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Depression

Teen Depression Study: Understanding Depression in Teenagers
Join a Research Study: Enrolling nationally from around the country

Depression — also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression — is a common but serious mood disorder that can interfere with how people feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. Although sadness can be a symptom of depression, it does not characterize the disorder. Symptoms of depression include sad or anxious mood, feelings of hopelessness or guilt, loss of interest in previous hobbies or activities, decreased energy, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, changes in appetite or weight, and persistent physical symptoms. People with depression experience symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks. Learn more about depression.

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For opportunities to participate in NIMH research on the NIH campus, visit the clinical research website. Travel and lodging assistance may be available.

Featured Studies

Featured studies include only those currently recruiting participants. Studies with the most recent start date appear first.


Title: Safety and Feasibility of Individualized Low Amplitude Seizure Therapy (iLAST) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 20, 2024
Eligibility: 22 Years to 70 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used to treat people with severe depression. During ECT, the brain is given electric pulses that cause a seizure. Although it is effective, it can cause side effects, including memory loss. Researchers want to study a new way to give ECT called iLAST.

Objective:

To see if iLAST is safe and feasible in treating depression.

Eligibility:

People ages 22 70 years old who have major depressive disorder and are eligible for ECT

Design:

Participants will be screened under protocol 01-M-0254. This includes:

Medical and psychiatric history and exam

Blood and urine tests

Participants will be inpatients at the Clinical Center. They study has 3 phases and will last up to 20 weeks.

Phase I will last 1 week. It includes:

MRI: Participants will lie in a scanner that takes pictures of the body

MEG: A cone over the participant s head will record brain activity.

TMS: A wire coil placed on the participant s scalp will produce an electrical current to affect brain activity.

SEP: An electrode on the participant s wrist will give a small electrical shock to test nerve function.

Phase II will last 2 and a half weeks. It includes:

Seven sessions of iLAST under general anesthesia. Participants may also get standard ECT.

EEG: A small electrode placed on the participant s scalp will record brain waves.

Interviews about mood, symptoms, and side effects. Participants facial expressions may be video recorded.

TMS

Phase III will last at least 1 week. It will include:

MRI

EEG

TMS

MEG

Standard ECT if needed. Participants will have sessions every other day, 3 times a week.

Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Mental Health

...


Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Youth With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 20, 2024
Eligibility: 13 Years to 17 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most impairing medical conditions in the world. Medication and some kinds of talk therapy are standard treatments for teens with MDD, but these do not work well for everyone. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been approved to treat MDD in adults. TMS might help adolescents, too.

Objective:

To test TMS combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in teens with MDD.

Eligibility:

People aged 13 to 17 years with MDD that has not responded to treatment.

Design:

Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam and psychiatric evaluation. They will have an MRI scan and a test of their heart function. They will enroll in 2 NIH protocols (01-M-0254 and 18-M-0037).

For 2 to 6 weeks, participants will have weekly CBT, a kind of talk therapy. They will taper off of their psychiatric medicines.

For 2 weeks, participants will come to the clinic every weekday. They will receive 3 or 4 sessions of TMS on each of those days. A wire coil will be held on their scalp. A brief electrical current in the coil creates a magnetic pulse that affects brain activity. They will receive 30 TMS pulses in 10-second bursts; these will be repeated 60 times in each 15-minute session. Participants may hear a click and feel a pulling sensation under the coil. They may feel their muscles twitch. Each day, they will have tests of concentration, thinking, and memory. Some may have a 3rd week of TMS.

Participants will remain in the study for 5 more weeks. They will begin taking their medications again.


Better Sleep Study 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 15, 2024
Eligibility: 12 Years to 18 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building, San Francisco, California, United States

The overall aim of this proposal is a confirmatory efficacy trial sufficiently powered and designed to test the hypothesis that improving the relationship between biological circadian timing and waketime, a novel modifiable target, improves depression outcomes in a subgroup of adolescents with depression and a misaligned relationship between biological circadian timing and waketime utilizing a cognitive-behavioral sleep intervention.


Young Adults With Violent Behavior During Early Psychosis 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 29, 2024
Eligibility: 16 Years to 30 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, United States

This study aims to provide an evidence-based behavioral intervention to reduce violent behavior for individuals experiencing early psychosis.


SilverCloud as a School-Based Intervention for Vulnerable Youth 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 8, 2024
Eligibility: 13 Years to 22 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

The goal of this study is to test the efficacy and feasibility of a clinician-guided, app-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program, SilverCloud, as a school-based mental health intervention for vulnerable youth. An open trial of SilverCloud will be conducted to determine preliminary efficacy in this sample and inform program refinements by collecting outcome self-report assessments and conducting interviews on feasibility and acceptability. After the program and its implementation strategy are refined, we will conduct an randomized controlled trial. Adolescents who screen positive for significant mental health symptoms and who are enrolled in their school-based health center (SBHC) will be randomized to receive SilverCloud or treatment as usual (TAU). Efficacy will be assessed through outcome self-reports. Feasibility and acceptability feedback will again be collected from participants, SBHC staff, and community members.


Enhanced Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 1, 2024
Eligibility: Age N/A, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Massachusetts General Hospital FEPP Clinic, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; McLean Hospital OnTrack Clinic, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare engagement in treatment in coordinated specialty care (CSC) to five extra care elements (CSC 2.0) in first-episode psychosis. The main question it aims to answer is:

• Does the addition of certain elements of care increase the number of visits in treatment for first-episode psychosis?

Participants will either:

Receive care as usual (CSC) or

Receive care as usual (CSC) plus five additional care elements (CSC 2.0):

Individual peer support Digital outreach Care coordination Multi-family group therapy Cognitive remediation

Researchers will compare the standard of care (CSC) to CSC 2.0 to see if participants receiving CSC 2.0 have more visits to their clinic in their first year.


Neural Circuit Effects of Ketamine in Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 31, 2024
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States

This project is designed to examine the role of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) in anhedonia and anxiety in humans with depression, as well as the acute and sustained effects of ketamine on agACC activation and depression symptoms.


Causal Role of Delta-beta Coupling for Goal-directed Behavior in Anhedonic Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 24, 2024
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States

Anhedonia, the inability to seek-out and experience pleasure, is a common symptom in depression that predicts treatment-resistance and is sometimes exacerbated by first-line antidepressants. In our previous research, we found that anhedonia decreases goal-directed behavior and its related neural activity. In this study, we will investigate target engagement from five-consecutive days of stimulation for participants that are within a unipolar major depressive episode and also have high symptoms of anhedonia.


RESISTance Exercise for Depression Trial 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 1, 2024
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and current treatments are ineffective for many people. This trial will investigate the efficacy of a 16-week high vs low dose resistance exercise training program for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in 200 adults.


Inflammation and Depression in People With HIV 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: December 11, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

The purpose of this 10-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is to determine whether inflammation impacts reward and motor neural circuitry to contribute to depressive symptoms like anhedonia and psychomotor slowing in people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and depression. Sixty male and female patients with HIV who have depression, anhedonia and high inflammation and are stable on effective treatment for their HIV will be randomized to receive either the anti-inflammatory drug baricitinib or a placebo for 10 weeks. Participants will complete lab tests, medical and psychiatric assessments, neurocognitive testing, functional MRI (fMRI) scans, and optional spinal taps as part of the study. The total length of participation is about 5 months.


Emotional Cognition: Establishing Constructs and Neural-Behavioral Mechanisms in Older Adults With Depression 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: December 11, 2023
Eligibility: 21 Years to 80 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States

This is a cross-sectional pilot study designed to establish hot and cold cognitive functions and underlying neurocircuitry in older adults with MDD. The investigators will study 60 participants aged 21-80 years old with MDD. All participants will undergo clinical and neurocognitive assessment, and Magnetoencephalography (MEG)/Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures at one time point. The investigators will also enroll 60 demographically matched comparable, never-depressed healthy participants (controls) to establish cognitive benchmarks. Healthy controls will complete clinical and neurocognitive measures at one time point. To attain a balanced sample of adults across the lifespan, the investigators will enroll participants such that each age epoch (e.g., 21-30, 31-40, etc.) has a total of ten subjects (n=10) in both the healthy control cohort and depressed cohort.


Dopaminergic Therapy for Anhedonia - 2 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 21, 2023
Eligibility: 25 Years to 55 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

The purpose of this 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study is to explore new treatment options for people with depression who have high inflammation and anhedonia. Seventy male and female participants with depression, between 25-55 years of age, with higher levels of inflammation and anhedonia will be randomized to receive L-DOPA or matched placebo over 8 weeks. Participants will complete lab tests, medical and psychiatric assessments, motivation and motor tasks, and MRI scans as part of the study. The total length of participation is approximately 10 to 12 weeks.


Risk and Resilience to Suicide Following Late-Life Spousal Bereavement 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 20, 2023
Eligibility: 65 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Pittsburgh (UPMC), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The purpose of the RISE study is to examine how the 24-hour rhythm of sleep and social activity relate to mood and suicidal ideation among older adults that recently lost a spouse or life partner.


Processes and Circuitry Underlying Threat Sensitivity as a Treatment Target for Co-morbid Anxiety and Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 8, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

This mechanistic study uses an anti anxiety drug and brain imaging to study the threat processing system and associated brain circuits in people with depression, anxiety disorders and comorbid depression and anxiety disorders. In a double blind, placebo controlled crossover design, up to 65 individuals will be recruited who will have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and at least one anxiety disorder (AD) (AD-MDD group), up to 65 participants will have a diagnosis of MDD and no diagnosis of an AD and up to 65 participants will have no diagnosis of MDD and a diagnosis of at least one AD will be enrolled to participate in an two session study to obtain 150 completers (50 per group). All participants will receive a single dose of Lorazepam and placebo (order randomized) taken orally. After the ~2.5 hr screening session, participants will complete two identical ~5 hr experimental sessions, each of which include a 30 min eyeblink startle session and a 1 hr functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan session. The total time involved in the study is approximately 10.5 hours.

The main questions the study seeks to answer are:

are people with comorbid depression and anxiety different than those with depression alone in terms of their eyeblink startle response to threat? are people with comorbid depression and anxiety different than those with depression alone in terms of their brain activation in response to threat? are people with comorbid depression and anxiety different than those with depression alone in terms of their responses to anxiety drugs?


NIMH Rhythms and Blues Study: A Prospective Natural History Study of Motor Activity, Mood States, and Bipolar Disorder 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: November 3, 2023
Eligibility: 12 Years to 70 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, can have serious effects on a person s life. People with bipolar disorder are more likely to have heart disease and abuse substances. In this natural history study, researchers would like to learn more about the connection between exercise and mental health in people with and without mood disorders.

Objective:

To better understand relationships among physical activity, sleep, and mental health.

Eligibility:

People aged 12 to 60 years with a history of a mood disorder. Healthy spouses and relatives with no mood disorders are also needed.

Design:

Participants will be in the study up to 2 years.

For up to 20 days in a row, at 4 times during the study, participants will:

Complete an electronic diary on their smartphone. Participants will answer questions about their mood, health, sleep, and daily activities.

Wear an activity monitor, like a wristwatch, that records how much they move.

Wear a light sensor, as a necklace, to record the amount of light in their environment.

Some participants will do additional tests. Twice during the study, for 3 days in a row, they will:

Wear monitors to record their temperature, heart rate, and sleep.

Provide saliva samples.

Complete cognitive tasks on their smartphone.

Participants will visit the NIH clinic 2 times. They will have a physical exam, with blood and urine tests. They will wear a heart monitor. They will ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes. They may have an imaging scan.

Some participants will stay overnight. They will go to sleep wearing a cap to measure their brain activity.


Self-guided Treatment for Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 12, 2023
Eligibility: 13 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Big Health, Inc., San Francisco, California, United States

This study will examine the efficacy and safety of a self-guided digital therapeutic app for the adjunct treatment of Major Depressive Disorder compared to a control app in adolescents and adults.


A Precision Medicine Approach to Target Engagement for Emotion Regulation 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 29, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

The proposed study is designed to first test whether teaching people personalized or standardized emotion regulation skills leads to greater decreases in daily negative emotion intensity. Second, using data from an initial sample, the investigators will prospectively assign an independent sample of participants to receive their predicted optimal or non-optimal skills to determine if it is feasible and efficacious to match participants to the most appropriate training condition. Results of these studies may identify the mechanisms by which emotion regulation interventions impact emotional functioning and allow for the development of personalized, evidence-based, and scalable emotion regulation interventions.


Ketamine Tolerated Dose for Postpartum Depression and Pain After Cesarean Delivery 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 25, 2023
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The purpose of this study is to identify a tolerable dose for postpartum ketamine infusion using a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) 3+3 design. A loading dose over 1 hour will be the MTD variable to be tested, as our data suggest that ketamine side effects occur with the loading dose. The investigators hypothesize that subanesthetic ketamine dose will be well tolerated and any noted side effects will be rated acceptable by postpartum women following cesarean delivery.


Tele-PROTECT Therapy: Effectiveness, Empowerment, and Implementation 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 22, 2023
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States

The purpose of this randomized trial is to conduct a fully powered effectiveness trial of video-delivered PROTECT (Tele-PROTECT) compared to a video-delivered depression education (DepEd) control condition to be delivered to 140 English- and Spanish-speaking NYC elder abuse victims. Investigators hypothesize three main aims:

Effectiveness Aim: Tele-PROTECT participants will have significantly greater and clinically meaningful reductions in depression when compared to the DepEd control; Abuse Impact Aim: Tele-PROTECT participants will demonstrate greater safety related empowerment compared to DepEd control, which can help participants take steps to reduce risk; Implementation Aim: Stakeholders' views of the factors impacting the implementation of Tele-PROTECT based on characteristics of the intervention, agency setting, and population served will contribute to a national dissemination of Tele-PROTECT

Participants will

Receive 9 weeks of tele health psychotherapy delivered by a Master's level mental health clinician from the Weill Cornell Medicine research team. Participants will be assigned to "Tele-PROTECT" or "DepEd" psychotherapy randomly. Participate in one baseline assessment and four follow-up assessments at weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12 administered by a trained member of the research team.


