Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Depression (GenRED)

This nationwide study will create a DNA collection to permit qualified scientists to search for depression-related genes.

More than 750 families with at least two siblings who have experienced major depression are needed for the study. Participants will be interviewed about psychiatric and family history, and will be asked to provide a small blood specimen. The identification of predisposing genes can lead to greater understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in severe depression which can in turn lead to the discovery of new treatments.

A Certificate of Confidentiality from the federal government ensures that all information will be strictly confidential. Blood specimens are identified only by code number (not by name).

Reimbursement is provided.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression

Detailed Description

Studies of patterns of major depression in families suggest that 50 to 70% of the predisposition to major depression is caused by genes. People with recurrent depression and earlier ages of onset have more relatives with depression. There are probably at least several interacting genes, rather than a single gene as in some disorders. The identification of predisposing genes is likely to lead to greater understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in severe depression. This could lead to the discovery of new treatments.

This study will create a DNA collection to permit qualified scientists to search for depression-related genes. More than 750 families with at least two siblings who have experienced major depression are needed for the study.

Participants in this study will be interviewed about psychiatric and family history, and will be asked for a small blood specimen. Interviews can be conducted in person or by telephone. For telephone interviews, blood sample collection will be arranged at a location and time convenient for the participant. Participants will also be asked for help in inviting other family members to participate. No family member will be contacted without the permission and assistance of another participating family member.

For information on a related study, please follow this link:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00260182

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 2533

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • Rush Presbyterian - Saint Luke's Med Ctr
  • Iowa
    • Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
      • Univ of Iowa Hosp and Clinic
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287-7381
      • Johns Hopkins University
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10032
      • New York State Psychiatric Institute / Columbia Univ
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104-2648
      • Univ of Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
      • Univ of Pittsburgh / Western Psychiatric Inst and Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Probands will have major depressive disorder meeting the eligibility criteria described below.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Families that have at least TWO ADULT SIBLINGS (brother/brother; sister/sister; brother/sister) who have experienced major depression.
• Depression must be RECURRENT (more than one episode).
• Depression must have started at age 30 or less in one sibling, and at age 40 or less in the other sibling.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants cannot have Bipolar I (manic-depressive) disorder or schizophrenia.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Probands and family members; Individuals with major depressive disorder who meet study criteria, and members of their families. No intervention. This is a genetic study only.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Major depressive disorder	Participants will attend an interview regarding personal and family history of psychiatric disorders, and give a blood specimen. Genotypes from blood samples will be studied for genetic linkage (within families) with the presence of major depressive disorder.	One patient interview session (typically 2 hours), and blood draw (10-20 minutes)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Stanford University
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Myrna Weissman, Columbia University; Principal Investigator: J R DePaulo, Johns Hopkins University; Principal Investigator: William Scheftner, Rush University Hospital; Principal Investigator: Raymond Crowe, University of Iowa; Principal Investigator: Douglas Levinson, University of Pennsylvania; Principal Investigator: George Zubenko, University of Pittsburgh

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Web site for New York Psychiatric Institute
• Web site for University of Iowa

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 1999
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2005
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2000
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 15, 2000
• First Posted (Estimate): June 16, 2000

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 19, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2019
• Last Verified: April 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Genetics; Depression; Family; Depressive Disorder; Recurrence; Genes; Severity of Illness Index; Genetic Techniques; Linkage (Genetics); Nuclear Family
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Depression; Depressive Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: R01MH061686-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); R01MH059542 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); R01MH059552 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); R01MH059541 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); R01MH060912 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); DNBBS 7G-GRR; R01MH061686 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); R01MH060866 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)