View clinical trials related to Depressive Disorder.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to examine calcium absorption and bone mineral density in women with depression. Research indicates that pre-menopausal women with depression have significantly lower bone mineral density (BMD) than pre-menopausal women without depression. Although the mechanisms of BMD loss are unclear, researchers believe that individuals with depression have impaired calcium absorption. However, it is unknown whether the abnormal absorption is a result of depression or a side effect of the drugs used to treat it. This study will compare calcium absorption in women with depression and in healthy women without depression. Participants in this study will be given two non-radioactive calcium isotopes. One can be taken by mouth and the other must be injected. Participants will have the level of isotopes in their urine measured to estimate true fractional calcium absorption (TFCA). Participants may also have a dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to measure total body adiposity and lean body mass.
For many years researchers have been trying to better understand the regulation of sleep and activity by studying circadian (daily) rhythms of human beings. It appears that the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone play a role in the regulation of circadian rhythm in animals. Researchers believe these hormones may also play a similar role in the regulation of human circadian rhythms. Little research has been conducted on how these hormones affect human circadian rhythms. This study is designed to learn more about how specific hormones influence men and women's daily rhythms. This study will use women from another research study being conducted at the NIMH called, "The central nervous system effects of pharmacologically induced hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with and without estrogen and progesterone". Male subjects will be recruited from another NIMH study called, "The central nervous system effects of pharmacologically induced hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with and without testosterone replacement". In order to test the possibility that gonadal steroids (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) change circadian rhythms and the sleep-wake cycle in humans, participants will undergo chronobiologic evaluations. The chronobiologic evaluations will look at sleep and rest periods, activity as measured by a wrist monitor, and 24 hour inpatient electroencephalograph (EEG), rectal temperature, and melatonin monitoring.
The normal menstrual cycle is produced by a series of hormonal signals that starts with the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is located in the brain and is often referred to as the master gland. GnRH then acts on the pituitary gland and causes it to release two hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizng hormone (LH). LH and FSH act on the ovary and cause it to release the hormones directly involved in menstruation, estrogen and progesterone. The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity as measured by pituitary hormones, FSH and LH in response to intravenous doses of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in menstrual cycle-related hormones.
To test the effectiveness treating AIDS related depression with imipramine hydrochloride. Depression syndromes are commonly associated with chronic, disabling, and fatal diseases. Due to the relentless course of HIV infection, there is a certain reluctance to treat the associated depression. In other illness, it has been proven that treating the depression often results in improvement of overall health status. This is a placebo controlled trial. Half of the patients are given imipramine hydrochloride every day for 6 weeks. Assessment is done by self reports and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Prior to entry all patients are given a psychiatric evaluation. There is a cross over phase in which placebo non responders are entered into an open-label study and given imipramine hydrochloride.
The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two doses of nortriptyline in elderly patients whose depression returned after stopping treatment. Nortriptyline is an antidepressant. This study enrolls patients who were treated for depression in an earlier research study and whose depression has returned since stopping treatment. Patients are treated for 4 months to bring the depression under control. Patients are then assigned randomly (like tossing a coin) to receive either the full dose of nortriptyline or half the usual dose of nortriptyline. Patients continue taking nortriptyline for 2 years or until a major depression returns. Throughout the study, patients are monitored for symptoms of depression and other side effects.
To develop an effective combined cognitive therapy (CT) plus drug treatment for patients with drug-resistant depression (DRD) (i.e., depression that is refractory to medication). To develop a manual for combined treatment for DRD that integrates three existing forms of CT (CT for depression, CT for personality disorders, and CT for anxiety disorders), and that specifies interventions for combining CT and medication when two therapists (psychotherapist and pharmacotherapist) provide the treatment. To obtain outpatient, randomized control, pilot data on the clinical value of the combined CT plus drug treatment, using the standard antidepressant desipramine (DMI), to obtain effect sizes and to determine if the treatment merits further investigation in a clinical trial. To develop a therapist adherence measure for the combined treatment. Patients receive 1 of 2 treatments: CT plus DMI (n = 18) or DMI plus Clinical Management (n = 12). The first 6 of the 18 CT plus DMI patients are treated in a pre-pilot phase before randomization begins. All treatments continue for 6 months. The major assessment battery is administered at intake, 3 months, 6 months, and follow-up 6 months later. All treatments are closely monitored via audiotapes and supervision for purposes of developing and refining the CT plus drug treatment. The audiotapes are also used for development of the adherence measure. The primary outcome measures are Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores, Beck Depression Inventory scores, percent of patients who achieve clinical remission of symptoms, and percent showing attrition from treatment. Compliance with the treatment regimens is also a targeted and measured outcome variable.
The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of two treatments to prevent relapses in seriously ill patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have responded to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Patients will either continue to receive ECT (continuation electroconvulsive therapy [C-ECT]), or they will be treated with antidepressant medications. ECT is a highly effective treatment for MDD; however, relapses are a major concern. To prevent relapse in patients who have responded to ECT, the common treatment is antidepressants as continuation therapy (following the initial therapy in order to continue treating the disorder). Relapses, however, can still occur even after antidepressant continuation therapy. This study will evaluate a potent antidepressant combination in order to prevent relapse. C-ECT is another option that needs to be tested. If the patient responds to the first round of ECT, he/she will be assigned randomly (like tossing a coin) to either continue receiving ECT or to receive an antidepressant combination of nortriptyline plus lithium (NOR-Li) for 6 months. The patient will have psychological tests before, shortly after, and 3 months after the first round of ECT, and at the end of the 6-month continuation trial. Patients will be monitored for symptoms and side effects. All patients will have urine tests to test for drug abuse. An individual may be eligible for this study if he/she: Has major depressive disorder and responds positively to ECT treatment and is 18 to 80 years old.