Brain Abnormalities in Late-Onset Major Depression

October 21, 2009 updated by: University of Aarhus

Structural and Functional Cerebral Findings in Late-Onset Major Depression

The objective of this project is to examine the state of the brain in people over 50 years old suffering from late-onset depression by means of an extensive clinical assessment programme, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neuropsychological testing, neurological examination, eye examination as well as blood and saliva samples. The results are to be compared with results from a control group matched for gender and age.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Major depression is a frequent and serious disorder with different prognoses and complications with respect to lack of treatment response, recurrence and suicide.

MRI of the brain can provide information about changes in the brain tissue with depression, e.g. lesions of nerve connections, small thrombi or changes in the blood flow. These changes appear primarily after the age of 50 and are seen in cases of diabetes and high blood pressure. Furthermore, the connection between disruptions in the body's stress response system and depression will be explored, which is very important since studies indicate that stress and depression can affect certain brain parts permanently. This will give us a better understanding of the connection between brain changes, neuropsychology and depression prognosis, which is decisive for accurate diagnostics, effective treatment and targeted prevention of the disease in the long run.

The project is part of a larger clinical assessment programme in the Neuropsychiatric Unit under the Centre for Basic Psychiatric Research, Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital, Denmark, which gives us unique possibilities of combining research and daily clinical work. The hope is in the future to be able to offer patients in the risk group better assessment and treatment to prevent complications and recurrence.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

44

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Denmark
      • Risskov, Denmark, DK-8240
        • Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

  1. Subjects with first-episode late-onset major depression from psychiatric hospital or clinic
  2. Healthy controls

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • first time major depression
  • age over 50 years
  • Caucasian
  • admitted at a psychiatric hospital or treated at a local psychiatric clinic in Aarhus Amt

Exclusion Criteria:

  • major brain damage (e.g. stroke, epilepsy, trauma)
  • major alcohol or drug abuse

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Aarhus

Collaborators

Bayer
The Danish Medical Research Council

Investigators

  • Study Director: Raben Rosenberg, Professor, MD, DrMedSc, Aarhus University Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Videbech Poul, Professor, MD, DrMedSc, Aarhus University Hospital
  • Study Chair: Leif Østergaard, Professor, MD, DrMedSc, PhD, Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2005

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 30, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 30, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

December 1, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 22, 2009

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 21, 2009

Last Verified

October 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 20051050

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Major Depression

Clinical Trials on Clinical examination program

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in China

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe