Active clinical trials for "Depression"

RATIONALE: Cranial microcurrent electrical stimulation (CES) is mild electrical current received through electrodes placed on the earlobes. CES may lessen symptoms in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether CES is more effective than sham therapy in reducing symptoms caused by chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying mild electrical stimulation to see how well it works compared with sham therapy in reducing symptoms caused by chemotherapy in women with stage I, stage II, or stage IIIA breast cancer receiving chemotherapy.

Do functional brain changes occur during Venlafaxine ER (extended release) versus Fluoxetine treatment and do changes in selective structures, such as the amygdala, predict treatment response?

The purpose of this study is to improve care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by focusing on communication with family members of patients who are too sick to make decisions about their own care while they are in the ICU. The randomized trial will test the efficacy of a communication intervention designed to improve communication between families and clinicians through the use of a facilitator. Outcome evaluation occurs at the level of the individual family with surveys completed by families and clinicians.

The purpose of this study is: to find out the structural or functional effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in major depressive disorder (MDD); find special abnormalities in depression secondary to other disease, e.g., autoimmune disease like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). find the relationship between the efficacy of antidepressant and the change of neuroimaging in MDD to find possible predispose to MDD to explore the DNA methylation status in depression;

The purpose of this research study is to learn more about cognitive deficits in people with certain mood disorders. The mood disorders are Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar disorder, depressed type. Cognitive deficits are problems with things like thinking and memory. People with cognitive deficits may have problems concentrating and paying attention. When talking, they may have trouble recalling a word they want to say. They may think slowly and have problems remembering things. These deficits can affect an individual's ability to work and function socially. Cognitive deficits that occur with depression may increase the risk of a relapse of major depressive disorder. We want to study the course of cognitive impairment in subjects as they are receiving treatment for their depression. We want to find out if their cognitive deficits get better, worse, or stay the same. We also want to learn more about a stress hormone called cortisol that is produced in the body. We want to study the relationship between cortisol and cognitive impairment. Recent research has shown that cognitive impairment may be more severe in people who have high levels of cortisol in their blood. We will also measure the levels of a protein in your blood called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF helps the growth of new brain cells. It appears that the growth of new brain cells lessens when people are depressed. Treatment with antidepressant medications may cause BDNF levels to increase and return to normal. We are interested in studying the relationship between BDNF levels and cognitive impairment throughout treatment.

The primary purpose of this study is to test the safety and tolerability of single ascending doses of Desvenlafaxine Succinate Sustained-Release (DVS SR) in both child and adolescent outpatients with major depressive disorder. This study will also characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of DVS SR in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder.

RATIONALE: Physical activity may prevent or reduce weight gain in women receiving chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase I/II trial is studying physical activity to see how well it works compared with usual care to prevent or reduce weight gain in women with stage I or stage II breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

The specific primary aims of the study are to: Test the immediate effect of the intervention at 4-months on depression in urban African American older adults (primary trial outcome; between group comparison). Hypothesis: Participants in the intervention group will report fewer depressive symptoms in comparison to control group participants receiving usual care. Test the maintenance effect of the intervention at 8-months on depression (within group comparison). Hypothesis: Participants in the intervention group will maintain reduced symptom presentation from 4 to 8 months. Evaluate acceptability (social validity) of the intervention and extent of engagement in activities by study participants (both intervention and wait-list control subjects). A secondary aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a clinical trial embedded in a community service setting and its dissemination using a community-academic partnership. We also propose three exploratory aims. First, we seek to evaluate the mechanisms of action, or pathways, by which treatment gains are obtained (Gitlin et al., 2000). Given that behavioral activation represents conceptually the key active ingredient of the proposed intervention, we plan to evaluate its mediational effect. Second, we seek to evaluate whether the intervention has a differential treatment effect based on a study participant's gender, age, and living arrangement (alone or with others). Given that previous research suggests that participant characteristics may moderate depressive symptoms and treatment outcomes, these exploratory analyses will provide insight as to whether this particular treatment benefits some groups more than others. Third, we seek to evaluate whether the intervention has short and long-term effects on quality of life, functional difficulty, and self-efficacy to manage day-to-day tasks. Previous research has shown that depressive symptoms exacerbate functional decline such that minimizing distress may have the added value of enhancing function and perceived efficacy for this group over time.

This study aims to adapt and pilot test two core elements of an organized care program (systematic telephone outreach and monitoring to improve quality and continuity of pharmacotherapy, and structured psychoeducational group programs focused on patient activation and self-management) in a population-based sample of patients with chronic or recurrent depression.

RATIONALE: Antidepressants such as sertraline and the herb hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) may be effective in treating mild to moderate depression. It is not yet known which treatment is more effective in improving depression in patients who have cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying how well sertraline works compared to St. John's wort in treating mild to moderate depression in patients with solid tumors.