The Effect of Cortisol Administration on Neural Correlates of Emotion in Depression
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02837432 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : July 19, 2016
Last Update Posted : April 17, 2019
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Depression | Drug: Hydrocortisone acetate Drug: Placebo | Early Phase 1 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 80 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Basic Science |
Study Start Date : | July 2016 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | July 2020 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | July 2020 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Healthy
Healthy individuals will receive both the placebo and hydrocortisone interventions in a randomized order
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Drug: Hydrocortisone acetate
Other Name: Cortef Drug: Placebo |
Depression
Individuals with depression will receive both the placebo and hydrocortisone interventions in a randomized order
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Drug: Hydrocortisone acetate
Other Name: Cortef Drug: Placebo |
- Sadness-induced subgenual cingulate activity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging. [ Time Frame: 2 hours ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 21 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
https://redcap.stanford.edu/surveys/?s=3F7WCENPND
Inclusion Criteria:
- Healthy Participants must have no Axis 1 mental disorder
- Participants with depression must meet minimum severity levels (Hamilton >7)
- All participants must weight less than 280 pounds for the purposes of MRI scanning
Exclusion Criteria:
In order to protect against risk associated with taking Hydrocortisone, all participants must not have any of the following:
- Psychotropic medications
- Recent surgery
- Endocrine disorders
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Thyroid disorder
- History of malaria
- Tuberculosis
- Osteoporosis
- Glaucoma/cataracts
- Chronic expressed infections (herpes --including ocular herpes, HIV, etc.)
- History of congestive heart failure
- History of recurring seizures
- Stomach Ulcers
- Comorbid psychosis
- Current use of illicit drugs
- High Blood pressure
In order to protect against risks associated with MRI scanning participants must not be/have any of the following:
- >280 lbs
- In-dwelling ferrous metals
- Left Handed
- Abnormal Hearing
- Claustrophobic
- Head injury with loss of consciousness

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02837432
Contact: Dalton D Duvio | (650)498-5904 | dlduvio@alumni.stanford.edu | |
Contact: David James | (650)498-5904 | david.james@stanford.edu |
United States, California | |
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 401 Quarry Road | Recruiting |
Stanford, California, United States, 94305 |
Responsible Party: | Keith Sudheimer, Clinical Assistant Professor, Stanford University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02837432 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
19771 |
First Posted: | July 19, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | April 17, 2019 |
Last Verified: | April 2019 |
Depression Cortisol Sadness Genetics Stress |
Depression Depressive Disorder Behavioral Symptoms Mood Disorders Mental Disorders |
Hydrocortisone Hydrocortisone 17-butyrate 21-propionate Hydrocortisone acetate Hydrocortisone hemisuccinate Anti-Inflammatory Agents |