Active clinical trials for "Depressive Disorder"

Depression affects approximately 2.5% of children and 8% of adolescents. Escitalopram is the S-enantiomer of citalopram. Both escitalopram and citalopram are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and are used to treat depression in adults. This study is designed to provide a systematic evaluation of the safety and efficacy of escitalopram in the treatment of depressed pediatric patients, 12 to 17 years of age. Patients completing the study will be eligible to enter an open-label extension study.

STAR*D focuses on non-psychotic major depressive disorder in adults who are seen in outpatient settings. The primary purpose of this research study is to determine which treatments work best if the first treatment with medication does not produce an acceptable response. Participants will first receive citalopram, an SSRI medication; if symptoms remain after 8-12 weeks of treatment, up to four other levels of treatment will be offered, including cognitive therapy and other medications. There are no placebo treatments. Some patients may require a combination of two or more treatments to obtain full benefit. Participation could last from 15 to 27 months and involve up to 30 clinic visits. Participants will be interviewed by telephone throughout the study about their symptoms, daily functioning, treatment side effects, use of the health care system, and satisfaction with treatment. There will be a one-year follow up for participants once their depression has been successfully treated

The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy combining a treatment for depression with a treatment for alcohol dependence.

Corlux (mifepristone) is a new medication that modulates the body's use of a hormone called cortisol. Under normal conditions, cortisol and other hormones are created by the body in response to physical and emotional stress, triggering a healthy stress response. People who suffer from psychotic major depression may have unusually high levels of cortisol circulating within them or abnormal patterns of cortisol levels, overloading the stress response mechanism and causing symptoms of psychosis such as delusional thoughts or hallucinations. If Corlux can keep the body's cortisol receptors from being overloaded, the stress response system may return to normal function, which may result in improvement of symptoms. The purpose of this 56 day study is to learn the safety and effectiveness of Corlux in patients who have been diagnosed with psychotic major depression (PMD).

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the drugs raloxifene and rimostil in treating perimenopause-related depression. Perimenopause-related mood disorders cause significant distress to a large number of women; the demand for effective therapies to treat these mood disorders is considerable. Estradiol replacement therapy (ERT) has demonstrated efficacy in treating perimenopause-related depression. Unfortunately, there are long-term risks associated with ERT. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS), such as raloxifene, and phytoestrogens, such as rimostil, have estrogen-like properties and may offer a safer alternative to ERT. The effect of SERMS and phytoestrogens on mood and cognitive functioning need to be examined in women with perimenopause-related depression. Participants in this study will undergo a medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (EKG), and blood and urine tests. They will then be randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments for 8 weeks: raloxifene pills plus a placebo (an inactive substance) skin patch, rimostil pills plus placebo skin patch, estradiol skin patch plus placebo pills, or placebo patch plus placebo pills. Participants will have clinic visits every 2 weeks. During the visits, blood will be drawn and participants will meet with staff members and complete symptom self-rating scales. A urine and blood sample will be collected at the beginning and end of the study. At the end of the study, participants who received placebo or whose study medication was ineffective will be offered treatment with standard antidepressant medications for 8 weeks. Non-menstruating women will receive progesterone for 10 days to induce menstrual bleeding and shedding of the inner layer of the uterus, which may have been stimulated by the study medications.

During transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a magnetic coil is placed on the front part of the head. Electric current passes through the coil in brief pulses. Magnetism from the current produces a separate, small electric current inside the brain, which activates brain cells below the coil. This treatment may result in decreased depression and improved Parkinson's disease symptoms.

The goal of this study is to improve the overall physical health and quality of life of patients attached to mechanical heart devices while awaiting heart transplantation. Qigong, an ancient Chinese exercise that involves active participation of the individual in the form of meditation, breathing exercises and simple physical movements, is used in combination with a structured exercise program. We are testing the hypotheses that Qigong, in combination with a structured exercise program that combines aerobic and resistance training will improve the cardiovascular health and improve the quality of life of patients on mechanical heart devices. To test these hypotheses, we are measuring cardiovascular function and quality of life parameters in patients attached to mechanical heart devices who have participated in the exercise program and have practiced Qigong, and comparing these measures to patients who participated in the exercise program, but did not practice Qigong. Information gained from this research will serve as a basis from which the application of exercise training and Qigong can be applied to the treatment of other chronic diseases in which the physical conditioning and/or quality of life of individuals is compromised.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the drug felbamate for treating depression in patients with bipolar disorder that has not responded to standard treatments. Bipolar disorder is a severe, chronic, and often life-threatening illness. Despite the availability of a wide range of antidepressant drugs, a proportion of patients fail to respond to first-line antidepressant treatment despite adequate dosage, duration, and compliance. Studies suggest that the glutamatergic system may play a role in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Felbamate and other agents which reduce glutamatergic neurotransmission may represent a novel class of antidepressants. Participants in this study will be admitted to the Clinical Center for up to 10 weeks. At study entry, participants will have a 7-day washout period in which they will be tapered off all psychiatric medications, with the possible exception of lithium, and will be given a placebo (an inactive pill). After the washout period, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either felbamate or placebo for 8 weeks. Participants whose depression symptoms worsen by more than 30% or those for whom study continuation is considered potentially harmful will be taken off the study and offered open-label treatment. Participants who received felbamate and responded well to treatment will have the option of continuing treatment.

A clinical study to determine the efficacy and safety of MK0869 in the treatment of depression

The purposes of this study are to determine: Whether olanzapine plus fluoxetine in combination will help patients with treatment-resistant major depression. The safety of olanzapine plus fluoxetine in combination, plus and any side effects that might be associated with the combination. The effectiveness of olanzapine plus fluoxetine compared to olanzapine and fluoxetine alone.