View clinical trials related to Depressive Disorder, Major.
Filter by:This is a research study to examine the effectiveness of a brief screening method that may predict which people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression are most likely to show a positive response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications. Participants will be recruited over approximately 5.25 years, until at least 94 participants complete the 17 week study.
The diagnosis of major depression relies on patient reports, and two patients with the same diagnosis might share only one symptom. Thus, a single mechanism is unlikely to underlie a broad descriptive diagnosis such as major depression. Our approach is anchored by a neural circuit taxonomy that proposes distinct biotypes of depression derived from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (Williams et al., 2016). In this study, we aim to target a putative type of major depression that arises from dysfunction in cognitive control neural circuitry with a drug called guanfacine.
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled to evaluate the potential role of nutrients supplementation (LF chocolate /Erinacine A-enriched Hericium Erinaceus chocolate) on the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressants in major depressive disorder(MDD). 120 subjects who meet all the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomized into three categories, receiving 3 pieces of supplement nutrients-added or plain chocolates per day for a period of 24 weeks in total. The three categories are as follow: 1. LF chocolate 2. Erinacine A-enriched Hericium Erinaceus chocolate 3. Plain chocolate without any supplementary nutrients added (placebo group) These MDD patients will continue their antidepressant regimen throughout the study. Symptom rating, blood samples for antidepressant-related/depressive disorder-related genome profiles identification, as well as for biomarkers assessment for metabolic indices, questionnaires and tests for psychosocial variables identification and patient's cognitive and social cognitive function or performance determination, will be carried out before and at certain time points within the 24-week tracking period. Patient's fecal samples will be acquired to recognize and to distinguish the alterations of these MDD patients microbiota profiles over the 24-week period.
Schizophrenia and depression are among the most disabling disorders in all of medicine. Cognitive deficits play a key role in patients' disability, affecting their capacity to contribute actively to society by sustaining employment or academic activity. Moreover, cognitive difficulties tend to persist even after the stabilization of other clinical symptoms. Verbal memory and emotion regulation are two important cognitive domains that are impaired in schizophrenia and depression and are associated with patients' functional outcomes. In this study, we are using brain imaging to investigate the brain mechanisms underlying these cognitive deficits in these populations.
Suicide accounts for at least 1 million deaths globally each year. This is likely a significant underestimate, because suicide is under-reported in many countries. In the US, over 42,000 people die from suicide annually. Despite increased focus on identification and treatment, the rate of suicide has increased steadily over the past 15 years. Our project aims both to improve our understanding of factors that increase the risk for suicide by comparing blood biomarkers associated with inflammation in patients with depression without suicidal behavior and patients with depression and suicidal behavior. The 160 individuals in this study will be followed with psychiatric assessments and blood samples at repeated time points over one year.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating disease characterized by depressed mood, diminished interests, impaired cognitive function and vegetative symptoms, such as disturbed sleep or appetite. MDD affects one in six adults in their lifetime. To date, decisions regarding specific treatment protocols for MDD are based on clinical experience and risk factors with limited data on outcome prediction. In addition, since it takes 8 weeks to assess if a treatment is successful, the long and often unsuccessful search for an effective antidepressant is accompanied by significant decrease in patients' quality of life, an increased risk of suicidal action, and decreased chance of response and remission with each attempt. This has led to examination of various markers (e.g., neuroimaging, electrophysiological, genetic and behavioral) in an attempt to predict the response to various forms of treatments, including pharmacotherapies and TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) for depression. Elminda had developed a novel, non-invasive imaging EEG-based technology, Brain Network Analytics (BNA), for visualization and quantification of specific brain functions. The rationale of the study is to develop a reliable marker for MDD treatment outcome based on the BNA.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a Health Canada approved treatment for major depression. Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is a very promising new treatment for major depression that allows a 15-fold reduction in duration of daily sessions. However, no large scale naturalistic study has assessed the superiority of bilateral TBS in comparison with unilateral left TBS. In fact, no TBS study thus far has included both unipolar and bipolar depression, or other psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety. Maintenance has yet to be studied with TBS, along with an effective maintenance protocol to prevent relapse. Our study aims to explore and address these gaps.
Targeted and individualized treatments for mental health disorders are critically needed. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) represents the front-line of new and innovative approaches to normalizing dysfunctional brain networks in those with mental illness. rTMS is FDA-approved for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder with clinical trials underway for PTSD and addiction, among others. However, remission rates are suboptimal and ideal stimulation parameters are unknown. We recently completed a randomized, double blind clinical trial and a depression severity biomarker that predicts clinical outcome. The overarching goal of this study is to develop the first broadly generalizable platform for real-time biomarker monitoring and personalized rTMS treatment. We plan to recruit patients with medication-resistant depression and in perform a four-phase, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to 1) identify how standard and optimized rTMS patterns engage the depression severity biomarker, and 2) determine the dose-response of these rTMS patterns. Findings from this study will provide the basis for a double-blind, randomized clinical trial comparing rTMS optimized to the individual against standard rTMS.
Previous research has shown that modulation of a brain region in rodents, the ventral tegmental area (VTA), improves depressive symptoms. Human research has also shown that VTA self-modulation using 'biofeedback' is feasible and successful in healthy volunteers. This biofeedback procedure is a type of cognitive training that includes real-time feedback about brain signal levels from the VTA. Our question is whether VTA self-modulation with biofeedback can influence depression symptoms.
Lycium barbarum, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is a commonly used herb in the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia. Its main active ingredient, lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), is reported to have neuroprotective effects. Animal studies suggested that LBP has neuroprotective effect on optic ganglion cells. In animal models of depression, LBP can improve depressive symptom by improving synaptic plasticity. However, its clinical effect remains to be studied. We will conduct a 6-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-con-trolled trial in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of LBP in patients with MDD.