Brain Imaging in Depression

NCT00050700 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 03000103-M-0001
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 107
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to use brain imaging technology to examine the role of certain brain receptors and the nervous system chemical acetylcholine in major depression. The cholinergic system involves the regulation of neurotransmitters and the brain receptors to which they bind. Evidence suggests that the cholinergic system may play a role in the development of depression. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that binds to certain brain receptors called muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Cholinomimetic drugs (drugs that stimulate the cholinergic system) often exacerbate depressive symptoms in people with mood disorders and in healthy individuals. This increase in depressive symptoms may be caused by stimulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), but further study is needed to confirm this. This study will use positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the function of mAChRs in individuals with depression. Participants in this study will undergo a physical examination, psychiatric interviews, neuropsychological tests, PET and MRI scans, and rating scales of depression, anxiety, and negative thinking symptoms. Questions about behavior and functioning will be asked and blood samples will be collected for genetic analysis.

Conditions

Depression; Bipolar Disorder

Keywords

PET; [18F]FP-TZTP; Bipolar Disorder; Major Depressive Disorder; Muscarinic 2 Receptors

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Thirty subjects (ages 18-45) male and female will be selected, with primary MDD currently depressed as defined by DSM-IV criteria for recurrent MDD and current HDRS score in the moderately-to-severely depressed range (greater than 18) and who have a first degree relative with MDD but no first degree relatives with mania, alcoholism, or antisocial personality disorder.
• Thirty subjects (ages 18-45) male and female will be selected who meet DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I or II disorder and are currently depressed, with HDRS score in the moderately-to-severely depressed range (greater than 18). Subjects may be inpatients or outpatients. Because effective treatment will not be discontinued for the purposes of this protocol, subjects will be identified who have never been treated or who have discontinued medication due to lack of efficacy, noncompliance, physician order, or other reasons prior to study entry.
• Thirty subjects (ages 18-45) male and female who have not met criteria for any major psychiatric disorder will be selected. From this large sample a control subject will be matched to each depressed subject for age, gender, handedness and stage of menstrual cycle. The control subjects will have no known first degree relatives with mood disorders.

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects must not have taken antidepressant or other medications likely to alter monoamine neurochemistry or cerebrovascular function for at least 3 weeks (8 weeks for fluoxetine and for any drug with known anticholinergic effects) prior to scanning. Because effective medications will not be discontinued for the purposes of this study, subjects will be identified who have never been treated or who have discontinued medication due to lack of efficacy, noncompliance, physician order or other reasons prior to study entry. Subjects will also be excluded if they: a) serious suidical ideation or behavior - 1) thoughts of suicide within the past three months which are accompanied by intet to harm oneself, serious consideration of means or plan to attempt suicide, evidence of arranging for a suicide attemp (e.g. giving away prized possessions, updating a will) or clear desire to commit suicide; 2) suicide attempts within the previous one year; or 3) a current plan to inflict self harm or physical evidence suspicious for having engaged in a suicide attempt.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Allen TG. The role of N-, Q- and R-type Ca2+ channels in feedback inhibition of ACh release from rat basal forebrain neurones. J Physiol. 1999 Feb 15;515 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1):93-107. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.1999.093ad.x.

  PMID: 9925881 BACKGROUND

• Arango V, Underwood MD, Boldrini M, Tamir H, Kassir SA, Hsiung S, Chen JJ, Mann JJ. Serotonin 1A receptors, serotonin transporter binding and serotonin transporter mRNA expression in the brainstem of depressed suicide victims. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2001 Dec;25(6):892-903. doi: 10.1016/S0893-133X(01)00310-4.

  PMID: 11750182 BACKGROUND

• Baratti CM, Opezzo JW, Kopf SR. Facilitation of memory storage by the acetylcholine M2 muscarinic receptor antagonist AF-DX 116. Behav Neural Biol. 1993 Jul;60(1):69-74. doi: 10.1016/0163-1047(93)90742-z.

  PMID: 8216161 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Bipolar Disorder; Depressive Disorder, Major

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Bipolar and Related Disorders; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders; Depressive Disorder

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 17, 2002
• First Posted: December 18, 2002
• Study Start: December 16, 2002
• Study Completion: May 14, 2010
• Last Updated: July 2, 2017

Record last verified: 2010-05-14

Locations

US (1)