Active clinical trials for "Depressive Disorder"

The purpose of this study is to determine whether priority-based patient navigation will improve patient satisfaction, quality of life (QOL), and depression when compared to screening-and-referral for socioeconomically disadvantaged women's health patients with depression. The investigators goal is to establish patient-driven, effective, generalizable, and disseminable interventions to reduce depression-related disparities and improve outcomes.

This study will attempt to study the effect of adjunctive chronotherapy (wake therapy, sleep phase advance, and bright light therapy) on acutely depressed inpatients. The investigators will attempt to recruit individuals admitted to the acute inpatient unit and study the results of the treatment on depressive symptoms, and suicidality.

The study objective is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of trazodone OAD vs venlafaxine extended release (venlafaxine XR) after an 8-week treatment period in patients with major depressive disorder.

Family dementia caregivers provide a needed service to relatives with dementia and to society, but are often at risk for consequences to their own health such as depression, reduced immune system function, and burnout. Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (MIT, previously known as Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy) is a novel group mindfulness and guided imagery intervention designed to help caregivers reduce depressive symptoms and cope with the stress of caregiving. We will conduct a pilot feasibility of MIT versus home relaxation practice with 24 dementia caregivers. Half of the caregivers will be randomly assigned to receive a relaxation recording, while the other half will receive MIT. To measure the effects of MIT, we will obtain depression symptom ratings and questionnaires about psychological symptoms before and after MIT. We will also study the biological effects of MIT. We will do so by measuring brain activity, recording the pulse in order to determine variation in beat to beat intervals of the heart, and studying patterns of gene expression.

Non-invasive brain stimulation therapies have been increasingly investigated in recent years as a treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly mood disorders. They are particularly appealing since many patients are either refractory or present side effects to standard pharmacological regimens. TDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation). a novel non- pharmacological brain stimulation technique, might help in overcoming some of these issues, since it has low cost, high portability and it is relatively easy to use. TDCS consists in applying a weak, direct current through two electrodes placed over the scalp; the anode and the cathode increasing and decreasing cortical excitability during and beyond the period of stimulation. It is also a safe technique with only mild adverse effects described. Previous studies, some of them from our group, have described that tDCS is an effective technique for major depression. However, the role of tDCS as a treatment for bipolar depression (BD) has been insufficiently investigated. Therefore, our aim is to address the antidepressant effects of tDCS in BD in a randomized, sham- controlled trial in a refractory sample.

High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) has shown safety and efficacy for treatment-resistant depression, but requires daily treatment for 4-6 weeks. Accelerated HF-TMS (aHF-rTMS), in which all treatments are delivered in less time, would have significant advantages in terms of access, patient acceptance and costs. In the present open label trial the investigators intend to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a novel aHF-rTMS protocol (i.e., 2 daily sessions over 2 consecutive weeks; 6,000 pulses per day). For this, depressed outpatients will receive the aHF-rTMS protocol and will be assessed at baseline and at weeks 3 and 9 with several clinician- and patient- reported measures as well as with computerized neurocognitive tests.

Maternal depression is a pervasive problem that disproportionately affects low-income mothers. The effects of depression on mothers and their parenting result in many negative outcomes for children, particularly in terms of school readiness. The proposed research will build on a successful partnership between the University of Southern California School of Social Work (USC) and Children's Institute, Inc. (CII) to implement and evaluate an evidence-based intervention, interpersonal psychotherapy for group (IPT-G), for Head Start mothers with depression or dysphoric mood with the goal of reducing their depression and promoting positive changes for both mothers and children. The objectives of the study are: (1) adapt IPT-G for a Head Start population of mothers with depression; (2) implement IPT-G via a randomized controlled trial in Head Start centers in Los Angeles County operated by CII; (3) evaluate the effects of the intervention on maternal depression, parenting behaviors, goal-directed behavior, interpersonal relationships, physical health, and child behavior and school readiness; and (4) develop a manual for use of the intervention in Head Start and disseminate findings nationally. The study will feature 2 groups of 60 mothers each, randomized by Head Start site; one will receive the intervention and the other services as usual. Outcomes for both mothers and children will be tracked for 2 years after the intervention, allowing for the evaluation of short- and long-term effects. The intervention will be delivered by Head Start mental health workers under the supervision of Scott Stuart, a national trainer of the intervention. This intervention has the potential to be a low-cost, high-impact intervention that can be replicated to other Head Start sites across the country to improve the lives of Head Start children and families.

A total of 384 patients suffering from chronic depressive disorder will be randomized to receive treatment as usual, CBASP, or befriending for a period of five months. The primary outcome is change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Scale. Secondary outcomes include changes in self-reported psychiatric symptoms, biomarkers determined from venous blood samples, and neurophysiological parameters. The data gathering is performed at pre- and post intervention stages (i.e., at baseline and at five months). A follow-up questionnaire is sent to the participants six months after the intervention.

The objectives of this 10-week study are to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of AVP 786 as an adjunctive therapy compared with placebo in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have shown an inadequate response to standard antidepressant treatment. A secondary objective of this study is to assess the pharmacokinetics (PK) of AVP-786 and potential correlations with pharmacodynamic effects.

Falls are the leading cause of injury---related hospitalization and death in the elderly. As such, fear of falling (FOF) is common among senior populations and often leads to activity avoidance, social isolation, and reduced physical and mental health. Risk of falls is particularly concerning for individuals suffering from late life depression (LLD) as both depression and antidepressant treatment have been shown to be linked to gait impairments, a strong predictor of fall risk. Currently, our team is conducting a study to examine the effects of a non---pharmacological mind---body therapy commonly known as automatic self---transcending meditation (ASTM) on autonomic and mood---related symptoms of LLD. This study provides a timely opportunity to explore the intricate relationship between gait disturbances and depression severity, as well as the potential benefits of ASTM intervention on gait and FOF in seniors. Using a GAITRite® portable walkway, measures of stride length and gait velocity will be obtained for seniors in the ASTM and control study arms every four weeks for the duration of the ASTM program. The aim of this study is to answer the following research questions: are gait impairments and depression severity correlated, and does ASTM training have any effect on gait and FOF? The results of this study could not only provide insight into the physical manifestations of depression but if ASTM training is found to improve gait and reduce FOF then there is potential to use this mind---body meditation technique as an adjunct therapy to reduce fall risk in seniors with LLD. Furthermore, future research could expand upon these findings to examine the benefits of ASTM on gait impairments secondary to other psychiatric illnesses.