Brain Changes During Social Reward Psychotherapy for Mid- and Late-Life Suicidality 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 18, 2023
Eligibility: 50 Years to 80 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States

The investigators hypothesized that during the 9-week course of Engage & Connect treatment there will be an increase in brain functions of the Positive Valence System which in turn will lead to reduction in suicidality.


Amplitude Titration to Improve ECT Clinical Outcomes 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 14, 2023
Eligibility: 50 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

A randomized controlled trial will compare hippocampal neuroplasticity, antidepressant, and cognitive outcomes between individualized amplitude and fixed 800 mA amplitude ECT in older depressed subjects (n = 25 per group, n = 50 total). Relative to fixed 800 mA ECT:

H1: Individualized amplitude arm will have improved RUL antidepressant outcome (IDS-C30 response rates and reduced BT electrode placement switch at V2).

H2: Individualized amplitude arm will have improved cognitive outcomes (DKEFS-Verbal Fluency


Alpha-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4- Isoxazole Propionic Acid Receptor Components of the Anti-Depressant Ketamine Response 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 7, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 55 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States

The proposed study will assess the combined effect of perampanel and ketamine on the anti-depressant response in individuals with treatment resistant depression. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that stimulation of Alpha-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4- Isoxazole Propionic Acid receptors (AMPAR) is critical to the anti-depressant response of ketamine.


CBT+ for Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 1, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States

This study investigates the effects of a novel intervention approach, intentionally sequencing aerobic exercise immediately prior to therapy sessions (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) to determine its effects on both specific and common factors underlying the antidepressant effect of CBT (i.e., mechanisms of CBT). To assess the utility of this treatment augmentation, investigators plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial involving 40 adults with Major Depressive Disorder who will watch a nature documentary while either resting quietly (termed 'CalmCBT') or exercising at a moderate intensity ('ActiveCBT') immediately prior to 8 weekly sessions of CBT. It is hypothesized that target CBT mechanisms of antidepressant action (i.e., self-reported working alliance and behavioral activation) will be more effectively engaged by ActiveCBT vs. CalmCBT.


OptimizeD Pilot Study 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: August 1, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 99 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Sangath, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

This pilot study aims to explore and refine the trial procedures that will be implemented in a larger-scale clinical trial scheduled to commence in March 2024 (NCT05944926). As part of this study, 60 patients with moderate to severe depression will be randomized to either psychotherapy based on behavioral activation called the Healthy Activity Program (HAP) or antidepressant medication.

The pilot study has two primary objectives:

Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the study Collect essential outcome data in preparation for the larger trial


Treatment of Post-partum Depression Using an Behavioral Intervention Called ROSE (Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for Mothers of Newborns) Delivered Using an Electronic App 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: July 17, 2023
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States

A randomized trial of pregnant people at risk for postpartum depression comparing the InBloom app (n = 76) to ROSE (n = 76; weekly scheduled group), and two control groups. We will assess Depression at baseline and 1, 2 and 3 months, ROI at 3 months, Satisfaction at 1 and 3 months and Perceived Access at 1 and 3 months. Subject participation will last up to 8 months (minimum 17 weeks pregnant through 3 months postpartum).


Reducing Psychological Barriers to PrEP Persistence Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Cape Town, South Africa 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: July 1, 2023
Eligibility: Females, 15 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Gugulethu Midwife Obstetric Unit (MOU), Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Pregnant women in South Africa (SA) are at high risk of HIV acquisition. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use during pregnancy is both safe and effective in preventing HIV. However, posttraumatic stress (associated with intimate partner violence and/or other traumas) and depression negatively impact PrEP adherence among women in SA. Addressing posttraumatic stress and depression will likely improve PrEP adherence and persistence (i.e., sustained PrEP adherence over time) during pregnancy and breastfeeding, which are periods of dramatically increased HIV risk. The overarching goal of this proposal is to develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of a cognitive behavioral intervention that targets common underlying factors of posttraumatic stress and depression to improve PrEP adherence and persistence during pregnancy and the postpartum transition. The specific aims of the project are to (1) explore the mechanisms by which posttraumatic stress and depression impact PrEP adherence and persistence during pregnancy via qualitative interviews; (2) develop a brief PrEP adherence and persistence intervention (~4 sessions) that reduces the negative impact of psychological mechanisms common to posttraumatic stress and depression on PrEP use, and builds behavioral skills to improve self-care; and (3) evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and signals of preliminary efficacy of the intervention, which will be integrated into antenatal care, in a pilot randomized controlled trial. All data will be collected in the Midwife Obstetrics Unit (MOU) in Gugulethu, a peri-urban settlement and former township community outside of Cape Town, SA.


Virtual Patient Navigation During a Pandemic 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 29, 2023
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

The sub-study will involve a rigorous mixed-methods design. The qualitative phase of the sub-study will consist of semi-structured interviews. During the semi-structured interviews, 10 eligible women will be recruited to identify barriers and facilitators to accessing virtual mental health services. This information will be used to adapt an evidence-based patient navigation intervention for virtual use and an engagement measure. For the intervention phase of the sub-study, 30 women with persistent postpartum depression symptoms will be recruited to participate in the adapted virtual navigator program using rapid cycle testing over a 2-month period.


[18F]PF-06445974 to Image PDE4B in Major Depressive Disorder Using PET 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 22, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 70 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric condition. People with MDD have occasional bouts of depressive symptoms; these bouts are called major depressive episodes (MDEs). Researchers want to know if people having MDEs have lower levels of an enzyme called PDE4B in their brains.

Objective:

To find out (1) if PDE4B can be detected in a person s brain using a special scanning method and (2) if brain PDE4B levels are lower in people having an MDE.

Eligibility:

People aged 18-70 years with MDD. Healthy volunteers are also needed.

Design:

Participants will have up to 5 clinic visits.

Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam with blood tests. They will have a test of their heart function. Some participants may have a psychiatric assessment; they will answer questions about their state of mind and related topics.

Participants will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. They will lie on a table that slides into a metal cylinder.

Participants will have a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A needle will be used to guide a thin plastic tube (catheter) into a vein in one arm. An experimental substance called a radioactive tracer ([18F]PF-06445974) will be injected through the catheter. Participants will lie on a table that slides into a doughnut-shaped machine. The scan will last up to 4 hours with a 15-minute break.

Participants blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing will be monitored before, during, and after the PET scan. A second catheter will be inserted in the artery of the wrist so blood can be drawn during the scan.

Some participants may return for a second PET scan.

https://nimhcontent.nimh.nih.gov/start/surveys/?s=KE88DXXPLDFHHTF8


Determining the Role of Social Reward Learning in Social Anhedonia 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 14, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 35 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States; University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

This is a clinical trial study that aims to evaluate the specificity of the relationship between reduced sensitivity to social reward and social anhedonia at both behavioral and neural levels. Individuals who recently experienced their first-episode psychosis will be recruited. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to motivational interviewing or a time- and format-matched control probe. At pre- and post-probe, participants will perform two social reward learning tasks in the scanner. With this design feature, we will examine the relationship between sensitivity to social reward and reduced subjective experience of social pleasure at both the behavioral and neural levels.


Neuro-affective Response to Light in Depressed Adolescents and Young Adults 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 14, 2023
Eligibility: 12 Years to 30 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The goal of this neuroimaging pilot study is to understand developmental differences in the impact of therapeutic wavelength light (blue light) versus a non-therapeutic wavelength (red light) on emotional brain function in depression. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Does acute exposure to blue light (vs red light) stabilize emotional brain function in depressed individuals? Are stabilizing effects of blue light (vs red light) stronger for blue light in adolescents than young adults?

Participants will complete:

A magnetic resonance imaging brain scan, in which we will examine the effect of blue versus red light on emotional brain function at rest and in response to rewards and losses. A pupillometry test of sensitivity to blue vs red light Clinical interviews and surveys Screening measures for drug and alcohol use, MRI safety, and current pregnancy [if relevant] Home sleep tracking with sleep diary and actigraphy for one week


Toward Understanding Drivers of Patient Engagement With Digital Mental Health Interventions - Part II 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 7, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 75 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Jessica Morrow Lipschitz, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

This study is a clinical trial that evaluates what drives patient engagement and tests the impact of two strategies-automated motivational push messaging and coach support-to improve engagement with an evidence-based mobile app intervention for depression and/or anxiety.


Amygdala Neurofeedback for Depression - Large Scale Clinical Trial 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 1, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 55 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether rtfMRI-nf training to increase the amygdala response to positive memories may serve as a stand-alone intervention for major depressive disorder


EPI-MINN: Targeting Cognition and Motivation - National 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: May 30, 2023
Eligibility: 15 Years to 40 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

The purpose of this study is to perform a practice-based research project designed to assess whether cognition and motivated behavior in early psychosis can be addressed as key treatment goals within real-world settings by using a 12-week mobile intervention program. Participants who are receiving care at coordinated specialty care (CSC) early psychosis clinics across the United States will be recruited to participate in this study. A qualifying CSC program will provide comprehensive clinical services such as psychotherapy, medication management, psychoeducation, and work or education support. This study will be conducted remotely, and participants can participate at home with their own electronic devices.

The aim of this study is to investigate a well-defined 12-week mobile intervention program specifically designed to target cognitive functioning and motivated behavior for individuals with early psychosis. Participants will complete a screening interview which will include diagnosis and symptom ratings, neurocognitive assessment, and self-reports of symptoms, behavior, and functioning. Then participants will be randomized to receive the 12-week mobile intervention, or an active control of treatment as usual. The investigators will test for differences in the clinical trajectories after training, and at two follow up appointments at 6 and 12 months post-training.


Neurostimulation Versus Therapy for Problems With Emotions 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: May 15, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 55 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States

The primary goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the unique neural and behavioral effects of a one-session training combining emotion regulation skills training, with excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). The secondary aim is to identify key changes in the emotion regulation neural network following the combined intervention versus each of the components alone. The third aim is to explore personalized biomarkers for response to emotion regulation training.

Participants will undergo brain imaging while engaging in an emotional regulation task. Participants will be randomly assigned to learn one of two emotion regulation skills. Participants will be reminded of recent stressors and will undergo different types of neurostimulation, targeted using fMRI (functional MRI) results. Participants who may practice their emotion regulation skills during neurostimulation in a one-time session. Following this training, participants will undergo another fMRI and an exit interview to assess for immediate neural and behavioral changes. Measures of emotion regulation will be assessed at a one week and a one month follow up visit.


Friendship Bench Mental Health Intervention for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South African PrEP Delivery Settings 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 24, 2023
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years to 25 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Wits Reproductive Health Institute, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) at risk of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, frequently (20-50%) have symptoms of common mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and stress. These symptoms are associated with suboptimal adherence to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a highly effective HIV prevention approach. In this project, the team seeks to address poor mental health and consequent impacts on PrEP adherence and among AGYW at risk of HIV by testing an evidence-based mental health intervention (the Youth Friendship Bench SA) adapted for PrEP delivery programs.


Depressed Mood Improvement Through Nicotine Dosing 3 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 15, 2023
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hosptial, Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Deficits in cognitive control are core features of late-life depression (LLD), contributing both to emotion dysregulation and problems with inhibiting irrelevant information, conflict detection, and working memory. Clinically characterized as executive dysfunction, these deficits are associated with poor response to antidepressants and higher levels of disability. Improvement of cognitive control network (CCN) dysfunction may benefit both mood and cognitive performance, however no current pharmacotherapy improves Cognitive Control Network deficits in LLD.

The study examines the hypothesis that nicotine acetylcholine receptor agonists enhance Cognitive Control Network function. This effect may resultantly improve mood and cognitive performance in LLD. Small, open-label studies of transdermal nicotine (TDN) patches have supported potential clinical benefit and provided support that transdermal nicotine administration engages the Cognitive Control Network.

This blinded study will expand past open-label trials supporting potential benefit in LLD. It will examine TDN's effect on depression severity and cognitive control functions measured by neuropsychological testing. The study will evaluate 60 eligible and enrolled participants over a 3-year period.


Depressed Mood Improvement Through Nicotine Dosing-3 (Depressed MIND3) Extension 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 15, 2023
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Deficits in cognitive control are core features of late-life depression (LLD), contributing both to emotion dysregulation and problems with inhibiting irrelevant information, conflict detection, and working memory. Clinically characterized as executive dysfunction, these deficits are associated with poor response to antidepressants and higher levels of disability. Improvement of cognitive control network (CCN) dysfunction may benefit both mood and cognitive performance, however no current pharmacotherapy improves Cognitive Control Network deficits in LLD.

The study examines the hypothesis that nicotine acetylcholine receptor agonists enhance Cognitive Control Network function. This effect may resultantly improve mood and cognitive performance in LLD. Small, open-label studies of transdermal nicotine (TDN) patches have supported potential clinical benefit and provided support that transdermal nicotine administration engages the Cognitive Control Network.

This is an open-label, extension to the blinded Depressed MIND 3 (Depressed Mood Improvement through nicotine dosing) study. It will evaluate longer-term safety and efficacy of Transdermal Nicotine Patches for potential benefit in cognitive and depression outcomes in elderly depressed participants. Subjects complete blinded randomized trial of Depressed MIND-3 will be eligible for continuation in this extension. This extension study will consist of up to 12 weeks of treatment and a 3 -week safety follow-up period.


