Clinical Research Studies

Are you eligible to participate in this study?

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

• Conditions:
  Depressive Episode
• Age: Between 18 Year(s) - 65 Year(s)
• Gender: Male or Female

• Other Inclusion Criteria:
  

  Healthy Controls:

  1. Does not meet criteria for any DSM-5 diagnosis
  2. Scores of lower than 1 for hs-CRP, a blood inflammation marker, at screening

  Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

  1. Meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for MDD and have at screen visit a baseline score of >= 20 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
  2. Scores of 3 or higher for hs-CRP, a blood inflammation marker, at screening

  
  

You may not be eligible for this study if the following are true:

• 1. Suicidal ideation
  2. Pregnant women
  3. Known history of serious or unstable medical illness
  4. Obese individuals (BMI >= 30) and individuals with cardiovascular risk factors
  5. History of seizure disorder, brain injury, any history of known neurological disease
  6. History or current diagnosis of a DSM-5 psychiatric illness other than MDD
  7. History or current diagnosis of dementia
  8. Clinical or laboratory evidence of hypothyroidism
  9. Participants who have had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within the preceding 6 months
  10. Current use of any psychotropic drugs, including current use of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics
  11. Unable to sign informed consent or to comply with study assessments
  12. Claustrophobia
  13. Contraindications to 3T whole body MRI scanners
  14. Recent exposure to radiation which when combined with this study would be above the allowable limits of 5 rem per 12 months.