated for 5 days (risk of serotonin syndrome)

Where it's running

  • Research Cinic for Functional Disorders
    Aarhus, Denmark
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Lise K Gormsen, MD, PhD — Department of Funtional disorders, Aarhus University Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Lise Gormsen, MD, PhD
  • Email: lisgorm@rm.dk
  • Phone: +4578464310

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.