Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Depression

Depression Clinical Trial

— GenRED  

Official title:

Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Depression

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00005914
• Other study ID #: R01MH061686-01
• Secondary ID: R01MH061686-01R0
• Status: Completed
• Start date: October 1999
• Est. completion date: October 2005

Study information

• Verified date: April 2019
• Source: Stanford University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

This nationwide study will create a DNA collection to permit qualified scientists to search for depression-related genes.

More than 750 families with at least two siblings who have experienced major depression are needed for the study. Participants will be interviewed about psychiatric and family history, and will be asked to provide a small blood specimen. The identification of predisposing genes can lead to greater understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in severe depression which can in turn lead to the discovery of new treatments.

A Certificate of Confidentiality from the federal government ensures that all information will be strictly confidential. Blood specimens are identified only by code number (not by name).

Reimbursement is provided.

Description:

Studies of patterns of major depression in families suggest that 50 to 70% of the predisposition to major depression is caused by genes. People with recurrent depression and earlier ages of onset have more relatives with depression. There are probably at least several interacting genes, rather than a single gene as in some disorders. The identification of predisposing genes is likely to lead to greater understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in severe depression. This could lead to the discovery of new treatments.

This study will create a DNA collection to permit qualified scientists to search for depression-related genes. More than 750 families with at least two siblings who have experienced major depression are needed for the study.

Participants in this study will be interviewed about psychiatric and family history, and will be asked for a small blood specimen. Interviews can be conducted in person or by telephone. For telephone interviews, blood sample collection will be arranged at a location and time convenient for the participant. Participants will also be asked for help in inviting other family members to participate. No family member will be contacted without the permission and assistance of another participating family member.

For information on a related study, please follow this link:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00260182

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 2533
• Est. completion date: October 2005
• Est. primary completion date: October 2005
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 70 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Families that have at least TWO ADULT SIBLINGS (brother/brother; sister/sister; brother/sister) who have experienced major depression.

• Depression must be RECURRENT (more than one episode).

• Depression must have started at age 30 or less in one sibling, and at age 40 or less in the other sibling.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants cannot have Bipolar I (manic-depressive) disorder or schizophrenia.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Depression
• Depressive Disorder

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Johns Hopkins University	Baltimore	Maryland
United States	Rush Presbyterian - Saint Luke's Med Ctr	Chicago	Illinois
United States	Univ of Iowa Hosp and Clinic	Iowa City	Iowa
United States	New York State Psychiatric Institute / Columbia Univ	New York	New York
United States	Univ of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania
United States	Univ of Pittsburgh / Western Psychiatric Inst and Clinic	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Stanford University	National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Major depressive disorder	Participants will attend an interview regarding personal and family history of psychiatric disorders, and give a blood specimen. Genotypes from blood samples will be studied for genetic linkage (within families) with the presence of major depressive disorder.	One patient interview session (typically 2 hours), and blood draw (10-20 minutes)

External Links

•   Web site for New York Psychiatric Institute
•   Web site for University of Iowa