Neurotrophic Factors and Depression (Lex/BDNF)
Depression
About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Depression focused on measuring Depression, BDNF, neurotrophic factor, neurosetroid, allopregnanolone
Eligibility Criteria
Male subjects with unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (DSM-IV) with a minimum score of 22 on the 10-item Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) who were medication-free for at least 6 weeks, were enrolled. Fifteen individually age-matched (+ 3 years) healthy male controls with no history of psychiatric illness were also enrolled. Subjects' ages ranged from 22- 55 y.o. (mean + S.D.= 41.4 + 8.75 y.o.). All subjects were required to pass a urine toxicology screen (assessing the presence of drugs of abuse) on the day of testing.
Exclusion Criteria:
Individuals with co-morbid panic disorder were excluded, since they may poorly tolerate typical starting doses of antidepressants , and individuals with co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorder were excluded, since they may have neuroendocrine regulatory responses different from those of depressed subjects without PTSD. Exclusion criteria for both groups included recent (within 6 months) alcohol or drug abuse as defined by DSM-IV criteria, concurrent psychotherapeutic interventions, poor medical health or abnormal clinical labs, active suicidality, and use of medications that could interfere with the study.
Sites / Locations
- University of California San Francisco
- UCSF
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Placebo Comparator
Experimental
Placebo
Escitalopram