Using Machine Learning to Optimize User Engagement and Clinical Response to Digital Mental Health Interventions 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 12, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Digital mental health interventions are a cost-effective and efficient approach to expanding the accessibility and impact of psychological treatments; however, little guidance exists for selecting the most effective program for a given individual. In the proposed study, decision rules will develop for selecting the digital program that is most likely to be the optimal intervention for each user. These treatment recommendations can be implemented in the context of large healthcare delivery systems to improve the delivery of digital mental health interventions at scale.

The overarching aim of the current study is to better understand for whom and how leading digital interventions work in a large healthcare setting. The study builds on the existing literature and follows expert recommendations by using machine learning (ML) methods to develop precision treatment rules (PTRs) for three leading digital interventions for emotional disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, and related mental health disorders). Specifically, ML methods will be used to develop PTRs to optimize clinical outcomes and associated intervention engagement. This study will leverage a unique partnership between Boston University (BU), SilverCloud Health (SC)--a leading provider of digital mental health care--and Kaiser Permanente (KP)--one of America's leading health care providers.

A clinical trial (RCT) will be conducted to evaluate the relative effectiveness of three distinct empirically supported digital mental health interventions (from SC's existing library of programs) in a sample recruited from KP primary care and other clinical settings. Data from this trial will be used to develop theoretically and empirically informed, reliable selection algorithms for managing treatment delivery decisions. Algorithms will be validated in a separate "holdout" dataset by examining whether allocation to predicted optimal treatment is associated with superior outcomes compared to allocation to a non-optimal treatment. The role of user engagement will be determined, and other mechanisms in treatment outcome.


Mechanisms of Depression and Anhedonia in Adolescents: Linking Sleep to Reward- and Stress-Related Brain Function 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 27, 2023
Eligibility: 14 Years to 18 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, United States

This research will use biobehavioral approaches to generate understanding about the linkages between sleep duration and timing, stressful life events, and depressive symptoms in adolescents, with a long-term aim of developing effective preventative interventions.


In-person vs. Virtual Delivery of a Group-based Prevention of Postpartum Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 13, 2023
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, United States

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether an established preventive intervention (group interpersonal therapy) delivered virtually shows the same benefits for preventing postpartum depression as it does when delivered in person.


Behavioral Activation and Medication Optimization For Improving Perioperative Mental Health In Older Adults Undergoing Oncologic Surgery 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 10, 2023
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Using a Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation randomized control trial (RCT) design, the investigators will test the effectiveness of a bundled behavioral activation and medication optimization in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults undergoing oncologic surgery (compared with usual care), while examining implementation outcomes.


AI-Based Fidelity Feedback to Enhance CBT 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 9, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): The Penn Collaborative for CBT and Implementation Science, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

This study is being conducted together by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Lyssn.io, Inc., ("Lyssn"), a technology start-up developing digital tools to support evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for mental health disorders and addiction. This study will implement a technology to assess and enhance the quality of EBPs like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that includes a user interface geared to clinical, supervision, and administrative workflows and needs, and then assess this technology for effectiveness in comparison to usual care.

There is a tremendous global burden of mental illness: Over 50 million American adults have a diagnosable mental health disorder, and major depression on its own is the leading cause of disability worldwide. In the face of this burden, clinical research has documented a variety of effective EBPs (e.g. CBT), and these psychotherapies are utilized on a massive scale. Systems have invested over $2 billion in training providers in specific EBPs. Once trained, however, therapists' adherence to the EBP, also called fidelity, is both crucial for effectiveness and difficult to assess. There is no scalable method to assess the fidelity and quality of EBPs in community practice settings. This is a foundational problem for healthcare systems.

Advances in speech processing and machine learning make technology a promising solution to this problem. The use of technology - instead of humans - to evaluate EBPs means that objective, performance-based feedback can be provided quickly, efficiently, cost-effectively, and without human error. If successful, the present research will be among the first examples of a method for building, monitoring, and assessing the quality of therapy that can scale up to large, real-world healthcare settings.

In this study, the investigators will implement an existing, fully-functional prototype (LyssnCBT) that includes a user interface geared to community mental health (CMH) clinical, supervision, and administrative workflows and needs, and then assess for effectiveness of psychotherapy supported by LyssnCBT in comparison to usual care.

This study will implement LyssnCBT in 5 community mental health agencies, beginning with a single-arm pilot field trial to identify and address any specific barriers to implementing the tool in a community mental health context. The study team will then conduct a larger study in community mental health agencies comparing LyssnCBT to services as usual.


Disruptions of Brain Networks and Sleep by Electroconvulsive Therapy 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: March 7, 2023
Eligibility: 21 Years to 65 Years
Location(s): Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) alleviates treatment-resistant depression (TRD) through repeated generalized seizures. The goal of this study is to evaluate how ECT impacts sleep-wake regulation and efficiency of information transfer in functional networks in different states of arousal.


Neuroactive Steroid to Treat Depressed Mood: A Trial for People With HIV 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 3, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years to 85 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

This study will determine the effects of pregnenolone on brain function, inflammation and depressive symptoms in people with HIV who have depression. Participants in this study will receive a pill of either pregnenolone or placebo, and can stay on their current antidepression medications. Brain imaging and behavioral assessments will be performed during the study.


A Digital Intervention for Post-Stroke Depression and Executive Dysfunction 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 1, 2023
Eligibility: 50 Years to 79 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, United States

Individuals with stroke commonly experience both depression and cognitive difficulties. The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a treatment that combines a digital therapeutic (an iPad-based cognitive training program) with learning cognitive strategies. The hypotheses are that this treatment will improve cognitive skills, depression symptoms, daily function, and brain connectivity. In the short-term, the findings will inform the efficacy of the intervention and in the long-term, may support the use of the intervention to improve co-occurring cognitive and mood difficulties after stroke.


Pilot Study of Mothers and Babies Online in Home Visiting 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 1, 2023
Eligibility: Females, 16 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Children & Family Resource Center, Hendersonville, North Carolina, United States; Easter Seals, Joliet, Illinois, United States; Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago, Illinois, United States; Newport News, Newport News, Virginia, United States; Carolina Health Centers, Greenwood, South Carolina, United States

The investigators propose a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) that examines how the redesigned version of Mothers and Babies Online (eMB) can be delivered in the context of home visiting (HV) programs that serve pregnant individuals and new mothers across the United States. The PI, Dr. Darius Tandon (Northwestern University), has conducted extensive research on the in-person Mothers and Babies (MB) intervention with HV programs and has received interest from one of the largest HV models-Parents as Teachers (PAT)-to explore the use of eMB with pregnant individuals that they serve.


Perioperative Mental Health in Orthopedic Surgery 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 27, 2023
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

This Hybrid 1 Study will test the effectiveness of a bundled intervention comprised of behavioral activation and medication optimization in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults undergoing Orthopedic surgery (compared with usual care), while examining implementation outcomes.


Factorial Optimization Trial to Test Effects of Coping Intervention Components 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 18, 2023
Eligibility: 9 Years to 12 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States

This study will identify components for inclusion in a coping intervention package to reduce mental health problems among children exposed to high interparental conflict after parental separation/divorce. Reappraisal, distraction, and relaxation coping strategies are related to fewer mental health problems among children, making intervention components based on these strategies key candidates for inclusion in an optimized coping intervention. The primary aim is to experimentally assess the main and interactive effects of three digital intervention coping components (reappraisal, distraction, relaxation) on children's coping efficacy, emotional security, and internalizing and externalizing problems. Secondary aims are to assess indirect effects of the intervention components on children's coping efficacy, emotional security, and internalizing and externalizing problems through their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to post-separation/divorce interparental conflict events.


Mechanisms of Behavioral Activation (BA) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 30, 2023
Eligibility: 15 Years to 17 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Child and Adolescent Mood Program (CAMP), Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Facility for Education and Research in Neuroscience (FERN), Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

The investigators will be comparing brain (neural) activation of depressed adolescent patients before, during and after a course of Behavioral Activation (BA) therapy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In particular, the project seeks to determine whether BA targets different neural mechanisms for behavioral avoidance associated with low motivation as compared to threat avoidance. A group of healthy controls will also be scanned as a comparator group for behavioral and imaging measures.


Clinical Trial for Integrated Care to Help At Risk Teen (iCHART) Intervention 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 26, 2023
Eligibility: 12 Years to 18 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Children's Community Pediatrics (CCP- Waterdam) of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC, McMurray, Pennsylvania, United States; UPMC Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

This protocol will test the effectiveness of an intervention, iCHART (integrated Care to Help At-Risk Teens) and facilitate recruitment for other studies in the larger ETUDES Center grant, which are focused on treatment development for target risk factors for suicidal behavior, specifically, sleep, anhedonia, and stress related to cybervictimization. This study will recruit 900 adolescents which will be enrolled in a randomized controlled trial to test iCHART and will be randomized to iCHART or treatment as usual (TAU). Based on previous work, the investigators hypothesize that iCHART, compared to TAU, will decrease suicidal-related events by 50%, and the effects will be mediated by increases in referrals, treatment engagement, and safety planning. The investigators will use implementation science methods to assess contextual factors (i.e., barriers and facilitators) and implementation outcomes specifically, acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and cost for our predictive algorithm and iCHART to inform future implementation efforts and promote health equity.


Improving Mental Health Among the LGBTQ+ Community 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 25, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

The overall aim of this program of research is to improve the mental health of people who identify as LGBTQ+ by increasing their social support through a brief intervention. The purpose of the proposed project is to establish the effectiveness of our empirically-supported, brief acceptance-based behavioral therapy (ABBT). To achieve the specific aims, the investigators will conduct a fully-powered, randomized clinical trial (n=240) with two treatment arms: treatment-as-usual (TAU) vs. ABBT.


Study of a PST-Trained Voice-Enabled Artificial Intelligence Counselor(SPEAC) for Adults With Emotional Distress (Phase 2) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 23, 2023
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UIMC Advanced Imaging Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States; Department of Medicine, Vitoux Program on Aging and Prevention, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Approximately 200 Participants with mild-to-moderate, untreated depression and/or anxiety will be randomly assigned (by chance, like flipping a coin) to 1 of 3 study groups: Lumen Coached Problem-Solving Treatment (PST) (n=100), Human Coached PST (n=50), and optional (delayed) Lumen Coached PST as waitlist control (n=50) to improve emotional health. All participants will complete assessments at baseline and at 18 weeks post randomization.

Depending on the group assignment the PST program will be delivered by Lumen, a virtual voice-based coach on a study iPad, or by a human coach in person for the first session and then via videoconference or phone for the remaining 7 sessions. Participants assigned to the waitlist control group can receive the Lumen coached PST on a study iPad after completing their 18-week follow-up assessment.

Participants will receive 8 coaching sessions to learn problem-solving skills and work on unresolved problems in daily living that may be interfering with their emotional well-being and contributing to depression and anxiety symptoms.


Suubi-Mhealth: A Mobile Health Intervention to Address Depression Among Youth 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 23, 2022
Eligibility: 14 Years to 17 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD), Masaka, Uganda

The overall goal of this study is to develop an mHealth intervention (Suubi-Mhealth) for use among Ugandan youth (14-17 years) with comorbid HIV and depression, taking into account their unique contextual, cultural, and developmental needs. This digital therapy intervention delivered via a mobile application, will utilize the core tenets of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) found to improve depression and ART adherence.


Social Media-Based Parenting Program for Women With Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: Impact on Child Development 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 18, 2022
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

The long-term goal is to develop effective parenting strategies to facilitate optimal child development for mothers suffering with PPD symptoms. The overall objective for this application is to study whether this program combined with online depression treatment leads to more responsive parenting (target) and signals improved child language, socioemotional and cognitive development (outcomes) compared to depression treatment alone. Findings from this application can be used to inform a future study to test the effectiveness and implementation of this social media-based parenting program.


Transcranial Electric Stimulation Therapy (TEST) for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 8, 2022
Eligibility: 25 Years to 64 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

People with TRD are often helped by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). But ECT can affect memory and thinking. Researchers want to study a treatment called TEST that uses less electricity.

Objective:

To study the safety and feasibility of TEST and assess its antidepressant effects.

Eligibility:

Adults aged 25-64 with major depression that has not been relieved by current treatments.

Design:

Participants will be admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for 5 18 weeks over 2 3 treatment phases. Their medications may be adjusted.

Participants will be interviewed about their depression, side effects, and other treatments they are receiving. They will complete questionnaires. They will give blood and urine samples. Their brain waves and heart rhythm will be recorded. They will take tests of memory, attention, mental functioning, and thinking.

Participants will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the head and brain. They will lie on a table that slides in and out of the scanner. Pictures of brain chemicals will also be taken. They may complete tasks during the MRI.

Participants will receive TEST and/or sham treatments. They may receive optional ECT. An intravenous catheter will be placed in an arm vein to receive general anesthesia. Two electrodes will be placed on the front of their head. An electric current will be passed from the ECT machine through the electrodes. For sham treatments, they will not receive the electric current. Their breathing, heart rate, brain function, blood pressure, and body movements will be measured.

Participants will have 7 follow-up visits over 6 months. Visits can be done via telehealth.

Participation will last for up to 42 weeks.


Glutamatergic Adaptation to Stress as a Mechanism for Anhedonia and Treatment Response With Ketamine 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 8, 2022
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of ketamine on decision-making and emotion processing in a sample of individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).


Behavioral Activation and Medication Optimization In Older Adults Undergoing Cardiac Procedures 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 5, 2022
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

This Hybrid 1 Study will test the effectiveness of a bundled intervention comprised of behavioral activation and medication optimization in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults undergoing cardiac surgery (compared with usual care), while examining implementation outcomes.


