Purpose

This study is dedicated to help identify biomarkers for depression and suicide. The purpose of the study is to better understand these links to improve medical and psychiatric care in the future. This research is also to test the effects of standard treatment of depression on improvement in depressive and suicidal behavior and on biomarkers (e.g. miRNA) for these disorders.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 10 Years and 24 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

All participants: 1. Physically healthy 2. willing and able to provide informed consent (if under 18 also parent or guardian consent) MDD participants: 1. A definite diagnosis of DSM-5 2. a Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) score >=30. Suicidal ideation participants: Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) score >=4 rated over the last two weeks. Suicide attempt group: 1. Participants will have had an attempt in the previous two weeks that is serious enough to require medical attention and shows evidence of at least a medium level of intent on the Suicide Intent Scale. Non-psychiatric controls: 1. No history of any major mental illness (excluding specific phobia) or substance use disorder.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Exclusion criteria: 1. Pregnancy or lactation 2. post-partum state (being within 2 months of delivery or miscarriage); 3. homicide risk as determined by clinical interview 4. any of the following DSM-V diagnoses or categories: a) a lifetime history of psychotic disorder; b) alcohol or drug use disorder (except nicotine/caffeine) within the last month; the use of any hallucinogen (except cannabis), including phencyclidine in the last month; c) bipolar disorder; d) pervasive developmental disorder; e) cognitive disorder; f) DSM-5 paranoid, schizoid, or schizotypal personality disorders (PDs) (participants with other PDs will be allowed as long as MDD criteria are met); g) anorexia nervosa. 5. recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina, active neoplasm in the past 6 months, immunosuppressive or corticosteroid therapy within the last month, chemotherapy, and head injury or loss of consciousness in the past 6 months 6. use of hallucinogens (except for cannabis), methamphetamine, or cocaine in the last 2 weeks.

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose
Prevention
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Other
MDD Participant
Participants with MDD will return at six weeks for a second blood draw and assessments
  • Genetic: Genetic testing
    Attempting to identify the genetic biomarker that can identify risk for suicidal ideation and action

Recruiting Locations

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
Contact:
Melissa Alexander
lalexander@uabmc.edu

UAB Huntsville Regional Medical Campus
Huntsville, Alabama 35294
Contact:
Brittany McCrory, BS
256-551-4657
bamccrory@uabmc.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study Contact

Allison Stewart, MA
256-551-4431
allisonstewart@uabmc.edu

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.