Active clinical trials for "Depression"

Depressive elderly individuals have showed higher basal level of cortisol and lower level of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Moreover, changes on these hormone levels have also observed in reactivity of an acute stress, such as physical exercise. On the other hand, physical training can modulate the release of these hormones. Therefore, depressive elderly individuals physically actives might show attenuated reactivity of an acute physical stressor compared to sedentary elderly individuals. The aim of these study is to compare the effect of an acute physical stressor on cortisol levels in depressive and healthy individuals, physically actives and sedentaries. Additionally, the sulfated form of DHEA (DHEAS) serves as a reservoir for DHEA, because of that it is expected that DHEAS levels might reduce after the acute physical exercise.

The goal of this proposed pilot study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of a Depression Decision Aid (DDA) protocol integrated into the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and used by nurses with depressed ambulatory care patients. The Depression Decision Aid protocol is a streamlined adaptation of an in-person Shared Decision-Making (SDM) intervention, and its goal is to increase patient involvement in clinically appropriate treatment decision-making as a way of strengthening treatment engagement and outcomes. The protocol guides ambulatory care nurses in helping depressed patients (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] >10) develop informed treatment preferences through a process of education and values clarification. We will target patients in the general medical clinic, whether currently receiving depression treatment or not, because depression is highly prevalent but often poorly managed in this population.

The objective of the research is to test the hypothesis that participating in group-based gardening activities alters brain network activation and function, and that such change occurring in the brain forms the neurobiological basis for much of the nonphysical activity portion of the therapeutic benefits of gardening and horticultural therapy. Assessment of the effects of the gardening activities on the experimental population will take two approaches, the first being the use of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to assess the regions of the brain that may become activated as a consequence of experiencing the cumulative gardening activities and associated stimuli. The allied approach will employ widely used and well-established self-reported assessment instruments that will capture information about the health and well-being that will then provide a psychometrically-based before and after physical and health summary of the participants in the control group and those engaged in the gardening activities.

This study will compare mechanisms of action in two forms of brief psychotherapy for major depressive disorder in adults. A treatment that targets deficits in motivation in depression is expected to show greater improvements in motivation and pursuit of personal goals compared to a second treatment that targets irrational thoughts that are typical in depression.

This study aims to asses whether adding automated text messaging to group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression increases engagement which may lead to improved outcomes.

To date very little research has focused on the mental health of young men. The main aim of the proposed research is to explore the effectiveness of a combined exercise and internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention (called "Back of the Net") on indices of suicide risk in young men. A second aim is to explore the relationship between physical self-concept, self esteem, body fat composition, body circumference and changes in depression as a result of an exercise intervention. It is hypothesised that the combined exercise and internet-delivered CBT intervention will have greater benefits for indices of suicide risk compared to an exercise-only intervention, an internet-delivered CBT-only intervention and a control condition.

This study will test whether an electronic system that monitors and sends messages to help people with depression could be feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective as a treatment.

Patients with HCV infection often suffer from chronic fatigue, depression and reduced cognition, even before evolving severe liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. It is currently unclear to what extent the symptoms er due to a direct pathological effects of the virus itself, or due to pre-existing psychiatric disease. There is a complex relationship between prior or existing drug abuse, psychiatric disease and HCV infection, that makes it difficult to establish cause-effect relationships. A biological mechanism has been suggested to contribute to development of cerebral dysfunction in the patients. According to the prevailing Trojan Horses hypothesis circulating lymphocytes cross the blood brain barrier carrying HCV to the central nervous system and virus is subsequently replicated in the macrophages and the microglia in brain as a separate compartment. As part of the immunological response to viral replication, neurodegenerative processes takes place with a harmful effect on the neural circuit and cerebral function. Identification of HCV RNA negative strand, a replication product, in brain tissue from HCV patients, as part of autopsy studies, supports the hypothesis. Moreover, HCV patients have also been observed with abnormal metabolic concentrations in the frontal white substance and the basal ganglia by MRI spectroscopy compared to control groups. The overall study objective is to assess cerebral function with particular emphasis on cognitive functions in HCV patients (genotypes 1,2,3 and 4) by use of a neuropsychiatric test battery. Furthermore, the patients will be examined by MRI, including magnetization transfer, diffusion tensor and contrast perfusion, in order to perform measurements of cerebral volumetric and microstructure. Finally, HCV analysis, including viral sequences and cytokine profiles, in serum and cerebrospinal fluid will be carried out in the study population.

Study intended to determine if there are baseline differences in serum neurosteroid levels and neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in healthy controls vs unmedicated depressed subjects, and whether the levels of these change with antidepressant treatment. Study also intended to determine if baseline neurosteroid/ BDNF levels, and the change in these levels with =treatment, are correlated with clinical antidepressant response to escitalopram (Lexapro).

This study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of therapy given via teleconferencing to depressed homebound older adults.