A Dyadic Approach to Perinatal Depression in Primary Care: Maternal Infant and Dyadic Care 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 1, 2022
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Amritha Bhat, Seattle, Washington, United States

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a parenting intervention+usual care compared to usual care on postpartum depression and other mental health and parenting outcomes, as well as the feasibility and acceptability of the parenting intervention.


Evaluating tDCS Brain-stimulation in Depression Using MRI 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 20, 2022
Eligibility: 20 Years to 55 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, United States

Patients, physicians, and those who fund depression research are keenly interested in depression treatments that do not involve taking medications. One promising candidate treatment is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a low-cost technique that involves placing electrodes on specific scalp locations and using a 9-volt battery to cause a small amount of electricity to pass through parts of the brain. Depending on the direction of electrical flow, tDCS can make brain cells (neurons) more likely or less likely to generate their own electrical signals. When evaluated as a treatment, tDCS is typically done in daily sessions over a period of two weeks.

One of the challenges of tDCS is to work out the best possible positioning of electrodes and direction of electricity flow to gradually cause lasting changes in brain activity in ways that might be expected to improve depression. To address this challenge, the investigators are using MRI to take pictures of the brain during tDCS. This data will help us better understand the short-term effects of tDCS in depression and help us learn how to customize future treatments to cause a lasting beneficial response.

Patients with depression between the ages of 20-55 years are eligible to take part in this research. Potential participants will undergo:

An assessment to confirm eligibility. This will take place over a secure videoconference call lasting no more than 3 hours.

Two in-person study visits lasting 30 min and 2-1/2 hours respectively. In the first visit, the investigators will use the MRI to take a picture of the brain and head structure to determine appropriate locations for placing the tDCS electrodes at the start of the second visit. Following electrode placement, an MRI scan will be performed to take pictures of the brain during tDCS. Depending on the study arm,

Participants may receive 'active' or 'sham' tDCS. The 'sham' condition is identical to the 'active' tDCS in every way except that it involves minimal tDCS and is designed to help rule out effects unrelated to the administered tDCS electricity. Participants may also be asked to perform a mental task during MRI.

All participants will be compensated $150 + parking upon completion of all study-visits.


CBT Enhanced With Social Cognitive Training vs. CBT Only With Depressed Youth 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 10, 2022
Eligibility: 13 Years to 17 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Judy Garber, Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Depression in youth is a serious public health concern for which more personalized treatments are needed. This randomized controlled trial will test the effect of an intervention aimed at enhancing social cognitive capacities (e.g., ability to take another's perspective), thereby making treatment of depression in youth more efficient and effective. Participants in the R33 (N=82) will be youth between ages 13- through 17-years-old currently experiencing depression. Youth will be randomized to either an enhanced CBT intervention that teaches social cognitive skills, particularly social perspective taking and theory of mind (CBTSCT) as compared to CBT only. The primary target is improvement in both social cognitive skills and depressive symptoms at post-treatment and at a 6-month follow-up.


Ketamine Versus Midazolam for Recurrence of Suicidality in Adolescents 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 3, 2022
Eligibility: 13 Years to 18 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States

This project aims to examine the efficacy of ketamine, a rapidly acting medication shown to decrease suicidality in adults in as short as hours or days, as opposed to weeks.

The study design is a double-blind, randomized, active-control trial of adolescents (ages 13-18 years) with recent suicidal behaviors (suicide attempt or increased suicidal ideation). All participants must be receiving standard of care treatment which may range broadly from both outpatient and inpatient programs which include clinically indicated psychosocial and/or psychopharmacological treatments. Ketamine/midazolam treatment will occur twice weekly during the first two weeks of the study, followed by weekly assessments through week 12.


Neural-Derived Plasma Exosomal MicroRNAs As Promising Novel Biomarkers for Suicidality and Treatment Outcome in Adolescents 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 1, 2022
Eligibility: 10 Years to 24 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UAB Huntsville Regional Medical Campus, Huntsville, Alabama, United States; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States

This study is dedicated to help identify biomarkers for depression and suicide. The purpose of the study is to better understand these links to improve medical and psychiatric care in the future. This research is also to test the effects of standard treatment of depression on improvement in depressive and suicidal behavior and on biomarkers (e.g. miRNA) for these disorders.


Brain, Emotions, and Mind-Wandering 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 23, 2022
Eligibility: 11 Years to 14 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Mood lability is an important transdiagnostic problem that is associated with poor psychosocial function and suicidal thoughts, and is a predictor of mood disorder onset, especially in youth at familial risk. Thus, particularly in youth with a family history of mood disorder, an intervention to target mood lability during a key period of development could improve outcomes. This study will allow us to test neurobehavioral mechanisms of a mindfulness-based intervention to target mood lability in early adolescents at high risk for developing mood disorders. Through this randomized controlled trial, the investigators will better understand how and for whom mindfulness interventions work, which will lead to more targeted interventions to improve emotion regulation during this key developmental period.


Improving Adherence to Homework During Therapy 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 1, 2022
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States

The purpose of this study is to expand Adhere.ly- a simple, HIPAA-compliant, web-based platform to help therapists engage clients in practicing therapeutic skills between sessions (homework) during mental health treatment by conducting a trial comparing standard therapy to therapy enhanced with Adhere.ly.


Treatment Research Investigating Depression Effects on Neuroimmune Targets (TRIDENT) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: August 30, 2022
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to understand how a cognitive-behavioral treatment (a form of psychological treatment) for depression changes the gut microbiome (micro-organisms that regulate the health of the gut), immune system, and the brain functioning in people living with HIV.


Remote State Representation in Early Psychosis 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: July 27, 2022
Eligibility: 18 Years to 30 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

The purpose of this study is to examine state representation in individuals aged 15-40 who have been diagnosed with a psychotic illness, as well as young adults who do not have a psychiatric diagnosis. State Representation is our ability to process information about our surroundings. The investigators will complete some observational tests as well as a cognitive training clinical trial.


Caregiver Stress and Sleep Study 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: July 15, 2022
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UPMC Western Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

This study includes a randomized experimental component where therapists will systematically deliver an experimental behavioral probe or a supportive control condition. The aim is to evaluate effects on meaningful health-relevant measures including morning activation levels, depression symptoms, rumination, and aspects brain connectivity previously linked with depression.


Virtual Group Psychoeducational Discussions With Spanish-Speaking Mothers of Infants in Pediatric Primary Care 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 9, 2022
Eligibility: Females, 16 Years to 99 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

The goal of the proposed research is to test the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual group session which is intended to be offered universally to Spanish-speaking parents of newborns/infants attending pediatric primary care. The virtual session is intended to (1) enhance patient/family education about postpartum depression (PPD) and (2) Provide an orientation to families regarding relevant clinic and community psychosocial support resources available. The investigators will conduct a single-arm, open pilot of the session, which will be co-delivered by existing clinic staff (including social work and community outreach staff). Session contents include (1) Introduction to clinic staff, contacts, and resources (2) A video-recorded testimonial of a patient with a history of perinatal depression followed by a group discussion about/reflection on the video; (3) Review of prevalence and signs of PPD; (4) Discussion of clinic PPD screening procedures and rationale for screening; (5) Discussion of self-care and mood monitoring; (6) Discussion of relevant local resources, including information about availability of primary care resources for parents (including uninsured parents) and information about resources addressing social needs. The overall aim of the project is to Develop and pilot a virtual group augmentation of standard individual well-child care to improve (1) clinic screening procedures, discussion about and initial management of maternal depressive symptoms with immigrant Latinas and (2) patient symptom recognition, symptom disclosure, and subsequent treatment engagement


Addressing Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health, and HIV in Antenatal Care 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 26, 2022
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Malvern Clinic, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

This quasi-experimental feasibility study recruit n=40 participants from each of two public antenatal clinics in Johannesburg, South Africa. Using the Bowen et al. approach, key feasibility study questions will be those around acceptability, implementation, and promising effects on intermediate variable. While this pilot trial is not powered to determine efficacy, it can help establish whether intervention targets the appropriate intermediate mechanisms (i.e. primary endpoints of IPV exposure and depressive symptoms) and moves intended outcomes in the right direction (i.e. towards better adherence as measured by self-reported adherence).


WellPATH-PREVENT: A Mobile Intervention for Middle-Aged and Older Adults Hospitalized for Suicidal Ideation or Attempt 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 22, 2022
Eligibility: 50 Years to 90 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Weill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, White Plains, New York, United States

The goal of this project is to test whether WellPATH-PREVENT (a novel, mobile psychosocial intervention) improves a specific aspect of emotion regulation, i.e., cognitive reappraisal ability, and reduces suicide risk in middle-aged and older adults (50-90 years old) who have been discharged after a suicide-related hospitalization (i.e. for suicidal ideation or suicide attempt).


Examining the Effects of Estradiol on Neural and Molecular Response to Reward 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 20, 2022
Eligibility: Females, 45 Years to 55 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

This proposal will examine the effects of estradiol administration on perimenopausal-onset (PO) anhedonia and psychosis symptoms as well as on brain function using simultaneous positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MR).


Sequential Bilateral Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation in Adolescents With Suicidal Ideation 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 4, 2022
Eligibility: 12 Years to 18 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States

The purpose of this study is to gather information regarding the use of a new type of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) called theta burst stimulation (TBS) for suicidal ideation in adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The investigators hope to learn if this TMS treatment improves suicidal ideation over 10 days and clinical outcomes over 1 year of follow-up.


Academic-Community EPINET (AC-EPINET) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 16, 2022
Eligibility: 16 Years to 35 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic-New Orleans (EPIC-NOLA) - Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States; Prevention and Recovery Center for Early Psychosis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States; Vanderbilt's Early Psychosis Program - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States; The Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER) at Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio, United States; Strong Ties Young Adults Program- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States; Program for Risk Evaluation and Prevention (PREP) - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

The investigators propose to examine the effects of CSC services delivered via TH (CSC-TH) versus the standard clinic-based CSC model (CSC-SD) on engagement and outcomes in a 12-month, randomized trial.


Model-based Electrical Brain Stimulation 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 8, 2022
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States

Neuropsychiatric disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide with depressive disorders being one of the most disabling among them. Also, millions of patients do not respond to current medications or psychotherapy, which makes it critical to find an alternative therapy. Applying electrical stimulation at various brain targets has shown promise but there is a critical need to improve efficacy.

Given inter- and intra-subject variabilities in neuropsychiatric disorders, this study aims to enable personalizing the stimulation therapy via i) tracking a patient's own symptoms based on their neural activity, and ii) a model of how their neural activity responds to stimulation therapy. The study will develop the modeling elements needed to realize a model-based personalized closed-loop system for electrical brain stimulation to achieve this aim.

The study will provide proof-of-concept demonstration in epilepsy patients who already have intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) electrodes implanted for their standard clinical monitoring unrelated to this study, and who consent to being part of the study.


Effectiveness RCT of Customized Adherence Enhancement 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 1, 2022
Eligibility: 18 Years to 89 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, United States; The Nord Center, Lorain, Ohio, United States

Approximately one in two individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) are non-adherent with medication, often leading to severe and negative consequences. Unfortunately, there is no widely used evidence-based approach to target poor adherence among individuals with BD. Building upon positive efficacy trial results, the proposed project will test the effectiveness of technology-facilitated Customized Adherence Enhancement (CAE) vs. enhanced treatment as usual (eTAU) using a prospective randomized controlled design in public mental health care settings and preferentially enrolling poorly adherent/high-risk individuals with BD. Deliverables include a curriculum-driven adherence enhancement approach that can be implemented in public healthcare settings and which can improve outcomes for the most vulnerable groups of people with BD.


The PATHway Study: Primary Care Based Depression Prevention in Adolescents 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 1, 2022
Eligibility: 13 Years to 18 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States; Advocate Aurora Health, Park Ridge, Illinois, United States; Northshore University HealthSystem, Glenview, Illinois, United States; UI Health, Chicago, Illinois, United States; Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Prevention of depressive disorders has become a key priority for the NIMH, but the investigators have no widely available public health strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality. To address this need, the investigators developed and evaluated the primary care based-technology "behavioral vaccine," Competent Adulthood Transition with Cognitive-Behavioral Humanistic and Interpersonal Therapy (CATCH-IT). The investigators will engage N=4 health systems representative of the United States health care system, and conduct a factorial design study to optimize the intervention in preparation for an implementation study and eventual dissemination.


Beyond Monoamines: The Role of the Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Receptor in Major Depression 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: December 29, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 45 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

This study looks at the role of the Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ receptor system in the brain of individuals with current or past major depressive disorder (MDD). It also examines how individuals with a history of depression make certain decisions and which brain regions are involved in such decisions. Information collected through MRI, PET, biospecimens (i.e., blood, saliva) and behavioral tasks will be used to predict depressive symptoms in the future.


XEN1101 for Major Depressive Disorder 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 19, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States

This project is designed to examine the neuronal KCNQ2/3 potassium (K+) channel subtype as a novel treatment target for mood disorders through the administration of the KCNQ-selective channel opener XEN1101 (Xenon Pharmaceuticals).


Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to Understand Hallucinations in Schizophrenia 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 13, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 55 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

This study uses a noninvasive technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study how hallucinations work in schizophrenia.

TMS is a noninvasive way of stimulating the brain, using a magnetic field to change activity in the brain. The magnetic field is produced by a coil that is held next to the scalp. In this study the investigators will be stimulating the brain to learn more about how TMS might improve these symptoms of schizophrenia.


Invasive Decoding and Stimulation of Altered Reward Computations in Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 6, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 80 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States

Novel invasive neurostimulation stimulation strategies through neurosurgical interventions are emerging as a promising therapeutical strategy for major depressive disorder. These have been applied mostly to the anterior cingulate cortex, but other limbic brain regions have shown promise as anatomical targets for new neurostimulation strategies. The researchers seek to study neural activity in limbic brain areas implicated in decision behavior and mood regulation to identify novel targets for treatment through electrical stimulation. To do this, the study team will record local field potentials (LFPs) from the orbitofrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala of epilepsy participants undergoing invasive monitoring (intracranial encephalography, iEEG) during choice behavior. Leveraging the high co-morbidity of depression and intractable epilepsy (33-50%), neural responses will be compared to reward across depression status to identify abnormal responses in depression. Finally, the researchers will use these as biomarkers to guide development of neurostimulation strategies for the treatment of depression.


Testing THRIVE 365 for Black Sexual Minority Men (On The Daily) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 30, 2021
Eligibility: Males, 16 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Devin English, Newark, New Jersey, United States

The primary goal of this study is to test a minority stress model of psychological health outcomes for Black sexual minority men (BSMM) while using and not using a novel intervention named THRIVE 365. THRIVE 365 combines mHealth and institutional support elements to provide four areas of support for BSMM: 1) Promote HIV and psychological health knowledge and motivation; 2) Foster a sense of community and positive social connections among BSMM; 3) Connect clients to BSMM-affirming healthcare, including HIV treatment and mental healthcare; 4) Provide resources for housing, transportation, and other economic empowerment. To examine the effects of the intervention, we will utilize a 14-day daily diary study to capture daily intervention engagement, HIV and psychological health outcomes, coping, and experiences of racial and sexual minority stressors. We will first examine main associations between intervention engagement and HIV (antiretroviral [ART] use) and psychological health (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, emotion regulation difficulties outcomes) outcomes, then consider how intervention engagement affects coping and attenuates the impacts of racial and sexual minority stressors during the 14 day period.


Predictors of Cognitive Outcomes in Geriatric Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 28, 2021
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States

This study will focus on examining effects of stress on long-term mood and cognitive outcomes of late-life depression. It will also example the neural underpinnings of these changes using structural and functional brain imaging. Understanding how effects of stress in older depressed adults, as well as factors that might minimize those effects, lead to particular mood and cognitive outcomes will inform future development of novel prevention strategies.


Biomarker-guided rTMS for Treatment Resistant Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 1, 2021
Eligibility: 22 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States; Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a treatment for depression. The investigators are continuing to learn how to optimize outcomes from rTMS treatment. The purpose of this research project is to use brain network connectivity patterns as measured by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to confirm a way to optimize the use of rTMS to treat depression. In addition, the study aims to gain a better understanding of how rTMS influences brain networks.


Long-term Observation of Participants With Mood Disorders 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: August 17, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

More than 12,000 people have taken part in research at the Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Program. This has led to advances in the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, and suicide risk. Researchers want to follow up with this group to see if they continue to have mental health symptoms and receive psychiatric treatments.

Objective:

To learn the long-term impact of depression, bipolar disorder, and suicide risk.

Eligibility:

Adults ages 18 and older who signed consent for Protocol 01-M-0254 over a year ago.

Design:

This study has 2 phases: an online phase and a telephone phase. It has no in-person or face-to-face contact.

In Phase 1, participants will fill out online surveys. They will access the surveys through the study website. The questions will focus on their current thoughts and feelings. The surveys will also ask about their current treatments for their mental health symptoms. At the end of the surveys, they will be asked if they would like to take part in Phase 2. If so, they will mark yes. Phase 2 includes a phone interview. They will be contacted by email to schedule the interview.

In Phase 2, participants will be asked more in-depth questions about how they are feeling. They will also be asked which psychiatric medicines and treatments they have used since they left NIH.

In both phases, participants can skip any questions they do not want to answer.

The online surveys will take 30 minutes to complete. The phone interview will last 1-4 hours.

The information that participants give in this study may be linked to their other NIH research records.


Fitness for Brain Optimization for Late-Life Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: August 4, 2021
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Cognitive impairment and brain abnormalities are common and persist after depression remission in those with Late Life Depression (LLD), compounding dementia risk in both individuals with acute and remitted LLD (rLLD). In this study, investigators will examine systemic neural and cognitive benefits of aerobic exercise training in older adults with remitted LLD. This will generate preliminary data regarding neural targets of aerobic exercise training that may translate to cognitive benefits in those with rLLD, a population who remains at high risk for dementia despite successful treatment of depression.


Depression Screening in Black Churches 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: August 1, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Columbia University Irving Medical Center Center, New York, New York, United States

The overall aim of this study is to employ Community Health Workers (CHWs) to screen for depression in 30 Black churches and compare the effectiveness of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) (Intervention arm) to Referral As Usual (Control arm) on treatment engagement for depression. The investigators will assess patient-level outcomes (Mental-Health Related Quality of Life and depressive symptoms) at 3- and 6-months post-screening and conduct a mixed-methods process evaluation to assess multi-level facilitators and barriers of screening uptake.


PET Imaging of Cyclooxygenase in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: July 20, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 70 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Researchers developed [11C]MC1, a radioligand for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-2 is an enzyme induced in the brain during inflammation. Researchers want to see the levels of COX-1 (measured as distribution volume VT) are elevated in the brain of two groups of mood disorders patients undergoing MDE relative to the control group.

Objective:

To determine whether COX-1 and COX-2 are detectable in the brains of individuals with MDD experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE).

Eligibility:

People aged 18-70 years with MDD and Healthy Volunteers aged 18 70 years.

Design:

Group A: MDD participants will be studied with the same dose of [11C]MC1 before and after administration of 600 mg celecoxib; the study is neither randomized nor placebo-controlled. Group B: MDD participants, both medicated and unmedicated, will be studied with [11C]PS13 and compared to healthy volunteers..

https://nimhcontent.nimh.nih.gov/start/surveys/?s=TJW4RA4WN3LDD988


A Wearable Morning Light Treatment for Postpartum Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 23, 2021
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

This study will test a consumer health light therapy device (Re-Timer) for women with postpartum depression to better understand how it affects mood and the body clock (also called the circadian clock).

Eligible participants will be enrolled and randomized after baseline assessments. In addition to using the Re-Timer light for 5 weeks participants will complete questionnaires at various timepoints, record sleep information, wear an actigraph watch, and provide saliva samples. Additionally, the sleep of the participants' infants will also be monitored using an ankle-worn device (actigraph) and sleep diary at certain time-points as this may influence the mother's mood/sleep, and in turn affect the results.

The hypotheses regarding the bright light versus the placebo dim light of the study are:

morning bright light therapy will produce greater improvement from pre- to post-treatment on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression morning bright light therapy will lengthen the Phase angle difference (PAD) and this will mediate change in depression symptoms. morning bright light therapy will produce greater improvements on self-reported depression symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness, maternal-infant bonding, social functioning, and sleep-related impairment from pre- to post-treatment.


Antidepressant Effects of TS-161 in Treatment-Resistant Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: June 10, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common, chronic mental illness. It can take weeks to months for antidepressants to work. Researchers want to test a new drug that might act more rapidly.

Objective:

To see if TS-161 will improve symptoms of depression in people with MDD.

Eligibility:

Adults ages 18-65 with MDD without psychotic features.

Design:

Participants will be screened under a separate protocol. They will have blood tests. They will complete surveys about their symptoms.

Participants will have an inpatient visit at NIH. Participation may last 12-16 weeks.

During the first phase of the study, participants will be tapered off their psychiatric medicines. For 2 weeks they will have a drug-free period.

During Phase II participants will take TS-161 or placebo. They will take TS-161 for 3 weeks and placebo for 3 weeks. In between the 3-week time period, they will have 2-3 weeks where they will be drug free. Participants will also have the following tests during this time:

Interviews Physical exams Psychological tests and surveys about their symptoms Blood draws and urine samples They may complete tests of mood and thinking MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging): Participants will lie in a machine that takes pictures of their brain. Functional MRIs: They will perform tasks displayed on a computer screen inside the MRI scanner MEG (magnetoencephalography): Participants will lie down and do tasks of memory, attention, and thinking. A cone lowered on their head will record brain activity. Electrocardiograms to record the heart s electrical activity. Electrodes will be placed on the skin....


Life Experiences in Adolescents and the Development of Skills 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: May 19, 2021
Eligibility: 12 Years to 15 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The primary objective of this study is to assess acquisition and retention of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based "cognitive restructuring" skill, among young adolescents (12-15 years of age) with elevated depression symptoms and with population-level variability in lifetime exposure to adverse childhood experiences. This study uses a repeated-measures, longitudinal design to investigate associations between adversity exposure and learning-related cognitive control processes in the context of elevated depression (Aim 1). Adversity exposure and cognitive control will be examined as direct predictors of cognitive restructuring skill acquisition and skill retention over six-months; an indirect pathway from adversity to skill acquisition through cognitive control will also be examined (Aim 2). The study also includes exploration of key characteristics of adversity, namely the type (threat of harm versus deprivation of resources) and developmental timing of exposure, as distinct predictors of skill acquisition (exploratory Aim 3).


Improving Attentional and Cognitive Control in the Psychological Treatment of Intrusive Thoughts 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 30, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 60 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

The investigators are conducting this study to learn more about the cognitive and attentional processes among individuals with three types of repetitive negative thinking (RNT): mental rituals (as seen in obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD), worries (as seen in generalized anxiety disorder, GAD), and ruminations (as seen in major depressive disorder, MDD). Specifically, the investigators are studying whether psychological treatment can help people with RNT who have trouble stopping unwanted thoughts and shifting their attention.


Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on the Brain, Behavior, and Clinical Symptoms in Adults With Bipolar Disorder 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 6, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 35 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a common and highly debilitating psychiatric disorder, however, the predisposing brain mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, the investigators aim to examine the immediate effect of transcranial brain stimulation (TBS) on brain activity and emotions in adults with and without BD as a first stage toward understanding the predisposing brain mechanisms of BD. The investigators hypothesize that TBS will reduce brain activity while playing a game with rewards in all adults, but the TBS will reduce brain activity more in the adults with BD compared to adults without BD. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that this reduced brain activity will be associated with reduced BD symptoms, such as negative emotions.


Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Following Esketamine for Major Depression and Suicidal Ideation for Relapse Prevention 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 5, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UAB Medicine | Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States; Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States

This is a rater-blinded, randomized controlled trial. All patients will receive esketamine for treatment of Major Depression with Suicidal Ideation (MDSI). Subjects will be randomized (1:1) to receive CBT (computer-assisted) or TAU alone following esketamine.


Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Latin American College Students 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: March 1, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Universidad Popular de Cesar, Valledupar, Colombia; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico; Universidad la Salle, León, Mexico; Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico; Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico; Fundación Universitaria del Area Andina, Valledupar, Colombia; Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia; Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

The aim is to evaluate short term and longer term treatment effects of internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy compared to treatment as usual for college students with anxiety and/or depression in low-middle income countries of Latin America.


MicroRNA Correlates of Childhood Maltreatment and Suicidality 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: February 26, 2021
Eligibility: 18 Years to 60 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UAB Huntsville Regional Medical Campus, Huntsville, Alabama, United States; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States

This is a research study to find out if childhood trauma and stress are associated with depression or suicidal risk. The study will assess the effects of both short-term and long-term stress on biomarker (e.g. miRNA [MiRNA]) levels. miRNAs are a type of RNA (genetic material that is translated into protein) that are found in throughout the body and blood. They are called microRNA because their size is much smaller than typical RNA molecules. miRNAs are highly responsive to environment. This responsiveness is reflected in their expression in individuals who are affected by environment such as stress. The investigators are gathering genetic material, including DNA and RNA, from each participant. The RNA will be taken from the small vesicles and cells in the participant's blood and analyzed. The vesicles are small objects that occur normally in the blood and that contain RNA. This information may help us to understand the cause of mental illness and to improve medical and psychiatric care in the future. There will be 450 participants enrolled in this study.


Impact of Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Stress Response in Major Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 29, 2021
Eligibility: 50 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States

This study will identify the sex-dependent impact of expiratory-gated transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) on the modulation of the stress response circuitry and associated physiology in major depressive disorder (MDD). We will evaluate a sample of 80 adults with recurrent MDD randomized to receive active or sham expiratory-gated tVNS during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session, with simultaneous mood and physiological assessments. We hypothesize that expiratory-gated tVNS will effectively modulate, in a sex-dependent manner, specific brainstem-cortical pathways of the stress circuitry and attenuate physiological deficits in MDD.


Lay-Delivered Behavioral Activation in Senior Centers 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 27, 2021
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Brandon Senior Center, Brandon, Florida, United States; JL Young Apartments (Senior Housing), Tampa, Florida, United States; Oaks at Riverview Senior Center, Tampa, Florida, United States; Progress Village Senior Center, Tampa, Florida, United States; Goddard Riverside Community Center and NORC, New York, New York, United States; SAGE Center Brooklyn at Stonewall House, New York, New York, United States; West Seattle Senior Center, Seattle, Washington, United States; GenPride Senior Center, Seattle, Washington, United States

In response to large numbers of senior center clients who suffer untreated depression and the dearth of geriatric mental health providers, the investigators have simplified Behavioral Activation to be delivered by lay volunteers ("Do More, Feel Better"; DMFB). The focus of Behavioral Activation is to guide clients to reengage in daily pleasant and rewarding activities, and reduce depressive symptoms. If the investigators can show that the lay delivery model has positive impact in comparison to MSW-delivered Behavioral Activation, the investigators will have identified an effective intervention that can be used by a large untapped workforce of older adult volunteers across the nation.


Slow Wave Induction by Propofol to Eliminate Depression (SWIPED) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 14, 2021
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Our hypothesis is that targeted propofol infusion in TRD patients will induce slow wave activity during sedation and augment subsequent sleep slow wave activity. We will recruit 15 participants for this open label single arm Phase I trial. All participants will undergo two propofol infusions 2-6 days apart, with each infusion maximizing expression of EEG slow waves. To minimize bias, there will be no specific gender or ethnic background consideration for enrollment. This will be a single site investigation at Washington University Medical Center.


