Using Technology to Optimize Collaborative Care Management of Depression in Urban and Rural Cancer...
DepressionHematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm1 moreThis study compares the effectiveness of technology-enhanced collaborative care management (t-CoCM) to usual collaborative care management (u-CoCM) in achieving fidelity to processes of care and reducing depression symptoms in patients currently receiving cancer treatment. CoCM is a population-based, integrated care approach, where care managers, who are clinicians (typically clinical social workers), deliver behavioral treatments, coordinate psychosocial care, monitor outcomes, and adjust treatment with the input of a psychiatric consultant. The use of t-CoCM may improve the treatment of depression and improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Compressed Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation
Treatment Resistant DepressionIn this proposal the investigators will use an accelerated TMS protocol that concentrates the magnetic stimulation that would usually occur over 6 weeks into 10 treatment sessions per days, for 5 consecutive days in patient with treatment-refractory depression. This protocol will build on a previously published study demonstrating clinical efficacy of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-dlPFC) in a treatment refractory population.
Simvastatin and Emotional Processing (OxSTEP)
DepressionInflammationSimvastatin is being employed because it is a 'statin'. As a drug class, statins have broad anti-inflammatory properties. Low-level inflammation is thought to be a potentially important mediator of the effects of psychosocial stress (including loneliness) on affect and vulnerability to depression. In this study we are using statins as an experimental tool to investigate this relationship further. Statins are widely prescribed agents that are regarded as very safe and so are suitable tools in this context. We have selected simvastatin because it is one of the most widely used statins and has an excellent safety profile, being also available 'over the counter'.
Ecological Momentary Intervention for Stroke Caregivers' Psychological Support
StrokeCaregiver Burnout3 moreThe proposed trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) based ecological momentary intervention (EMI) for psychological well-being in stroke family caregivers.
RESTORE in Patients Who Had COVID-19 and Close Others
Mental HealthPTSD2 moreThere is considerable need for psychological intervention targeting stressor-related mental health symptoms related to COVID-19. The investigators have developed an online self-directed transdiagnostic intervention to address this need called RESTORE: Recovering from Extreme Stressors Through Online Resources and E-health. The specific aims of this project are to refine and investigate the initial safety, efficacy, and desirability of RESTORE for addressing mental-health symptoms in individuals who have recovered from severe COVID-19 and close others.
Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound: a New Paradigm for Depression and Anxiety
DepressionObjective: Preliminary studies show that low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU), a new type of non invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), may be able to reach deep structures of the brain involved with depression and anxiety, that remain inaccessible using current forms of NIBS with precision. In this study, the investigators will test if this technique can be used to change brain activity in areas that are connected to depression and anxiety symptoms. The primary objectives of this study are to test the safety and tolerability of LIFU, evaluate the feasibility of using LIFU to reduce brain activity, and evaluate the feasibility of simultaneous fMRI-LIFU. If the results of this study are positive, what the investigators learn will serve as a strong foundation for the future development of innovative treatments for a variety of psychiatric disorders. Research Procedures: 25 patient and 25 healthy veterans will be recruited. Visits will take place at the VA Providence Healthcare System. During some visits, healthy and patient participants may undergo clinical and research neuroimaging, neuropsychological testing, complete questionnaires, and participate in clinical/neurological assessments. Healthy veterans will not receive LIFU and will only attend 2 study visits. Patients are expected to attend up to 8 visits over 6 weeks. However, some may require up to 6 extended follow-ups after visits 5 or 8, in which case they would attend a total of 11 or 14 visits over 6 months. Two patient visits will include the LIFU application, following FDA safety guidelines. Patients will be assigned either to an experiment in which LIFU stimulation will be delivered immediately prior to a task or to an experiment in which stimulation will be delivered during the task. Within each experiment, patients will be assigned to first receive either LIFU stimulation to the study target or anatomical control. Study staff, but not participants will know which location is being targeted in case safety concerns arise. Safety assessments will be conducted at follow-up visits. A clinician will be available during LIFU administration /follow-up visits. Assuming no injury or other concerns are present, patients will then repeat this process again, receiving stimulation targeting other brain area not previously selected.
Caregiver Stress and Sleep Study
Depressive SymptomsCaregiver BurdenThis study includes a randomized experimental component where therapists will systematically deliver an experimental behavioral probe or a supportive control condition. The aim is to evaluate effects on meaningful health-relevant measures including morning activation levels, depression symptoms, rumination, and aspects brain connectivity previously linked with depression.
Sleep Modulation as Antidepressant Randomized Trial
DepressionHealthyThe goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of phase-targeted auditory stimulation in depressed patients and healthy controls. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is auditory down-phase stimulation efficient in improving depression symptoms as compared to sham stimulation? Can mood and other outcomes be prospectively estimated by multi-parametric passive data? Participants will perform auditory stimulation using a wearable device at home and provide data on their phone usage and activity. Researchers will compare depressed patients and healthy participants to see if auditory down-phase stimulation effects them differently.
Depression, Aging, Stress and Heart Health Study
MenopauseDepression2 moreDepression is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this comorbidity contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of women. The menopausal transition or perimenopause is a period of vulnerability for both depression and CVD, making it a key time to study this critical public health issue. This research will preliminarily explore whether disruption in two novel stress pathways 1) the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) and their relationship may underlie the link between these illnesses. Findings will provide important insight into potential mechanisms by which depression during perimenopause may increase risk for CVD in midlife women, which will inform potential risk reduction and treatment strategies that can improve health outcomes in this population.
Supporting Caregivers of PWD and Identifying an Effective Intervention to Reduce Their Depressive...
DementiaEffective clinical management of chronic conditions like depressive symptoms of caregivers actually requires a sequence of interventions, each adapts to responses to prior interventions, and hence multiple intervention decisions throughout the whole careers of dementia caregivers. The main objective of this study is to build the capacity in the community to support the family caregivers of PWD and identify a 2-stage adaptive intervention involving behavioral activation and mindfulness practice to reduce their depressive symptoms using SMART design. A random sample of 272 family caregivers of PWD who meet the clinical criteria of subthreshold depression will be recruited. Participants will be assessed at T1 (baseline assessment); T2 (immediately after the first stage intervention); T3 (immediately after the 2nd stage intervention); T4 (3 months after the 2nd stage intervention); T5 (6 months after the 2nd stage intervention) with various health-related outcomes. The findings will inform us whether the SMART is efficient in identifying an effective adaptive intervention for reducing depressive symptoms. More importantly, will also show us how to alleviate the negative impact of caregiving in the family caregivers.