View clinical trials related to Depressive Disorder.
Filter by:Recent studies show that 25 – 30% of depressed patients never fully recover, resulting in a treatment-resistant condition. Thus, depression is a major cause of human suffering. We are interested in finding new ways of identifying and alleviating treatment-resistant depression, and we believe that recent advances in brain imaging can contribute to achieving that goal. In this project, we will use a novel compound ([N-methyl-11C]mirtazapine) that we invented for examining the neurochemistry of brain receptors involved in antidepressant actions. Our compound, [N-methyl-11C]mirtazapine, is closely related to the clinically effective antidepressant drug mirtazapine (Remeron®). It labels several types of noradrenergic receptors that have often been implicated in “stress reactions” as well as depressive disorders. We believe that our compound can identify specific molecular brain dysfunctions that are causally related to treatment-resistant depression. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a reliable relationship between the level of mirtazapine in the bloodstream and the occupancy of neuroreceptors by mirtazapine in the brain. We will apply our standard procedures of PET brain scanning and region-of-interest data analysis, using healthy volunteers who will receive a daily dose of mirtazapine (double-blind design with placebo, 7.5 mg or 15 mg daily for 5 days). We believe that this project could provide a procedure for assessing brain function in treatment-resistant depression, with the aim of improving the guidelines for successful, evidence-based treatment of depression.
About 30% of patients with major depression are treatment resistant to pharmacological treatment. In the search for new methods to treat depression a great interest has been put into the use of electromagnetic fields. This study tests the hypothesis that ultra-weak electromagnetic fields with a specific wave pattern (PEMF = pulsed electro magnetic fields) can alleviate the symptoms of depression.
Context - As men age, testosterone levels decline leading to symptoms that overlap with the symptoms of major depression. Little is known about the potential role of testosterone in the treatment of major depression.Objective - To assess the levels of bioavailable testosterone and total levels of testosterone in men diagnosed with major depressive disorder between the ages of 40 and 65.Design, Setting and Participants - 50 men between the ages of 40 and 65 and who suffer from major depressive disorder will be compared with 50 age matched healthy controls in an outpatient hospital setting. Main Outcome Measures - Bioavailable testosterone and total testosterone levels will be measured as well as blood pressure, pulse rate, height, weight, waist and hip measurements. Medical and psychiatric history will be assessed by the study physician. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) will be used to administered by the physician to ensure that the patient meets the DSM-IV criteria for Major Depression. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) will be used to assess depression symptom severity. A Symptom/Side Effect Rating Scale will also be administered to measure the presence and severity of side effects that each patient may be experiencing. In addition, the SEX FX questionnaire will be administered. Each patient will be asked to complete a series of self-report measures including the Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale Questionnaire (SASS), the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).
The purpose of this study is to assess whether the dysphoric-like depressive characteristics observed in people with epilepsy are unique to this patient population in comparison to three control groups: Mild Depression (enrolled at Stanford University), Migraine Headaches (enrolled at Long Island Jewish Medical Center), and Multiple Sclerosis (enrolled at Rush University Medical Center).
The purpose of this study is to see whether the medication mifepristone is an effective and tolerable treatment for increasing the clinical effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and protecting cognitive function during ECT. Both Mifepristone and ECT appear to normalize hyperfunctioning of the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has been found among patients with major depression referred for ECT. The combination of these two treatments in major depression may lead to a more rapid clinical response than ECT alone. Additionally, there appears to be a connection between pre-ECT higher cortisol levels due to HPA axis hyperfunctioning and post-ECT cognitive impairment. Administration of mifepristone prior to and during ECT treatment may reduce cortisol levels and reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment observed after ECT.
Objective of this 16-week, open-label study is to assess the safety and tolerability of once daily application of three doses of STS during continuous dosing in the treatment of elderly subjects with major depression. Subjects will have study visits (clinic visits) at beginning of study (baseline) and study weeks 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, and 16.
This study involves a form of group therapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT for depressed patients with Epilepsy. The CBT groups will be tailored for an epilepsy clinic population. There are 12 sessions of therapy in the study held once a week for 12 weeks.
This is an 8 week study for patients who are currently taking antidepressant medication but not fully responding. Ropinirole CR would be taken in conjunction with current antidepressant medication. Patients come into the clinic once a week when starting on the medication and then once every other week for the remainder of the 8 weeks.
The primary purpose of this study was to test the whether high-risk, HIV-seronegative persons with mild-to-moderate depression would be more likely to adopt protective behavior change when provided with pharmacotherapy for their depression than when treated with placebo. High-risk behaviors include using illegal drugs and participating in unprotected sexual intercourse. The specific pharmacotherapy used in this study was the anti-depressant, bupropion. The subject population consisted of HIV negative men who have sex with men (MSM) with mild-to-moderate depression.
This study is designed to determine the safety and effectiveness of vilazodone for major depressive disorder and to discover genetic markers associated with response. This study will enroll approximately 400 patients.