Cognitive Fitness for Depression in Older Adults 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 15, 2020
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, United States

This research is being done to determine if computerized administered cognitive fitness activities will improve thinking and depression in older depressed adults who are being treated with antidepressants. The investigators are also interested in whether participating in the treatment will result in changes to brain activity measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


Depression Prevention in Older Spousally-bereaved Adults 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 20, 2020
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UPMC: WPIC- Bellefield Towers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Using an indicated prevention approach, investigators propose to enroll 150 spousally-bereaved adults aged 60 years and older in the first 6 months after spousal death who are at high risk for major depression disorder because of subthreshold symptoms of depression. A confirmatory efficacy trial will be conducted in which participants will be randomly assigned to (a) self-monitor sleep, meals, and physical activity for 12 weeks using digital monitoring plus motivational health coaching (WELL; n=75); or (b) enhanced usual care (EUC, usual care plus study assessments, n=75). Objective actigraphic measures of the 24-hour pattern of day and nighttime activity - known as the rest-activity rhythm - will be measured to evaluate circadian rhythms as a mediator of treatment outcomes. Participants will be assessed at baseline, months 1 & 2, post-intervention, and 3, 6,12, 18-months post-intervention. In addition, the investigators will include a subset of participants bereaved by COVID-19 (or suspected as bereaved by COVID-19). Participants in this subset will undergo the same research procedures as the main cohort. Participants in both the main cohort and subset determined to be fully eligible will be randomized into two groups with a total of: usual care (EUC;n=125) and WELL (WELL; n=125).


Social Reward and Its Effect on Brain Functions in Psychotherapies for Mid- and Late-Life Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 15, 2020
Eligibility: 50 Years to 85 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States

Abnormalities in the Positive Valence System (PVS) are associated with depressive symptoms and reduced behavioral activation in mid- and late-life. This study will investigate the engagement of the PVS during exposure to social rewards, part of a novel streamlined psychotherapy for mid- and late-life depression. Use of computational modeling will enable identification of neuroimaging and behavioral profiles associated with greater treatment response, and may guide future personalization of psychotherapy.


PEERS Plus mHealth Enhanced Peer Support 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 15, 2020
Eligibility: 50 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

The goal of this intervention study is to design and learn whether peer support that is delivered through video chats and texting can decrease depression among older adults. Participants will be assigned to a peer support program where they will receive 8 video chats with a peer mentor who provide social support and supportive texts over 8 weeks.


Unobtrusive Monitoring of Affective Symptoms and Cognition Using Keyboard Dynamics (UnMASCK) 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: September 17, 2020
Eligibility: 25 Years to 50 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Mood disorders are associated with significant financial and health costs for the United States, partially due to cognitive problems in these patients that can worsen disease course and impair treatment response. This study proposes to use smartphone-based technology to monitor cognitive problems in patients with mood disorders by linking brain network changes with predicted worsening of mood symptoms. The proposed study will provide evidence for using smartphone-based passive sensing as a cost-effective way to predict illness course and treatment response.


Approach-Avoidance, Computational Framework for Predicting Behavioral Therapy Outcome (AAC-BeT) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: September 11, 2020
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Depression and anxiety disorders rank in the top ten causes of years lived with disability. Less than 50% of patients experiencing long-lasting improvements to current gold-standard treatments. Two gold-standard behavioral interventions include behavioral activation, focused on enhancing approach behavior towards meaningful activities, and exposure-based therapy, focused on decreasing avoidance and challenging negative expectations. While these interventions have divergent treatment targets, there is little knowledge to inform which strategies should be used in the frequent case of comorbid anxiety and depression. Approach-avoidance decision-making paradigms focus on assessing responses when faced with potential rewards and threats, tapping into processes important for both anxiety and depression as well as behavioral activation and exposure-based therapy.

For this study, investigators will recruit individuals reporting both anxiety and depression symptoms and randomize them to one of three different interventions: (1) behavioral activation, (2) exposure-based therapy, and a non-specific therapy approach (3) supportive therapy. Participants will complete clinical, self-report, behavioral, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) assessments before and after therapy. Investigators will use a computational approach to model factors that may influence one's behavior during approach-avoidance decision-making, including drives to avoid threat versus approach reward and confidence versus uncertainty in one's decisions.

This project will accomplish the following aims (1) Determine how changes in brain and behavior responses during approach-avoidance conflict relate to changes in mental health symptoms with the different therapy approaches, (2) Determine the degree to which baseline brain and behavior responses during approach-avoidance conflict predict response to the different therapy approaches, above and beyond the influence of demographics and baseline symptom severity. In addition, by including peripheral blood draws and measures of grace matter volume, the project will also accomplish the following aims: (1) Determine whether kynrenine metabolites measures peripherally may be beneficial as a biomarker of treatment response and (2) determine whether there is an association between change in kynurenine metabolites and changes in gray matter volume with treatment.

Results will enhance understanding of how different psychotherapy approaches (behavioral activation, exposure-based therapy) may impact brain responses and decisions when faces with potential reward versus threat and approach versus avoidance drives. In addition, results will have important implications concerning the potential for a more personalized approach to psychotherapy, enhancing knowledge of which types of therapy strategies may be most beneficial for which individuals.


Designing an Implementation Strategy for Delivering Routine Mental Health Screening and Treatment 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: August 12, 2020
Eligibility: 16 Years to 30 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

African Americans living with chronic health conditions are more likely to experience depression and other mental health disorders than their healthy counterparts, and are more likely to experience severe depression than whites, but less likely to be diagnosed or receive treatment. One especially vulnerable group is patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic blood disorder that primarily affects people of African descent, many of whom live in disadvantaged circumstances and are cared for in under-resourced settings. SCD causes severe acute and chronic pain, end-organ damage, and early mortality. Patients transitioning from adolescence to adulthood (ages16-30) are at high risk for mental health disorders and suicide.

Using mobile technology, the investigators can provide high-quality, evidence-based behavioral mental health treatment that reaches patients in different settings. Digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for treating depression and anxiety and can be brought to scale at low cost. Despite the promise of digital CBT, there are barriers to its widespread use, particularly in low-resource settings serving minorities. Qualitative data show that cultural factors-lack of relatability, representation, and perceived stigma regarding mental health treatment-limit engagement with digital CBT programs. Population-and setting-specific adaptations to interventions can lead to their successful implementation and wider use. The investigators will work with a digital CBT program to decrease stigma and make it more relatable and relevant to young adults with SCD, by devising changes to advertising and promotion, and tailoring communication with an integrated health coach, Aim 1: Use implementation science (ImS) and human-centered design methods to define the barriers to delivering routine mental health screening and digital CBT to adolescents and young adults with SCD. Aim 2: Rapidly iterate, test, and evaluate adaptations to the implementation strategy for a coach-enhanced digital mental health service. Aim 3: Demonstrate that a population-specific implementation strategy improves engagement with a digital CBT-based mental health service.

The investigators will capitalize on our mobile technology tools, interdisciplinary expertise, and community-based partnerships to investigate the implementation of digital CBT into low-resource clinics and community-based organizations serving adolescents and adults with sickle cell disease.


Recurrence Markers, Cognitive Burden and Neurobiological Homeostasis in Late-Life Depression 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: June 1, 2020
Eligibility: 60 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Late-life depression (LLD) is associated with disability, increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia, elevated suicide risk, and greater all-cause mortality. These outcomes are related to depression being a recurrent disorder, with repeated episodes over a patient's lifetime. Recurrence rates (defined as including both relapse and recurrence) are high in LLD.

The goals of this study are to identify neurobiological factors that predict recurrence risk, and examine how cognitive performance changes are both influenced by these neurobiological factors and also predict recurrence risk.


Engaging Black Youth in Depression and Suicide Prevention Treatment Within Urban Schools 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 31, 2020
Eligibility: 12 Years to 20 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, New York, New York, United States

Completing evidence-based treatments for depression has been shown to be particularly problematic for Black adolescents. If Black adolescents' depression treatment needs are to be met, the engagement challenges and the factors that lessen the success of treatment in the "real world" must be addressed. The investigators will examine the effectiveness of the Making Connections Intervention (MCI) and investigate key mediators of both engagement and response to treatment for depression. The MCI is a 1-2 session, evidence-based intervention designed to improve engagement, perceived relevance, and treatment satisfaction among depressed, Black adolescents. The study also uses tailored outreach strategies for adolescents and parents by including innovative digital content such as a web page/app along with other digital products.

This study will address an important public health issue: How best to connect Black adolescents with depression to treatment in clinically meaningful ways, and how best to deliver evidence-based treatment to them through school-based services.


Mechanism of Action Underlying Ketamine's Antidepressant Effects: The AMPA Throughput Theory in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Major Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 21, 2020
Eligibility: 18 Years to 70 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Most drugs that treat mood disorders take a long time to work. Ketamine works within hours. A dose can last for a week or more. Certain receptors in the brain might help ketamine work. A drug that blocks these receptors might affect how it works.

Objective:

To see if the antidepressant response of ketamine is linked to AMPA receptors.

Eligibility:

Adults ages 18-70 with major depression disorder without psychotic features

Design:

Participants will be screened under protocol 01-M-0254. They will have blood tests and a physical exam.

Participants will stay at the NIH Clinical Center for 5 weeks.

Phase 1 lasts 4 weeks. For 2 weeks, participants will taper off their psychiatric medicine. Then they will have the following tests:

Blood draws Psychological tests MRI: Participants will lie in a machine that takes pictures of their brain. MEG: Participants will lie down and do tasks. A cone lowered on their head will record brain activity. Optional sleep tests: Electrodes on the scalp and body and belts around the body will monitor participants while they sleep. Optional TMS: Participants will do tasks while a wire coil is held on their scalp. An electrical current will pass through the coil that affects brain activity.

For phase 2, on day 0 participants will take the study drug or a placebo orally. While having a MEG, they will get ketamine infused into a vein in one arm while blood is drawn from a vein in the other arm. On day 1, participants will again take the study drug or a placebo orally. On days 3-7, they will repeat many of the phase 1 tests. Days 8 and 9 are optional and include an open label ketamine treatment and many of the phase 1 tests.


Multi-modal Assessment of Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Function in Psychosis 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: January 16, 2020
Eligibility: 16 Years to 60 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

The purpose of this study is to better understand mental illness and will test the hypotheses that while viewing affective stimuli, patient groups will show increased blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal by fMRI after lorazepam.

This study will enroll participants between the ages of 16 and 60, who have a psychotic illness (such as psychosis which includes conditions like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and mood disorders). The study will also enroll eligible participants without any psychiatric illness, to compare their brains.

The study will require participants to have 3-4 sessions over a few weeks. The initial assessments (may be over two visits) will include a diagnostic interview and several questionnaires (qols) to assess eligibility. Subsequently, there will will be two separate functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions in which lorazepam or placebo will be given prior to the MRI. During the fMRI the participants will also be asked to answer questions. Additionally, the participants will have their blood drawn, women of child bearing potential will have a urine pregnancy test, vital signs taken, and asked to complete more qols.


Brain Stimulation and Decision-making 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: November 11, 2019
Eligibility: 18 Years to 50 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Decision-making is an important process that is frequently shown to be impaired in patients with depression. While a number of preclinical and clinical studies have identified key regions involved in this process, it remains unclear exactly how these regions are influencing choice behavior especially when choices become more challenging. The goal of this project is to understand how these regions, such as the cingulate cortex, impact difficult choice behavior. Specifically, the researchers are interested in learning how disruptions in cognitive control might impact choice preferences during difficult decisions in depressed patients. To do this, this study will recruit participants with depression (as well as healthy controls) to perform game-like tasks in the laboratory while undergoing TMS or TI.


Adolescent Attention to Emotion Study 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 16, 2019
Eligibility: Females, 13 Years to 15 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Rates of depression increase rapidly during adolescence, especially for girls, and, thus, research is needed to spur the development of novel interventions to prevent adolescent depression. This project seeks to determine if a novel visuocortical probe of affect-biased attention (i.e., steady-state visual evoked potentials derived from EEG) can 1) be used to prospectively predict depression using a multi-wave repeated measures design and 2) modify affect-biased attention and buffer subsequent mood reactivity using real time neurofeedback. This work could ultimately lead to improved identification of adolescents who are at high risk for depression and directly inform the development of mechanistic treatment targets to be used in personalized intervention prescriptions for high-risk youth.


Exploring the Effects of Corticosteroids on the Human Hippocampus 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 1, 2019
Eligibility: 18 Years to 50 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States

Chronic corticosteroid (CS) exposure is associated with changes in memory and the hippocampus in both humans and in animal models. The hippocampus has a high concentration of glucocorticoid receptors (GCRs), and the pre-clinical literature demonstrates shortening of apical dendrites in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and decreased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) following CS administration. In humans, both stress and CS exposure are associated with a decline in declarative memory performance (a process mediated by the hippocampus). Impairment in declarative memory and hippocampal atrophy are reported in patients with excessive CS release due to Cushing's disease, and, by our group, in patients receiving prescription CS therapy. These findings have important implications for patients with mood disorders, as a large subset of people with major depressive disorder (MDD) show evidence of HPA axis activation, elevated cortisol and, importantly, resistance to the effects of CSs on both the HPA axis and on declarative memory. Thus, resistance to corticosteroids appears to be a consequence of MDD.

this study will examine changes in declarative memory, as well as use state-of-the-art high-resolution multimodal neuroimaging, including structural and functional (i.e., task-based and resting state) MRI, in both men and women healthy controls, and, as an exploratory aim, a depressed group, given 3-day exposures to hydrocortisone (160 mg/day) or placebo. The study will translate preclinical findings to humans, provide valuable data on possible sex differences in the response to cortisol and, for the first time, identify specific hippocampal subfields (e.g., CA3/DG) in humans that are most sensitive to acute CS effects. Using resting state fMRI data and whole brain connectomics using graph theoretical approaches, we will determine the effects of cortisol exposure on functional brain networks. Furthermore, this will be the first study to use neuroimaging to compare the brain's response to CSs in people with depression vs. controls, and determine whether depressed people demonstrate glucocorticoid resistance within the hippocampus. We hypothesize that hippocampal response to acute CSs will be greatest in the CA3/DG subfield, greater in women than in men, and that depressed people will show a blunted hippocampal response to CSs compared to controls. A multidisciplinary research team with extensive experience in CS effects on the brain and hippocampal subfield neuroimaging, and a prior history of research collaboration, will conduct the project.


