Active clinical trials for "Depression"

This is a study to assess the effectiveness and safety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for depressed 13-18 year olds. In rTMS high-intensity, fluctuating magnetic fields non-invasively stimulate the cortex of the brain depolarizing neurons. No anesthetic is required and the treatment in subconvulsive. Recent studies suggest that rTMS can be an effective treatment for depressive illness in adults (Loo and Mitchell, 2005) and appears to be quite safe. Minimal data of TMS use in adolescents psychiatric disorders. Data only existed in seven patients of the four that were depressed two showed improvement in their depression (Quintana, 2005). No sham-controlled studies have been conducted. The investigators wish to assess this in a sham-controlled study of 30 adolescents. The investigators hypothesize that rTMS will have an antidepressant effect and produce no neuropsychological impairment.

The study is a pilot study where adolescents 12 - 18 years of age with mild to moderate depression will be randomized to receive either hypericum 250mg twice daily or fluoxetine 10mg daily increased to 20mg daily after 1 week and the option to increase to 40mg daily after 4 weeks. Patients will be treated for a total of 8 weeks. Efficacy will be measured using the CDRS-R, BDI-II and the CGI scales. Safety parameters include blood tests, urinalysis and ECG.

This pilot study will assess the efficacy of several sequential pharmacological treatments for patients with Refractory Depression.

The primary hypothesis of this study is that in fluoxetine (Prozac)-resistant adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Lamotrigine plus fluoxetine will be safe and as effective as sertraline (Zoloft). Our Primary Aim is to determine the efficacy and safety of Lamotrigine-augmentation of fluoxetine for treatment-resistant depression in adolescents. Our Secondary Aims are to characterize the factors associated with treatment-resistance for adolescents with major depression. Also to assess the relationships in the families of adolescents with major depression as they enter treatment, and to track the differences in family relationships for adolescents who respond or do not respond. We postulate that tense, frustrated, irritable, and over-involved relationships constitute a risk factor for attenuated improvement or relapse.

Emotionally labile, depressed participants with multiple sclerosis treated with escitalopram will have a greater reduction in emotional lability scores and in their psychological distress scores than those who are randomized to receive placebo.

THIS STUDY HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. The study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fluoxetine for treating children and adolescents with Bipolar Disorder who are experiencing an episode of major depression while being treated with a mood stabilizer. The study involves a 2-week assessment period. Patients who are on stable, therapeutic doses of lithium or valproate and continue to have depression will be randomized to a 12-week treatment of fluoxetine or placebo. Those who respond favorably to treatment will be followed openly for an 18-week continuation phase.

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of ethosuximide in the treatment of refractory depressive disorder in adults. Half of participants will receive ethosuximide and escitalopram in combination, while the other half will receive a placebo and escitalopram.

Individuals with Late Life Depression (LLD) often have cognitive problems, particularly problems with memory, attention, and problem solving, all of which contribute to antidepressant non-response. Our group and others have shown that decreased thinking speed is the central cause of functional problems in patients with LLD. Similarly, decreased walking speed is associated with depression and carries additional risk for falls, hospitalization, and death. Available evidence suggests that declining functionality in the brain's dopamine system contributes to age-related cognitive and motor slowing. The central hypothesis of this study is that by enhancing dopamine functioning in the brain and improving cognitive and motor slowing, administration of carbidopa/levodopa (L-DOPA) will improve depressive symptoms in older adults.

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of SAGE-217 compared to placebo in adult participants with comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and insomnia.

The habenula(Hb) is an epithalamic structure located at the center of the dorsal diencephalic conduction system, a pathway involved in linking forebrain to midbrain regions. An increasing number of studies indicates that overactivity in the lateral habeluna(LHb) is present during depressed states, where it could drive the changes in midbrain activity linked to depression. Deep brain stimulation(DBS) of the major afferent bundle (i.e., stria medullaris thalami) of the LHb can treat treatment-resistant major depression(TRD). There is no clinical case of directly stimulating habeluna for treatment TRD. This research will investigate effectiveness and safety of bilateral DBS to habenula for patients with TRD. This study will also use structural and functional MRI to explore the underlying mechanism of Hb's effects on TRD.