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Assessing Anterior Cingulate Brain Activity in People With Late-Life Depression
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Study NCT00926653   Information provided by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
First Received: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009   History of Changes

June 22, 2009
June 29, 2009
July 2005
December 2010   (final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Cerebral activation, as measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) [ Time Frame: Measured once ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Same as current
Complete list of historical versions of study NCT00926653 on ClinicalTrials.gov Archive Site
 
 
 
Assessing Anterior Cingulate Brain Activity in People With Late-Life Depression
Anterior Cingulate Activation in Geriatric Depression

This study will examine differences in activity of the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain area involved in emotion and cognitive regulation, between older adults with and without depression.

Older adults with depression often also suffer from executive dysfunction—problems with planning, impulse control, and reasoning. Executive dysfunction in older adults predicts poor or delayed response to antidepressant treatment and has been associated with early relapse and recurrence of late-life major depression. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a scan that can measure the activity of someone's brain while that person performs tasks. So far, no fMRI studies investigating cerebral activation patterns in late-life depression have been published. In this study, people will undergo fMRI while they are performing an executive function task. Older adults with late-life depression and older adults without depression will be tested and compared in order to identify the areas and patterns of brain activity underlying executive dysfunction in late-life depression.

Participation in this study will consist of one study visit, during which participants will undergo an fMRI scan that will last 60 to 90 minutes. While being scanned, participants will perform cognitive tasks that involve pressing buttons in response to words viewed on a screen.

 
Observational
Case Control, Prospective
Depression
Drug: Escitalopram
  • Elderly participants with depression
  • Elderly participants who have never experienced depression
 

*   Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by National Clinical Trials Identifier (NCT ID) in Medline.
 
Recruiting
72
March 2011
December 2010   (final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Inclusion Criteria for Depressed Participants:

  • Diagnosis of major depression by DSM-IV criteria
  • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score greater than 24
  • Severity score of 17 or higher on the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score (HDRS) during the index episode
  • Residence less than a 45-minute drive from New York Hospital-Westchester Division

Exclusion Criteria for Depressed Participants:

  • Presence of psychotic depression, as defined by Research Diagnostic Criteria and DSM-IV
  • History of psychiatric disorders other than unipolar major depression (people with bipolar disorder and dysthymia will be excluded)
  • Presence of dementing disorders
  • Acute or severe medical illness, such as the following: delirium; metastatic cancer; decompensated cardiac, liver, or kidney failure; major surgery; or cerebrovascular accident or myocardial infarction 3 months prior to study entry
  • Receiving drugs known to cause depression, including reserpine, alpha-methyl-dopa, and steroids
  • Requires concomitant treatment with other psychotropics, including antipsychotic medications, lithium salts, stimulants, valproic acid, carbamazepine, or gabapentin
  • Severe aphasia interfering with communication
  • Contraindications to magnetic resonance (MR) scanning, such as implanted metal, claustrophobia, or weight greater than or equal to 300 lbs

Inclusion Criteria for Age-Matched Non-Psychiatric Comparison Sample:

  • MMSE score greater than 24

Exclusion Criteria for Age-Matched Non-Psychiatric Comparison Sample:

  • History of psychiatric disorder
  • Presence of dementing disorders
  • Acute or severe medical illness, such as the following: delirium; metastatic cancer; decompensated cardiac, liver, or kidney failure; major surgery; or cerebrovascular accident or myocardial infarction 3 months prior to study entry
  • Receiving drugs known to cause depression, including reserpine, alpha-methyl-dopa, and steroids
  • Current treatment with psychotropics
  • Severe aphasia interfering with communication
  • Contraindications to MR scanning, such as implanted metal, claustrophobia, or weight greater than or equal to 300 lbs
Both
60 Years to 85 Years
Yes
Contact: Shizuko Morimoto, PsyD 914-997-5413 ssm9006@med.cornell.edu
United States
 
NCT00926653
Faith M. Gunning-Dixon, PhD, Weill Cornell Medical College
K23 MH074818, DATR AK-TNGP1
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
 
Principal Investigator: Faith M. Gunning-Dixon, PhD Weill Cornell Medical College
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
June 2009

ICMJE     Data element required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the World Health Organization ICTRP