A Longitudinal Study of Inflammatory Pathways in Depression 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: October 1, 2019
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Suicide accounts for at least 1 million deaths globally each year. This is likely a significant underestimate, because suicide is under-reported in many countries. In the US, over 42,000 people die from suicide annually. Despite increased focus on identification and treatment, the rate of suicide has increased steadily over the past 15 years.

Our project aims both to improve our understanding of factors that increase the risk for suicide by comparing blood biomarkers associated with inflammation in patients with depression without suicidal behavior and patients with depression and suicidal behavior. The 160 individuals in this study will be followed with psychiatric assessments and blood samples at repeated time points over one year.


Effects of an ER Beta Agonist (Lilly Compound LY500307) on Estradiol-Withdrawal-Induced Mood Symptoms in Women With Past Perimenopausal Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: May 23, 2019
Eligibility: Females, 45 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Some women who had depression in the perimenopause may have mood symptoms again if they stop estrogen therapy. Estrogen acts in the brain and other tissues by binding to at least three types of estrogen receptors. One of these receptors, estrogen receptor beta may affect anxiety and depression. The drug LY500307 acts only on this receptor. In this study, researchers will initially give you estrogen and then suddenly stop estrogen after three weeks. Then they will study how LY500307 affects mood symptoms.

Objectives:

To study how withdrawing estradiol affects mood. To test the safety and side effects of LY500307.

Eligibility:

Healthy women ages 45-65 who had depression related to perimenopause in recent years and whose mood systems got better with estradiol

Design:

-Participants will be screened with:

Medical history

Physical exam

Blood tests

Psychiatric interview

Gynecological exam

Participants able to get pregnant must use effective barrier birth control throughout the study. During the first 3 weeks, participants will wear an estrogen patch. It is 1x2 inches and will be replaced every 3 days. For the next 3 weeks, participants will take 3 study capsules every morning. They will not know if they get the study drug or placebo. Some participants will also take a progesterone-like drug for 1 week at the end of the medication phase of the study. Participants will have 9 one-hour study visits. They will have blood samples and vital signs taken. They will answer questions about mood and behavior symptoms. Participants will keep a daily log of these symptoms. Participants will have 2 transvaginal ultrasounds. A probe is temporarily placed 2-3 inches into the vaginal canal and sound waves are used to create pictures of the lining of the uturus. Participants will have a final visit 4 weeks after stopping the study drug. They will answer questions about mood and side effects.


Mechanisms of Rumination Change in Adolescent Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: May 1, 2019
Eligibility: 14 Years to 17 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

This study will evaluate whether a newer treatment, rumination-focused cognitive behavioral treatment, which includes mindfulness and can be used to reduce ruminative habits, change ways in which key brain regions interact with each other (e.g.., often called connectivity), and whether these changes in habits and brain connectivity can reduce the risk for recurrence of depression in the next two years.


Concurrent fMRI-guided rTMS and Cognitive Therapy for the Treatment of Major Depressive Episodes 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: May 17, 2018
Eligibility: 18 Years to 75 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a treatment for depression. It stimulates the brain. Researchers want to see if using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans helps locate the best area for rTMS in each person. They also want to find other ways to make it more effective.

Objective:

To study the effects of combining MRI- guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and talk therapy on the brain in people with depression.

Eligibility:

Adults ages 18-75 with a major depressive disorder and current depression. If taking an antidepressant, should have been doing so for at least 4 weeks.

Design:

Participants will be screened with medical and psychiatric history, psychiatric evaluation, physical exam, and blood and urine tests.

Phase 1 is 1-4 visits in 1 week. Participants will have:

Brain MRI. Participants will lie on a table in a scanner. Questions about their medical history and psychology symptoms Tests of mood and thinking

Tests of brain activity. Participants may do tasks during these tests:

A cone with magnetic detectors is put on the head. A cap with electrodes is put on the scalp. TMS. A brief electrical current passes through a wire coil on the scalp. A metal disk will be placed on the arm. A nerve will be stimulated with a small electrical shock.

Phase 2 is about 6 to 7 weeks.

There will be 30 daily sessions of combined therapy and repetitive TMS (rTMS) for 6 weeks. Participants will receive rTMS and another therapy by computer. For rTMS, repeated pulses will pass through the coil.

This is followed by up to 3 additional visits, when:

Participants will repeat Phase 1 tests Participants will rate their depression symptoms.

Phase 3 is 3 visits over 3 months. Participants will rate their depression symptoms and repeat some of the previous questionnaires and tests of mood and thinking.


Brain Connectivity in Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 3, 2018
Eligibility: 18 Years to 70 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

This study originally included 100 subjects with medication-refractory depression undergoing 10 Hz transcranial magnetic stimulation (10Hz-TMS) to the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with the goal of having 60 completers with good quality data. Subjects were recruited from the TMS clinics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and Butler Hospital. Subjects underwent an hour-long MRI scanning session, an optional DNA-sample collection, up to three 20 minute neuronavigation sessions for marking the site of TMS stimulation, questionnaires, and a behavioral testing battery before and after their TMS treatment course. The task battery included the Emotion Conflict Resolution (ECR) task, Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT), War Game (Gambling) task, and Associative Learning with Reversal task. Subjects' scores on the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were assessed before and after the TMS course. MRI data was utilized to identify brain regions whose connectivity to the stimulation site co-varies with the aforementioned measures of symptom improvement. This was the only study group until August 30, 2022, and the primary outcome was analyzed for the 10Hz-TMS group.

Due to changes in clinical standard of care from 10Hz-TMS to a newer version of TMS termed intermittent theta burst (iTBS), in September 2022 a second group was added to include patients receiving this new form of TMS. This second group included another 100 patients with medication-refractory depression undergoing iTBS to the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with the intent to have 80 completers. Massachusetts General Hospital was added as a data collection site in lieu of Butler Hospital. Subjects will undergo an hour-long MRI scanning session, up to three 20 minute neuronavigation sessions for marking the site of TMS stimulation, questionnaires, and a behavioral testing battery before and after their TMS treatment course. The task battery will included the Emotion Conflict Resolution (ECR) task, Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT), Penn Emotion Recognition Test, the Suicide/Death Implicit Association Test, and Associative Learning with Reversal task. Subjects' scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were assessed before and after the TMS course. MRI data will be utilized to identify brain regions whose connectivity to the stimulation site co-varies with the aforementioned measures of symptom improvement.


An Adaptive Algorithm-Based Approach to Treatment for Adolescent Depression 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: February 26, 2018
Eligibility: 12 Years to 18 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): Institute for Translational Research in Children's Mental Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of two adaptive treatment strategies (ATSs) for adolescent depression. The ATSs include delivery of an evidence-based psychotherapy (interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents, IPT-A), systematic symptom monitoring, and an empirically-derived algorithm that specifies whether, when, and how to augment IPT-A. Two hundred depressed adolescents (age 12-18) will be recruited to participate in a 16-week sequential multiple assignment randomized trial conducted in outpatient community mental health clinics. Adolescents will be randomized to the IPT-A ATS condition or the community clinic's usual care (UC). Adolescents in the IPT-A ATS condition who are insufficient responders will be randomized a second time to the addition of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or more intensive IPT-A (delivered twice per week). Research assessments will be administered at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, and 36.


Characterization and Treatment of Adolescent Depression 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: December 28, 2017
Eligibility: 11 Years to 25 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

This research study seeks to find causes and treatments of depression in teenagers. The study goals are to increase our knowledge of treatments for depression and understand how the brain changes when teenagers have depression. The study will also compare teenagers with depression to those without mental health diagnoses.

This outpatient study is recruiting participants ages 11-17 who are depressed. They must have a pediatrician or other medical provider, be medically healthy, and able to perform research tasks. They may not currently be hospitalized, psychotic or actively suicidal. Teenagers with depression are eligible even if they are taking medication.

The study begins with an evaluation that includes clinical assessment, interviews, and questionnaires.

Visits may include paper-and-pencil and computer tests of mood, memory, and thinking; specialized computer games; and structural and brain imaging. If eligible, study participants may return several times a year for up to two years. This part of the study does not involve treatment. Participants may be eligible for outpatient treatment for up to 25 weeks. This includes evidenced-based "talk" therapy. Participants may choose either Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). If indicated, participants may opt to receive standard medication treatments along with psychotherapy. Research includes computer tasks and brain imaging.

All clinical evaluations, research tasks and visits are free of cost. Participants are compensated for research activities. Parents and teenager must agree to the teenager s participation in research.

The study is conducted at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland and enrolls participants from the Washington DC Metro region within 50 miles of NIH. Transportation expenses are reimbursed by NIMH.


Neuropharmacologic Imaging and Biomarker Assessments of Response to Acute and Repeated-Dosed Ketamine Infusions in Major Depressive Disorder 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: May 25, 2017
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

Most medications that treat depression take weeks or months to work. Researchers want to develop fast-acting treatments. One dose of ketamine has a rapid antidepressant effect. For most people, this lasts a week or less. Repeated doses of ketamine may help maintain this effect.

Objective:

Main Study: To study the effects of ketamine in treating depression.

Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: To study how ketamine effects brain chemistry.

To study how ketamine effects the brain. This is done by looking at metabolites, which are created when a drug is broken down.

Eligibility:

Main Study: People ages 18-65 with major depressive disorder and healthy volunteers

Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: Healthy volunteers ages 18-65

Design:

Main Study:

Participants will be screened in another study, with:

Medical and psychiatric history Psychiatric and physical exam Blood, urine, and heart tests

Participants will be inpatients at NIH for 4 phases totaling 14-20 weeks.

Phase I (2-7 weeks):

Gradually stop current medications MRI: Participants lie and perform tasks in a machine that takes pictures of the body. Mood and thinking tests Blood and urine tests Sleep test: Monitors on the skin record brain waves, breathing, heart rate, and movement during sleep. Transcranial magnetic stimulation: A coil on the scalp gives an electrical current that affects brain activity. Stress tests: Electrodes on the skin measure reactions to loud noises or electric shocks.

Phase I tests are repeated in Phases II and III and in the final visit.

Phase II (4-5 weeks):

4 weekly IV infusions of ketamine or a placebo during an MRI or MEG. For the MEG, a cone over the head records brain activity.

Phase III (optional):

8 infusions of ketamine over 4 weeks

Phase IV (optional):

Symptoms monitoring for 4 weeks Participants will have a final visit. They will be offered standard treatment at NIH for up to 2 months.

Ketamine Metabolites Substudy:

Participants will be screened in another study, with:

Medical and psychiatric history Psychiatric and physical exam Blood, urine, and heart tests

Participants will be inpatients at NIH for 4 days.

Study Procedures:

Mood and thinking tests

Blood and urine tests

1 infusion of ketamine

Spinal tap and spinal catheter: Used to get samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is a fluid that moves around and within the brain and spinal cord. Studying CSF will help us learn how ketamine effects brain chemistry


Imaging mGluR5 and Synaptic Density in Psychiatric Disorders 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: January 11, 2017
Eligibility: 18 Years to 80 Years
Location(s): Yale University PET Center, New Haven, Connecticut, United States

This research study is designed to look at the involvement of the glutamate system and synaptic density in depression and bipolar disorder. Each participant will undergo a screening appointment to determine study eligibility. Thereafter, the study will take 2 or 3 visits depending on schedule availability and will consist of a combination of one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan, one proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and/or one C13 MRS scans, and up to two positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Participants will also participate in cognitive testing. Depending on camera time, staff availability and subject schedule, total study participation may last 1-2 months.


Neurobiology of Suicide 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: December 1, 2015
Eligibility: 18 Years to 70 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Background:

There are no good treatments for people considering suicide. Researchers want to study suicide with questions, blood tests, brain imaging, and sleep studies. They hope to better understand suicide, so they can help suicidal people.

Objective:

To understand what happens in the brain when someone has thought about or attempted suicide.

Eligibility:

Group 1: Adults ages 18 70 who have thought about or attempted suicide recently

Group 2: Adults ages 18 70 who have thought about or attempted suicide in the past

Group 3: Adults ages 18 70 who have depression or anxiety, but have never thought about suicide

Group 4: Healthy volunteers the same ages.

Design:

Participants will be screened in another protocol. Adults who have recently thought about or attempted suicide must be referred by a doctor. They may do up to 3 phases of this study. Groups 2, 3 and 4 will do only Phase 1 and will not get ketamine.

Phase 1: 1 week in hospital. Participants will have:

Physical exam.

Questions about thoughts and feelings.

Thinking and memory tests and simple tasks.

Blood and urine tests.

Two MRI scans. Participants will lie on a table that slides into a metal cylinder that takes pictures. They will have a coil over their head and earplugs and do a computer task.

Sleep test. Disks and bands will be placed on the body to monitor it during sleep.

Magnetic detectors on their head while they perform tasks.

A wrist monitor for activity and sleep.

