Active clinical trials for "Depressive Disorder"

The primary study aims are to determine the clinical, behavioural and social predictors of SMI development in youth, and to investigate whether neuroimaging can distinguish youth who will develop SMI from those who will not. The study's secondary aims are to examine the proportions of the cohort that make transitions between the different clinical stages of risk, and to determine the proportions that have poor outcomes, defined as ongoing or increased symptoms, secondary substance misuse, poor social or role functioning, i.e., non-participation in education, or employment, and new self-harm. Investigators will study a cohort of 240 youth (aged 14-25, male and female) that includes youth with early mood symptoms or sub-threshold psychotic symptoms (symptomatic group; n=160), youth at risk due to a family history of a SMI (family high risk (FHR); n=40), and healthy controls (HC; n=40). From this cohort, clinical, social and cognitive data, as well as imaging data will be gathered to create a multi-layered "snapshot" of these individuals and provide full-level characterization. Investigators will use the full range of clinical and imaging data generated from this cohort to develop novel prediction algorithms incorporating key variables that predict the development of SMI.

Depression is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) with a life-time prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) of up to 50%. Depression occurs more frequently in MS than in other chronic diseases including other neurological and inflammatory disorders and may contribute to lower quality of life, cognitive problems, difficulties at work, and poorer long term health outcomes. Despite its clinical relevance, the biological mechanisms which may be responsible for the high risk for MS patients to develop depression are unknown. In this observational study, investigators explore the molecular mechanisms responsible for the impaired regulation of immune cells in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients with depression. Investigators will compare the molecular and phenotypical profile of immune cells obtained from RRMS patients with clinical depression (n=50), matched MS patients who do not suffer from depression (n=50) as well as matched healthy controls (n=50) and matched patients with depression but without a comorbid neurological disorder (n=50).

This study is aimed to evaluate the bipolar disorder symptoms in patients presented with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or recurrent depression. Bipolar disorder is a group of mood disorders characterised by elevated or irritable mood episodes in patient's lifetime history accompanied by some additional symptoms. In this study modern bipolar disorders screening/assessment instruments will be used to explore the prevalence of bipolarity symptoms in patients who never been diagnosed with bipolar disorders. The results of this study could be useful for more accurate assessment of bipolar disorders prevalence in psychiatric patient population, could help to improve the diagnostics of bipolar disorders and management of bipolar patients.

The purpose of the study is to identify and understand patterns of brain activity when people are depressed. The study will use an imaging method called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which does not involve any exposure to radioactivity or radioactive substances.

The study is based on a hypothesis that there is interaction between the activity in the immune system and in the mind. To study this, the investigators register different measures for activity in the immune system on patients unselectedly admitted to an acute psychiatric ward. The psychiatric statuses and diagnoses of these patients are carefully defined as well.

This study will explore brain function related to depressive symptoms and will examine DNA for genes that may be involved in depressive disorders, particularly genes that regulate synthesis and metabolism of the brain neurotransmitter catecholamine. It will compare findings in patients with major depressive disorders who are in remission with those in normal, healthy volunteers. Patients with remitted major depressive disorders and healthy normal volunteers between 18 and 60 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a psychiatric and medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and blood and urine tests. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures in up to eight visits to the NIH Clinical Center: Memory Tasks and Problem Solving and Brain Imaging Subjects are tested with measurements of intelligence or memory ability. They also undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the brain. For this procedure, the patient lies on a table that is moved into the scanner (a narrow cylinder), and wears earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. The MRI lasts about 60 minutes. Catecholamine Depletion Study For this study, subjects take capsules containing either AMPT (a drug that temporarily reduces brain catecholamine activity) or a placebo (lactose capsules, which do not affect brain catecholamine activity) at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. on one visit and return the next day to take additional capsules at 7 a.m. and noon. In addition to the study medication, subjects keep a low-monoamine diet (e.g., no chocolate, cheese, smoked meats, and various other foods that will be enumerated) and do not smoke, drink alcohol, or take in food or drink containing caffeine. After taking all the study capsules, the subjects have positron emission tomography (PET) and functional MRI (fMRI) scans, as follows: fMRI: While lying in the MRI scanner, the subject performs a monetary reward task that is somewhat like playing a computer video game for money. The amount of cash the subject can win depends on his or her performance. It is possible to lose money that was previously won, if performance declines. This portion of the study provides information on how the brain processes reward and about the role of catecholamines in this process. PET: The subject is injected in the arm with a glucose solution that has a radioactive substance attached that can be detected by the PET scanner. During the scan, the subject looks at photographs of faces on a computer screen and is asked to tell the gender of the persons. This test shows brain blood flow and measures brain glucose (sugar) metabolism, which reflects brain activity. At the end of the scan, subjects are asked about their mood and general well being. They return to the Clinical Center the following day for and evaluation of their emotional state. The catecholamine depletion study is repeated a second time 14 days or more after the first. Subjects who received AMPT capsules for the first study take lactose capsules for the second study, and vice-versa.

This study will identify specific genes that may cause a predisposition to depression in some families.

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of Major Depression and/or Anxiety Disorder in patients consulting the General Practitioner with acute or chronic painful physical symptoms and to identify risk factors.

The normal menstrual cycle is produced by a series of hormonal signals that starts with the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is located in the brain and is often referred to as the master gland. GnRH then acts on the pituitary gland and causes it to release two hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizng hormone (LH). LH and FSH act on the ovary and cause it to release the hormones directly involved in menstruation, estrogen and progesterone. The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity as measured by pituitary hormones, FSH and LH in response to intravenous doses of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in menstrual cycle-related hormones.

the target of the research is development of a predictive tool for early identification of women which are at higher risk for development of postpartum depression. the evaluating tools include self portraits and questionnaire during the third trimester of pregnancy. The suggested research aims to evaluate if and how it would be possible to predict the potential for postpartum mood swing disorders in pregnant women while in the third trimester. The later to prevent the mother from enduring such a detrimental experience, which influences the child development, the family as well as the mother's intimate relationship. The aim is to identify indicators to predict such potential, using questionnaires and self-portraits during pregnancy, to allow early intervention and treatment. Early diagnosis and quick treatment of pregnant women or post-partum mothers will allow them a higher level of functioning and may even prevent eventually infant neurological and developmental delays and hardships.