
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
Treatment Resistant DepressionDepressive Disorder3 moreIn this pilot study, we propose to test whether high frequency stimulation of the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) is a safe and efficacious antidepressant treatment in five TRD patients, to compare the effects of left-sided vs. right-sided stimulation, and to investigate potential mechanisms of action of this intervention. Importantly, this study will be used to assess the need for and assist in planning a larger, more definitive trial of SCC DBS for TRD.

Stepped Telemental Health Care Intervention for Depression
DepressionThis is a randomized, controlled trial comparing telephone-cognitive behavior therapy (T-CBT) with a therapist to a "Stepped Care" intervention for depression treatment (iCBT with support from a telephone coach with the possibility of being stepped up to receiving T-CBT with a therapist).

Effect of Amygdala Neurofeedback on Depressive Symptoms and Processing Biases
Major Depressive DisorderThe purpose of this study is to determine whether upregulating the left amygdala during positive autobiographical memory recall via real time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback will lead to an improvement in clinician administered ratings of depressive symptoms. The investigators predict that patients with major depressive disorder receiving left amygdala neurofeedback will increase their amygdala response during positive autobiographical memory recall compared to those receiving control feedback from a region not involved in emotional processing and that this ability will be associated with clinically significant improvement.

Comparative Trial of Antidepressant Treatment Models in HIV Care in Uganda
DepressionThis study compares two models for implementing antidepressant treatment in 10 HIV clinics in Uganda. Using a cluster randomization, 5 clinics implement a task-shifting, protocolized model, and 5 others rely on clinical acumen. The protocolized model includes (1) routine depression screening at each clinic visit for all adult patients by trained expert patients at triage, (2) training nurses to diagnose depression and prescribe and monitor antidepressant treatment using an algorithm-based protocol, and (3) monthly supervision and monitoring by hired study psychiatrists. The clinical acumen model also includes routine depression screening and ongoing supervision, but it relies on the clinical acumen of trained primary care providers to further evaluate and treat patients who show signs of depression at screening, as opposed to a structured protocol. The primary aim is to test the hypothesis that the nurse-driven protocolized model will result in greater uptake of antidepressant treatment and better quality of depression care outcomes. The study will also test the hypotheses that treatment of depression results in improved HIV treatment adherence, work functioning and consistent condom use.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Adolescent Depression
Major Depressive DisorderMajor depression (or MDD) in adolescents is a major public health problem. MDD affects approximately 15% of adolescents; it is associated with impairment in social, family, and academic functioning, and it is a major risk factor for suicide - a leading cause of death in adolescents . Unfortunately, there is a paucity of treatment options for this age group. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the only class of medications approved for treating MDD in adolescents, but rates of remission following treatment with SSRIs are only 30 to 45 percent. Cognitive behavior therapy is associated with similar remission rates and access is limited. Most adolescents will require more than one therapeutic intervention in order to achieve full symptom control. Collectively, there is overwhelming evidence that additional treatment options are urgently needed to improve outcomes for teens with MDD. One novel treatment for adolescent MDD is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Studies in children have been limited (a total of 23 cases). This is surprising given the evidence suggesting younger adult subjects with MDD respond better to rTMS (56% response rate) than older subjects. This limited experience with rTMS for adolescent MDD represents a substantial gap in the knowledge, recently recognized in publications calling for further study of rTMS in adolescent depression. Most importantly, the mechanism of action of rTMS in adolescent MDD is not well understood. The objective of this application is to develop an understanding of the brain alterations associated with the positive clinical changes that occur with rTMS in adolescent MDD. Such knowledge will provide the basis for pursuing rTMS for adolescent MDD as a rational therapeutic technique. Specific Aim: To compare the effect of rTMS on DLPFC glutamate concentration in adolescent MDD. The investigators hypothesize an increase (normalization to controls) in DLPFC glutamate after three weeks of rTMS. Furthermore, the change in glutamate concentration will correlate with a change in MDD symptoms.

Depression and Anxiety Reduction Treatment for Suicide
AnxietyDepression1 moreThe purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness and usability of multiple computer-based treatments for mood and anxiety relevant risk factors. The target of the treatment is related to cognitive stress, which has been shown to be associated with a variety of negative mental health outcomes such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorders.

Study of Brexpiprazole as Adjunctive Treatment of Sleep Disturbances in Patients With Major Depressive...
Sleep DisturbancesTo assess effects of brexpiprazole on sleep patterns of depressed patients with sleep disturbances.

Action of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Treatment-resistant DepressionDepression carries the largest burden of all medical disorders in middle to high income countries, as determined by the World Health Organization. Despite many antidepressant strategies, only a third of patients get well after their first treatment and a third remain ill after several treatments. Moreover, antidepressant treatments all have a delayed action ranging up to several weeks. Ketamine (KET) has been used for decades as a sedative and anesthetic. In treatment-resistant depressed patients(TRD), an intravenous dose much lower than necessary for anesthesia may produce a robust antidepressant effect and may even abolish suicidal thoughts within hours, peaking within 24 hours. But, its antidepressant effect generally lasts only days.Previous studies examining KET in TRD have been critiqued for lack of an effective placebo measure due to brief perceptual experiences associated with KET. Thus, the current study compares KET against a short-acting sedative. The phases of this study compare response to a single KET injection to 6 injections over 2 weeks. Next, KET responders are given 1 injection a week for 3 weeks of either KET or the sedative agent to determine if beneficial effects of KET are maintained, and to assess duration of its benefits after repeated administration. The genetic profile of patients for a substance promoting contacts between cells and brain will be determined to investigate if response to KET could be predicted with that blood test. This substance, as well as several chemicals that produce inflammation, will also be measured in the blood to investigate their role in the effect of KET. Patients will receive, in total, no more than the equivalent of two to three anesthetic dose of KET. Results from this study will help establish the beneficial effects of a single KET injection as a rapid intervention for major depression, and to investigate the possibility of obtaining a prolonged antidepressant effect with repeated injections.

Antidepressant Response in the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms and Frailty Characteristics in Older...
Major Depressive DisorderDysthymic Disorder2 moreThe goal of this open-administration treatment study of citalopram (or duloxetine) is to evaluate the effect of antidepressant medication on treating the syndrome of "frailty" in older adults with depressive symptoms. Patients with significant depressive symptoms (defined as CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression scale) > 10) and 1 or more symptoms of the frailty syndrome (exhaustion, decreased energy, weight loss, decreased grip strength, and slow/unsteady gait) will be evaluated and treated with citalopram (or duloxetine) for 8 weeks to test whether antidepressant medication improves both the syndrome of frailty and depressive symptoms. Patients evaluated at the Adult and Late Life Depression clinic and eligible to participate in the study will be treated with an antidepressant medication and assessed on the primary outcome variables (characteristics of frailty, depressive symptoms) as well as on secondary variables which include cognition (global cognition, episodic memory, executive function), and function (physical mobility, instrumental activities of daily living, and social functioning) prior to treatment initiation and following 8-weeks of treatment. The hypotheses for this protocol predict that we will discover a significant improvement on both frailty characteristics and depressive symptoms in this clinical population when treated with antidepressant medication (citalopram or duloxetine).

Efficacy of Extended-release Quetiapine (Seroquel XR) as Adjunctive Therapy to Cognitive Behavioral...
Major Depressive DisorderGeneralized Anxiety DisorderThe primary objective of the study is to determine whether quetiapine extended-release in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective than CBT plus placebo in treating depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with both major depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Approximately 64 individuals (adults 18-65) will be randomly assigned to treatment group for 16 weeks. Weekly CBT sessions will be conducted lasting about 45 minutes and weekly visits with the study psychiatrist lasting about 20 minutes in which medication will be discussed. Both clinician administered and self-report measures will be used to compare groups before and after 16 weeks.