
Brain Markers of Depression Vulnerability: the Case of Prefrontal Haemodynamic Response
DepressionFunctional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) offers a cheap and reliable tool to investigate prefrontal brain activation in the healthy and diseased human brain. As such, fNIRS bears great potential as a diagnostic tool for clinical practice. Research indicates that fNIRS, together with a relatively simple task to activate the prefrontal cortex, the so-called verbal fluency task (VFT), elucidates prefrontal dysfunction in major depressive disorder (MDD). This finding can potentially serve as an imaging marker for disease pathology, even when depressive symptoms are absent. Indeed, recent research also suggests prefrontal dysfunction in fully remitted MDD (rMDD). Prefrontal haemodynamic responses may therefore serve as a trait marker for MDD vulnerability. This study aims to investigate the haemodynamic response in rMDD, healthy participants with increased MDD risk (HCr; having a 1st-degree relative with MDD), and low-risk healthy participants (HCnr; having no 1st-degree relatives with MDD) using fNIRS. The investigators hypothesize lower prefrontal reactivity in HCr compared to HCnr, and lowest prefrontal reactivity in rMDD compared to HCnr. This study has the potential to elucidate the neuronal underpinnings of depression vulnerability in the absence of symptoms that are sometimes considered a confounding factor when it comes to studying the biological encoding of depression.

Biomarkers, TCM Body Constitution, Dietary Pattern and Psychological Factors in Predicting Depression...
DepressionThis study aims to determine the predictors of depression among university students in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Sungai Long Campus.

Treatment Response Biomarkers in MDD
Major Depressive DisorderThis experiment intends to explore the differences among various types of depression, as well as the differences between healthy subjects and depressed patients, and find possible biological markers from the severity of symptoms, social function and cognitive function of depressed patients, combined with EEG characteristics, biological test indicators (blood, faeces, hair, etc.) and functional magnetic resonance imaging data. To explore the changes in clinical symptoms, cognitive and social functions, and biological indicators of various types of patients before and after treatment, to provide references for the prognosis of various types, and to predict the future development of the disease according to the baseline indicators of patients; According to the above aspects, this experiment can follow up the patients with depression, track their disease development, and study the potential biological changes in the early stage of the disease, which has the potential to reveal the pathogenesis and provide guidance for the early diagnosis and intervention of depression.

Evaluation of an Entrepreneurship Program for American-Indian Youth
Depressive SymptomsSubstance UseThis study will use a randomized controlled design to evaluate whether a youth entrepreneurship/life-skills intervention for reservation-based American Indian adolescents (ages 13-15) improves psychosocial, behavioral health, educational, and economic outcomes from baseline for up to 3 years follow-up as compared to a recreational sports league control condition.

Identifying and Measuring Depression in Older Cancer Patients
Older Cancer PatientsThe purpose of this study is to develop an accurate and useful way of measuring older patients' moods and reactions to the combined issue of cancer treatment and aging. Also, the purpose of this study is to test a new self-report measure of depressive symptoms tailored to the needs of older adults with cancer. Findings from this research will help us develop improved methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Computational Psychiatric Approach to Depression
DepressionTreatment Resistant DepressionThe purpose of this research is to investigate how the brain changes in patients undergoing electroconvulsive (ECT) treatment for depression. Subjects will be invited to be in this study because (1) they are a patient about to receive ECT treatment for depression, or (2) they are a patient diagnosed with depression and do not qualify for ECT treatment, or (3) they are a healthy adult volunteer with no history of depression. All volunteers must be between the ages of 18-85. Participation in this research will involve three visits. Each visit will last about 3-4 hours. If the subject is a patient receiving ECT for depression the study team will schedule study visits to go along with patient treatment visits. If the subject is diagnosed with depression (not treatment-resistant depression) or are a healthy volunteer, their first visit will be scheduled at their convenience, followed by a second visit 1-3 months post visit one and a third visit 1-2 months post visit two, for a total of three research visits. Participation in this research will involve playing simple computer games while the subject's brain is scanned with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Additionally, the study team will assess symptoms of depression using questionnaires. Patients receiving ECT will not experience any changes to their standard of care ECT treatment plan. Healthy and non-treatment resistant depressed volunteers will not undergo ECT treatment.

Early Life Stress and Depression: Molecular and Functional Imaging
DepressionTrauma1 moreSevere childhood adversity accounts for a large portion of psychiatric illness, and an increased risk for major depressive disorder (MDD). For some individuals, childhood adversity has negative psychological and medical consequences; others preserve mental and physical health despite such experiences (they are resilient). In spite of this, little is known about the neurobiological mechanisms related to childhood adversity, especially oxidative stress abnormalities in the brain. To fill this gap, this study combines functional, structural, and molecular imaging approaches to examine the role of oxidative stress abnormalities related to childhood adversity.

Identification of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents/Young Adults (AYA) With Cancer
CancerDepression1 moreThis is a prospective, multisite (but all within the UTSW IRB), observational study assessing the relationship of hope to anxiety and depression, QoL, and social support over time in the first year after cancer diagnosis or relapse in AYA (ages 15-29 years of age).

Sensor-based Characterization of Depression
Unipolar DepressionThis is a longitudinal study where individual with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) will be monitored for 12 weeks. The study aims to develop an objective, sensor-based, algorithm able to detect the presence of depression as well as predict treatment response. Measurement-based treatment is considered optimal and the development of a valid passive, objective, behavioral and biological assessment of depressive symptoms that does not rely on clinician interviews will improve monitoring and ultimately improve treatment significantly.

A Study in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) With Anhedonia and Inadequate Response...
Depressive DisorderMajorThe purpose of this study is to assess the socio-demographic, disease-related and treatment-related characteristics, and the standard of care (SOC) treatment patterns of participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) with anhedonia with inadequate response to their current antidepressant treatment and treated according to the standard of care treatment.