Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Geriatric Depression

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder

Treatments: Drug: Sertraline

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT00245557

2004P-002540

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to use Magnetic Resonance Images to further our understanding of predictors and markers of treatment response and non-response in geriatric depression. We hypothesized that concentrations of high energy metabolites would be lower in depressed elderly compared to non-depressed.

Enrollment: 43 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 55 to 89 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• DSM- IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition) diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder
• Hamilton Depression Scale- 17 item version score of 18 or higher
• Must speak English
• Women must be post-menopausal

Exclusion criteria

• A current or pervious psychiatric disorder other than MDD
• A current unstable medical condition
• A pacemaker or metal implant
• History of alcohol or drug dependence or abuse within the past year
• Current prescription of excluded medications
• Use of a drug within the last 30 days that was not approved for use by governmental authorities.
• If you or a family member works at McLean Hospital

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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43 participants in 2 patient groups

Healthy Controls

No Intervention group

Description:

Healthy Controls undergo MRI and neuropsychological testing

Depressed

Experimental group

Description:

Depressed subjects receive experimental drug

Treatment:

Drug: Sertraline