View clinical trials related to Depressive Disorder.
Filter by:This study is a randomized controlled trial (comparing "occupational activities" versus "dog-assisted therapy" arms) investigating the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy with dogs in small groups of participants with depression. Patients in the "dog-assisted therapy" arm will participate in two group sessions (groups of 3 to 7 participants) of canine-assisted therapy, supervised by a healthcare professional certified in animal-assisted therapy alongside a psychiatric caregiver, for 30 minutes each week over 6 weeks. Patients in the "occupational activities" arm will participate in two group sessions (groups of 3 to 7 participants) of occupational activities, supervised by a healthcare professional experienced in group occupational activities alongside a psychiatric caregiver, for 30 minutes each week over 6 weeks.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the one-year trajectory of cognitive change in elderly patients with depression, to explore the transfer characteristics and transfer rules of various states of cognitive impairment in patients, to predict the relevant risk factors of cognitive decline, and to find possible influencing factors affecting state change, so as to provide a theoretical basis and reference for subsequent targeted intervention research on geriatric depression.
Study group: Experimental study to evaluate empathy, compassion, and nature connectedness before and after an immersive virtual reality experience in patients with depressive disorder, patients with psychotic disorder and healthy control subjects (subjects between 18 and 65 years of age). Primary hypothesis: The increase in nature connectedness explored by virtual body ownership of a tree in VR differs depending on the health condition (schizophrenia, depression, healthy controls).
Perinatal depression is a highly prevalent and serious health issue during pregnancy. According to statistics, approximately one out of every ten postpartum women experiences this condition. Symptoms can manifest as mood fluctuations or emotional lows. Unfortunately, these symptoms are often overlooked by patients themselves or misinterpreted by others as normal adjustments to the new role of motherhood. Consequently, timely assistance and support are frequently lacking. To address this, the investigators urgently need effective preventive measures for perinatal depression before it escalates. Recent research suggests that simple oral supplementation of vitamin B6 may help prevent and alleviate perinatal depression to some extent. Vitamin B6 plays several crucial roles in the body, including regulating neurotransmission and mental health. Therefore, it could contribute to maintaining emotional stability and psychological balance. In contemporary times, numerous screening methods for perinatal depression involve questionnaires. However, these methods presuppose an awareness of the possibility of perinatal depression. Individuals who are unaware of these questionnaires may go undetected. Hence, our aim is to investigate whether cardiac electrophysiology results obtained through a wearable device could offer a more objective evaluation of the status of perinatal depression. Our plan involves conducting a prospective study to delve deeper into the preventive and therapeutic effects of vitamin B6 on perinatal depression in pregnant women. Through systematic experiments and data analysis, the investigators aim to explore the impact of vitamin B6 dosage, duration, and timing of administration. Ultimately, the investigators hope to provide evidence-based recommendations and guidance for clinical practice. The investigators' goal is to offer new insights and methods to protect the mental health of expectant mothers, ensuring a pleasant and healthy pregnancy journey for each one.
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose laser acupuncture (LLA) in alleviating insomnia symptoms among patients suffering from major depressive disorder. The study seeks to answer the following questions: 1. How effective is LLA in alleviating insomnia symptoms as compare with SLA and control subjects among patients with major depressive disorder across pre-treatment, mid-treatment and post-treatment assessment? 2. What role do CORT and 5-HT play in the co-occurrence and progression of insomnia and major depressive disorder, and how does LLA act on these mechanisms to provide relief? 3. Does LLA enhance the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions in treating insomnia and major depressive disorder when used as an adjunctive treatment? 4. How does the safety and acceptability of LLA compare to traditional acupuncture in terms of eliminating discomfort and potential side effects? Researchers will compare the effects of LLA with sham laser acupuncture (SLA) and standard medication treatments to evaluate its efficacy and safety. Participants involved in this study will: Undergo 30 treatment sessions with LLA or SLA, five times a week for six weeks. Continue their usual pharmacological treatments for major depressive disorder. Participants will undergo comprehensive assessments at key points: pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and 12 weeks post-treatment. These evaluations will measure sleep quality indices, levels of depression and anxiety, and blood levels of CORT and 5-HT to assess the impact of LLA on insomnia symptoms and biochemical markers. Additionally, participant acceptance and the safety of the treatment will be monitored, including recording any adverse events and medication usage, to determine the effectiveness and safety of LLA in treating insomnia associated with major depressive disorder. By focusing on these elements, the study aims to provide clear, actionable insights into the benefits and risks of LLA as a treatment option for insomnia associated with major depressive disorder, enhancing the current treatment landscape and patient outcomes.