Lumbar puncture (optional). A needle will collect fluid from the back.

Shock experiments (optional). Participants will observe pictures and sounds and feel a small shock on the hand.

Phase 2: 4 days in hospital. A thin plastic tube will be placed in each arm, one for blood draws, the other to get the drug ketamine once. Participants will repeat most of the Phase 1 tests.

Phase 3: up to 4 more ketamine doses over 2 weeks.

Participants will have follow-up calls or visits at 6 months and then maybe yearly for 5 years.


Ketamine Alcohol (in Treatment-Resistant Depression) 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 23, 2014
Eligibility: 21 Years to 65 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City, Iowa, United States

A single subanesthetic dose infusion of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine has rapid and robust antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-refractory major depressive disorder (TRD). A family history of an alcohol use disorder (Family History Positive, FHP) is one of the strongest identified predictors of an improved antidepressant response to ketamine. Like ketamine, alcohol is a functional NMDA receptor antagonist. FHP is associated with differential response to both alcohol, e.g. decreased body sway and plasma cortisol, and ketamine, e.g. blunted psychotomimetic side effects. One of the primary mechanistic hypotheses for ketamine's antidepressant action is the acute intrasynaptic release of glutamate from major output neurons, e.g. cortical pyramidal cells. Preliminary clinical studies have demonstrated this acute glutamate "surge" in response to subanesthetic dose ketamine. Based on these findings, the investigators hypothesize that ketamine's enhanced antidepressant efficacy in FHP TRD subjects is, at least in part, attributable to increased glutamate release relative to TRD subjects without a family history of alcohol use disorder (Family History Negative, FHN). The investigators also hypothesize that alcohol similarly augments glutamate release in this bio- logically-enriched subgroup, which may be a more objective biomarker than family history status. To test these hypotheses, the investigators have designed a now two-site, open-label study of 21-65 year old medically and neurologically healthy, currently moderately-to-severely depressed TRD patients. In total, the investigators plan to recruit 25 FHP and 25 FHN TRD subjects. All subjects must not have a lifetime substance use disorder (except nicotine or caffeine), no lifetime history of an alcohol use disorder and socially drink. The experimental portion consists of two phases. The preliminary first phase is a medication taper (if needed) and psychotropic medication-free period. The experimental second phase comprises two pharmacokinetically-defined basal-bolus alcohol and one subanesthetic dose (0.5mg/kg x 40 minute) ketamine infusions. The first alcohol infusion will establish the pharmacokinetic profile for a subsequent alcohol infusion occurring during 7T-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to detect glutamate in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex/ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vmPFC/vACC). The ketamine infusion will also occur during 7T-MRI. The primary outcome measure is group mean change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from pre-ketamine infusion (baseline) to one week post-infusion, where the investigators observed ketamine's greatest antidepressant effect in FHP TRD. Additional outcome measures are vmPFC/vACC glutamate change in response to ketamine and alcohol challenge based on family history status. In summary, this study will provide key mechanistic information on ketamine's improved antidepressant efficacy in a biologically-enriched subgroup. This will contribute to the systematic development of more efficacious, personalized treatments for major depression in an effort to reduce its enormous public health burden.


Cellular Aging and Neurobiology of Depression Study 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: December 31, 2010
Eligibility: 21 Years to 60 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

We are conducting an eight week longitudinal study to learn if blood levels of certain naturally occurring compounds and genetic markers differ between patients with depression and healthy adults who are not depressed, and if any such differences relate to memory performance, mood, and neurobiology. We are also interested in how the gut microbiome is affected by antidepressant treatment.

We will do this by comparing the unmedicated depressed patients with matched healthy controls at baseline and then following the depressed patients over the course of eight weeks of standardized antidepressant treatment to gauge which baseline abnormalities normalize over the course of treatment.


Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques for Studying Mood and Anxiety Disorders 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: December 6, 2006
Eligibility: 18 Years to 65 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

This study is intended to help develop new MRI imaging techniques for studying mood and anxiety disorders. Researchers believe that depression and anxiety disorders may cause structural and functional changes in the brain. This study will optimize the way MRI scans are collected to look at brain structure and examine how the brain behaves while subjects perform particular tasks.

Healthy normal subjects between 18 and 50 years of age who have never had a major psychiatric disorder and who have no first-degree relatives with mood disorders may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened by phone with questions about their psychiatric and medical history, current emotional state and sleep pattern, and family history of psychiatric disorders. Candidates who pass the preliminary screening then undergo additional screening interviews and laboratory tests.

Participants undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychological testing, as follows:

"<TAB>MRI scans: Subjects are asked to participate in an MRI study on one of several scanners to measure blood flow in the brain, concentrations of certain chemicals in the brain, or magnetic properties of the brain. MRI uses a strong magnet and radio waves to obtain pictures of the brain. The subject lies still on a narrow bed with a metal coil close to the head. For this study, subjects may be asked to wear a special coil on the neck to help measure blood flow. They may be asked to watch a screen presenting images or to do a task in which they respond to pictures or sounds and may be asked to return for additional scans.

"<TAB>Neuropsychological testing: Subjects may undergo tests of cognitive performance. Often, people with mood disorders have subtle changes in performance on these tests that allow researchers to pinpoint where brain abnormalities occur. Before the tests can be used in patients, they must be validated by using healthy subjects. These tests are presented either orally, in written form, or on a computer.


Family Study of Affective and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: May 21, 2004
Eligibility: 7 Years to 120 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

This study will examine how depression, anxiety, and migraine run in families. It will help in defining the risk factors for physical, mental, and health problems-as well as define ways that those problems may be prevented and treated.

A broad range of ages among family members will be included to evaluate the patterns of how these disorders are expressed throughout people's lives. Children of all ages will be included, and those ages 8 to 17 will be interviewed directly.

Assessments will be collected through criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV as well as the spectrum, or range, of mood disorders and co-existing conditions. A member of the study team will visit the participants at home or will do an interview by telephone. Participation will take approximately 3 to 4 hours. Children will complete questionnaires given by the research team as well as questionnaires that they will do by themselves. The questions will pertain to the children's health, including physical and mental health and medical history, social relationships, problems, skills, and ways of dealing with important or stressful issues in their lives. These questionnaires will take up to 1 hour to complete.

Health history gathered from adult participants will pertain to height, weight, exercise, and general function. Women will be asked about the use of oral contraceptives, estrogen, and progesterone. In addition, there will be questionnaires on personality and temperamental traits, that is, behavior and impulsiveness. Questions will also involve social intuition, family and other environmental factors, general functioning, and basic demographics such as ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, marital status, education level, and employment history.

Families enrolled in this phase of the research will be invited to participate in the next phase. There would be follow-up to evaluate the development of mood disorders, subtypes, and syndromes across the lifespan.


The Psychobiology of Childhood Temperament 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: November 10, 2003
Eligibility: 2 Months to 60 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to examine brain changes that occur in children when they are exposed to various kinds of emotional tasks and to determine if these changes are related to the child's temperament.

Studies suggest that the risk for developing mood and anxiety disorders in preschool children may be linked to differences in temperament. The relationship between temperament and risk or resilience may reflect the influences of brain activity on behavior at different stages of childhood development. Behavioral inhibition and mood or anxiety disorders have been linked to disturbances in the circuitry of several areas in the brain. However, the involvement of this circuitry in temperament remains unclear. This study will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the function of different parts of the brain in children who have previously undergone temperament studies and have had their temperaments classified.

Two sets of studies will be performed in the current protocol. A small set of pilot studies will be performed in infants, by staff at the University of Maryland. In terms of the studies among infants, these subjects will initially be contacted by staff at Maryland and then will be seen at the NIH for up to three visits lasting between 4- to 5- hours during the first year of life. These subjects also will undergo visits at the University of Maryland throughout the first year of life.

This study will comprise up to four clinic visits. At Visit 1, children and their parents will meet with study staff individually and together for psychiatric interviews. Children will undergo a physical examination, medical history, a urine drug test, and practice in an fMRI simulator. Saliva samples will be collected from the children and tests will be given to assess stage of puberty, temperament, intelligence, feelings, experiences, and behavior. Other visits include fMRI scans of the brain and other tasks.


Studies of Brain Function and Course of Illness in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: January 1, 2002
Eligibility: 7 Years to 60 Years, Does Not Accept Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

This study seeks to learn more about the symptoms of severe mood dysregulation in children and adolescents ages 7-17. Children and adolescents with severe mood dysregulation (SMD) display chronic anger, sadness, or irritability, as well as hyperarousal (such as insomnia, distractibility, hyperactivity) and extreme responses to frustration (such as frequent, severe temper tantrums). Researchers will describe the moods and behaviors of children with these symptoms and use specialized testing and brain imaging to learn about the brain changes associated with this disorder.


Study of Neuro-Cognitive Correlates of Pediatric Anxiety Disorders 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: October 2, 2001
Eligibility: 8 Years to 65 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Study Description:

This study examines relations between neurocognitive and clinical features of pediatric anxiety disorders. The study uses neuro-cognitive tasks, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), as well as magneto- and electro-encephalography (M/EEG). Patients will be studied over one year, before and after receiving either one of two standard-of-care treatments: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Healthy comparisons will be studied at comparable time points.

Primary Objectives:

To compare healthy youth and symptomatic, medication-free pediatric patients studied prior to receipt of treatment. The study seeks to detect relations between clinical features of anxiety disorders at baseline and a wide range of neurocognitive features associated with attention, memory, and response to motivational stimuli.

Secondary Objectives:

To document relations between baseline neurocognitive features and response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine, as defined by the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS) and Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) Scale. To document relations between post-treatment changes in neurocognitive features and anxiety symptoms on the PARS following treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine. To document relations among broad arrays of clinical, cognitive, and neural measures

Primary Endpoints:

Indices of percent-signal change in hypothesized brain regions, comprising amygdala, striatum, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) for each fMRI and MEG paradigm.

Secondary Endpoints:

Treatment-response as defined by a continuous measure, the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale score (PARS), and a categorial measure, the Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) score. Levels of symptoms and behaviors evoked by tasks that engage attention, memory, and elicit responses to motivational stimuli.


Evaluation of Patients With Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Healthy Volunteers 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: February 2, 2001
Eligibility: 3 Years to 99 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

The purpose of this protocol is to allow for the careful screening of patients and healthy volunteers for participation in research protocols in the Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Lab (ETPB) at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and for the collection of natural history data. In addition the protocol will allow clinicians to gain more experience in the use of a variety of polysomnographic and high-density EEG recordings. Subjects in this protocol will undergo an evaluation which may include: a psychiatric interview; a diagnostic interview; rating scales; a medical history; a physical exam; brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); electroencephalography (EEG); electrocardiography (EKG), magnetoencephalography (MEG); blood, saliva and urine laboratory evaluation; and a request for medical records. Subjects may also be asked to complete questionnaires about attitudes towards research and motivation for research participation. The data collected may also be linked with data from other mood and anxiety disorder protocols (e.g., brain imaging, DNA, psychophysiology tests, treatment studies, etc) for the purposes of better understanding the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment response of patients with mood disorders. Parents of minors will be interviewed. Upon conclusion of the screening process, subjects will either be offered participation in a research protocol and will sign the appropriate informed consent, or will be considered not appropriate for participation in research and will be referred back into the community. The current protocol thus serves as an entry point for individuals with mood or anxiety disorders or healthy volunteers to enter NIMH IRB approved ETPB protocols.


The Role of Hormones in Postpartum Mood Disorders 

Study Type: Interventional
Start Date: April 26, 1996
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years to 50 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Determine whether postpartum depression is triggered by the abrupt withdrawal of estrogen and progesterone.

The appearance of mood and behavioral symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period has been extensively reported. While there has been much speculation about possible biologically based etiologies for postpartum disorders (PPD), none has ever been confirmed. Preliminary results from two related studies (protocols 90-M-0088, 92-M-0174) provide evidence that women with menstrual cycle related mood disorder, but not controls, experience mood disturbances during exogenous replacement of physiologic levels of gonadal steroids. The present protocol is designed to create a "scaled-down" hormonal milieu of pregnancy and the puerperium in order to determine whether women who have had a previous episode of postpartum major effective episode will experience differential mood and behavioral effects compared with controls and to determine whether it is the abrupt withdrawal of gonadal steroids or the prolonged exposure to gonadal steroids that is associated with mood symptoms. Supraphysiologic plasma levels of gonadal steroids will be established, maintained, and then rapidly reduced, simulating the hormonal events that occur during pregnancy and parturition. This will be accomplished by administering estradiol and progesterone to women who are pretreated with a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (Lupron). After eight weeks, administration of gonadal steroids will be stopped in one group of patients and controls, and a sudden decline in the plasma hormone levels will be precipitated. Another group will be maintained on supraphysiologic levels of estrogen and progesterone for an additional month. Outcome measures will include mood, behavioral and hormonal parameters (a separate protocol done in collaboration with NICHD).

...


Evaluation of the Genetics of Bipolar Disorder 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: August 11, 1994
Eligibility: 18 Years and Older, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

This study looks to identify genes that may affect a person's chances of developing bipolar disorder (BP) and related conditions.


Study of Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoria 

Study Type: Observational
Start Date: March 9, 1984
Eligibility: Females, 18 Years to 50 Years, Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Location(s): National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Women who experience PMS symptoms will complete clinical interviews, self-rating scales, and evaluations of mood and endocrine function. A subgroup of women with severe PMS (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD) will be offered additional research studies that focus on: 1) identifying the endocrine changes that may be responsible for changes in mood and behavior during the premenstrual period, 2) evaluating treatments for PMS symptoms, and/or 3) identifying genetic factors in women with and without PMS. Women with recurrent brief depression will also be recruited to serve as a comparison group.