research study on depression
The School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry is offering 12 weeks of free cognitive behavioral therapy for major depression as part of a study to measure possible changes in brain chemistry associated with treatment.
The neurotransmitter GABA (g-aminobutyric acid) may be a key in diagnosing specific subtypes of depression, and may be useful in helping to determine which type of treatment is most likely to provide benefit to an individual patient, according to the principal investigator, Gerard Sanacora, director of the Depression Research Clinic.
The study involves measuring levels of several neurotransmitters, including GABA, at the beginning of the treatment trial and then again after the therapy is completed. The measures will be made using magnetic resonance imaging.
Those eligible for the study include men and women 21 to 65 years old who are depressed but who are either not on medication or whose medication is not effective. The person must not have a substance abuse problem.
Individuals enrolled in the study will be given a thorough medical and psychiatric evaluation to ensure that they meet the diagnosis of depression. Symptoms of depression include, among others, insomnia and loss of appetite.
Cognitive therapists can help people to identify and correct unrealistic ideas and thinking that lead to erroneous conclusions about themselves and others. The therapists can also help persons to devise ways to deal more effectively with day-to-day problems. However, no studies to date have specifically assessed whether the treatment is associated with changes in brain chemistry.
For further information, please contact Donna Fasula at (203) 764-9131.
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