Current first-line treatments for major depression (antidepressants and psychotherapy) show a long latency to response, and less than half of all patients experience full remission with optimized treatment, indicating the need for new developments. The aim of this study is to extend and further develop a longstanding line of research of using sleep neurophysiology as a 'window to the brain' and treatment development in major depression. Particularly, this project is designed to test the feasibility, efficacy and mechanisms of action of a new sleep-based treatment technology.
The goal of this open clinical trial is to try out and evaluate a group metacognitive treatment protocol, for adolescents aged 15-18 years of age with anxiety and/or depression and an autism diagnosis. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How does the recruitment to the study work and what is the retention rate? 2. What is the level of participant compliance? 3. Is the treatment adherence satisfactory, are there any practical problems with treatment delivery? 4. Are the outcome measures and assessment procedures feasible? 5. Do the participants accept the treatment, are there any reports of adverse effects? 6. What are the preliminary effects of the treatment regarding 1. Symptoms of anxiety and/or depression 2. Quality of life 3. Functional impairment 4. Subjective level of stress 5. Central metacognitive processes 7. Are changes in metacognitive processes related to changes in anxiety and depression? The participants will partake in metacognitive group treatment of 10 sessions following an initial screening.
War-related violence is a leading driver of mental disorders and illness affecting children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Parents exposed early in life to war-related violence and loss are at risk for mental health problems and may pass risks to their offspring. The study posits that war-related trauma alters the stress-response circuitry in ways that endure into adulthood and affect the next generation. This will be the first investigation in a 20-year longitudinal study to examine mechanisms that link parental war-related trauma exposure and subsequent mental health problems to risk for mental disorders in offspring. This study will extend the first intergenerational study of war in Sub-Saharan Africa (R01HD073349) to focus on children (aged 7-24) born to war-affected parents. Assessments of behavioral and biological indicators of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)-linked constructs of self-regulation and stress reactivity will be collected, including autonomic nervous system reactivity, inflammation, and telomere length as well as sophisticated observations of parent-child interactions and synchrony. These measures will be utilized to identify potentially modifiable risk and protective processes both to inform the development of screening tools to identify families at risk for poor child mental health and to be deployed as active ingredients of interventions to reduce transmission of mental health problems to children of war-affected parents. This follow-up study involves the following activities: 1. Pilot to assess measure performance and field test study protocols. 1. Translation and adaptation of newly selected measures 2. Pilot study of new child and adult measures with 36 caregivers and 60 children in a district of Sierra Leone unlinked to participants to test the feasibility and validity of new tools. 2. Fifth wave of data collection from war-affected youth who are now parents and their children aged 7-24. 1. Household tracking and re-enrollment of 145 households that were formerly enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of War-Affected Youth (LSWAY; T1: 2002, T2: 2004, T3: 2008, T4: 2016). 2. Quantitative (full sample) and qualitative (subsample) data collection with 145 households who were enrolled in T4 LSWAY, including war-affected youth who are now parents, their intimate partners, and their children aged 7-24. Through these activities, the investigators will test three overarching hypotheses: 1. Childhood war-related trauma exposure will be associated with mental difficulties (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, disruptions of emotion regulation). 2. Poor mental health in war-affected parents will be associated with emotional and behavioral disruptions in biological offspring. 3. Risk and protective factors across the social ecology may serve as intervention targets to mitigate the effects of parental war-related trauma on behavioral disruptions and stress physiology, both within and across generations.
Background: ECT is an effective treatment indicated for patients with treatment resistant depression. Although most patients display some degree of recovery, 32-52% do not respond or remit at all. Considering the possible side effects and the considerably high cost of treatment, it is important to identify sub-populations that would benefit the most from ECT. In the current study we sought to identify predictive molecular markers in the blood of depressed patients who are responsive to ECT. Methods: Patients, ages 18-70, with the diagnosis of treatment-resistant depression will be recruited. Participants will undergo psychiatric and psychological assessments, before (baseline) and 12 weeks after ECT initiation. Assessments will include the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRAS), Clinical Global Improvement and Severity Scales (CGI-S, CGI-I), Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Blood samples for serum and isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)will be collected at baseline and the 12-week end-of-treatment time points for molecular analysis.
The present study aims to develop a culturally and methodologically adapted EMDR therapy protocol, determine its treatment fidelity, and then clinically test its efficacy in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in Pakistan by utilizing both in-person and online modalities of EMDR therapy.