Childhood/Adolescent Depression: Childhood Adversity and Adolescent Depression

Contact name: Caroline Cozza

Phone: (773)-834-0320

Fax: (0)-0-0

Email: ccozza@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu

Disorder: Major Depressive Disorder

Geographic location: South Chicago, IL

Other keywords: depression, adolescence, treatment, compensation

Participant compensation: $160

Time commitment required: Two Days: Day 1: - 9-4; Day 2: 2:30-5

Drug trial: No

Recruitment end date (approximate): June 9, 2006

Study criteria (i.e., age or gender requirements):
In order to qualify for this study you must be between the ages of 16 and 21 and experiencing depressive symptoms that have persisted for at least two weeks. Moreover, you must not currently be taking psychotropic medications or receiving treatment for your depression. All participants will complete a phone screen to confirm their eligibility.

Exclusion criteria:
Exclusion criteria are (a) lifetime or current DSM-IV diagnoses of bipolar I, II; schizophrenia, delusional disorder, organic brain disorder, PTSD; (b) current substance abuse/dependence; (c) imminent suicide risk; (d) current use of psychotropic medications or medications that influence cortisol reactivity (i.e., contraceptives, thyroid medications, steroids); (e) medical conditions associated with depression; (f) pregnancy;(g) not between ages 16 to 21 years.

Brief description of study:
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of early life stress and family experiences on regulation of stress in depressed individuals ages 16 to 21 years. This research is being done because we do not know why adolescents face an increased risk of depression. A second purpose of this study is to see if early depression is related to differences in the function of serotonin (a chemical which is thought to be involved in depression) as measured through studies on blood platelets and/or in variations in certain genes that can be detected by examining DNA in blood samples. In this study, immediate relatives (i.e., parents, siblings, children) of approximately sixty (60) individuals with current depressive mood will be studied.

Additional information: