Study of the Hypothalmic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Its Role in Major Depression

NCT00001479 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 95004495-M-0044
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Major depression represents a major public health problem worldwide and in the U.S. Fifteen percent of the U.S. population has depression at some point in life (40 million individuals). The condition is more common in women, occurring at a female to male ratio of 5:2. Presently, 6-8% of all outpatients in primary care meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression. Fifteen percent of untreated patients with depression will commit suicide. Most of the people committing suicide are depressed. Researchers believe that by the year 2020 suicide will be the 10th most common cause of death in the U.S. In addition to mortality due to suicide, depression is also associated with other severe health conditions. Areas of the brain (hippocampus) begin to deteriorate, heart disease, and decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis) are all associated with major depression. Researchers have believed for years that hormones controlled by the hypothalmus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland (commonly referred to as the HPA axis or system) are in some way associated with psychiatric illnesses like depression. According to previous studies, researchers have theorized that increased activity of the HPA axis is associated with depressed patients with typical melancholic features. Melancholia refers to the feelings of anhedonia (absence of pleasure from activites that would normally be thought of as pleasurable), insomnia (inability to sleep), guilt, and psychomotor changes. On the other hand a decrease in activity of the HPA axis may be associated with the atypical features of depression. This study has already developed and refined studies that have improved the understanding of the HPA axis in healthy humans and depressed patients. Researchers have already identified and plan to continue identifying distinct subtypes of depressive disorders based on the activity of the HPA axis.

Conditions

Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Healthy; Mood Disorders

Keywords

ACTH; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Antidepressant Treatment; Chaos Theory; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Major Depression; Normal Volunteer; Primary Affective Disorder

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects on chronic medications, which can not be washed out in one month.
• Subjects with any serious medical illnesses which have been excluded.
• Women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or sexually active and not using effective contraception.
• Patients with HIV-1 infection.
• Patients on chronic lithium therapy.
• Subjects unable to discontinue alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Babloyantz A, Destexhe A. Low-dimensional chaos in an instance of epilepsy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 May;83(10):3513-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.10.3513.

  PMID: 3085091 BACKGROUND

• Demitrack MA, Dale JK, Straus SE, Laue L, Listwak SJ, Kruesi MJ, Chrousos GP, Gold PW. Evidence for impaired activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991 Dec;73(6):1224-34. doi: 10.1210/jcem-73-6-1224.

  PMID: 1659582 BACKGROUND

• Garfinkel A, Spano ML, Ditto WL, Weiss JN. Controlling cardiac chaos. Science. 1992 Aug 28;257(5074):1230-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1519060.

  PMID: 1519060 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Mood Disorders; Depressive Disorder, Major

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Encephalomyelitis; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Depressive Disorder

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 3, 1999
• First Posted: December 10, 2002
• Study Start: January 1, 1995
• Study Completion: May 1, 2000
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 1999-06

Locations

US (1)