Neuroimaging Epigenetics of Prospective Postpartum Depression Biomarkers

September 18, 2020 updated by: Johns Hopkins University
Through a recent cross species translational experiment, researchers have identified a set of epigenetic marks capable of predicting postpartum depression with greater than 85% accuracy. The researchers are looking to identify a group of women from both the general population and those with a history of mood disorders who are at risk for postpartum depression and obtain brain imaging data at a postpartum time period prior to the onset of depressive symptoms and compare it with those obtained during depressive episodes. The researchers will also evaluate the efficacy of postpartum depression biomarker prediction.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in approximately 10-18% of women from the general population, affecting ~400,000 to 800,000 women each year. PPD results in significant morbidity to both mother and child, with offspring risks including low self-esteem, low intellectual skills, child abuse, and infanticide. PPD occurs within four weeks following parturition according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV criteria and follows a dramatic drop in the circulating levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). While PPD risk is not predicted by serum levels of gonadal hormones in humans, numerous studies suggest that risk to PPD is mediated by hormonal sensitivity. Recently, the investigators demonstrated that women at risk to PPD demonstrate an increased sensitivity to E2 mediated DNA methylation reprogramming at hippocampally relevant genes and identified two biomarkers, Tetratricopeptide repeat protein 9B (TTC9B) and heterochromatin protein 1 binding protein 3 (HP1BP3) that appeared functionally related to modulating neuroplasticity and which were predictive of PPD with 82-96% accuracy. Given that peripherally measurable epigenetic marks in genes implicated in hormone related neuroplastic changes may underlie risk to PPD, it is logical to next investigate neuroconnectivity alterations occurring longitudinally in the postpartum population at risk for PPD. The study is divided into two waves; in wave 1, the researchers will draw a tube of blood to be used as a biomarker screening to identify those at risk for PPD and matched controls, who will be asked to enter wave 2 of the study. In wave 2, women will undergo neuroimaging at weeks 2 and 6 postpartum in hopes to gather a neural signature of PPD prior to the onset of symptoms and while experiencing the symptoms. Additionally, data on a variety of candidate moderators of depression during or after pregnancy will be collected at each visit. This includes history of premenstrual symptoms, use of oral contraceptives, use of hormonal treatments to promote pregnancy and psychiatric history during previous pregnancies and the postpartum. Several measures of mood symptoms and anxiety symptoms will be administered including: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Rating Scale (EPDS) which measures depressive symptoms in pregnant and postpartum mothers, the Young Mania Rating Scale, which rates manic and hypomanic symptoms, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perinatal Anxiety Scale, and the Penn State Worry questionnaire which measure anxiety symptoms. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale will be administered at every visit to assess the role of sleep in the relapse of depression in the mothers. Two scales designed to measure stress will be administered to allow examination of its potential role in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) relapse. The Recent Life Changes Scale, which measures stressful life events, will be administered at the Screening, 3rd trimester and 6 week visits. The Perceived Stress Scale which provides a subjective rating of the stress of will be administered at every visit. The investigators will also administer measures of childhood trauma, and note demographic information, medication usage, clinical history (e.g. number of hospitalizations, medication trials, etc.) and birth outcomes. These measures will be used in future exploratory analyses of potential moderators of epigenetic changes seen during and after pregnancy.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

80

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

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
        • Johns Hopkins East Baltimore Medical Campus

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

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population includes women 18 years or older, pregnant with a singleton pregnancy, and with or without a history of a mood disorder. Participants may take psychiatric medications, however they may not be currently suicidal, psychiatrically unstable, or be currently abusing substances.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • pregnant women 18 or older with singleton pregnancy
  • with or without history of a mood disorder
  • may use psychiatric or Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
  • may have experienced preterm labor or delivery
  • must be willing to undergo repeated MRI scans (for wave 2)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • current active suicidal ideation
  • medical or psychiatric instability
  • active substance abuse or dependence in last 90 days
  • any significant neurologic disease (wave 2)
  • presence of known infection, infarction, lesion in critical memory structures of brain (wave 2)
  • pace maker, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valve, ear implants, metal fragments (wave 2)
  • high risk pregnancy indications i.e. preeclampsia, genetic anomalies, women with HIV, Lupus, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (wave 2)
  • implanted Intra-uterine devices (IUDs) or birth control prior to 6 weeks postpartum (wave 2)

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

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
History, Yes PPD
Participants may be asked to undergo repeated neuroimaging scans. No intervention will be administered, all participants will receive routine care during the study.
No History, No PPD
Participants may be asked to undergo repeated neuroimaging scans. No intervention will be administered, all participants will receive routine care during the study.
History, No PPD
Participants may be asked to undergo repeated neuroimaging scans. No intervention will be administered, all participants will receive routine care during the study.
No History, Yes PPD
Participants may be asked to undergo repeated neuroimaging scans. No intervention will be administered, all participants will receive routine care during the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Epigenetic Analysis
Time Frame: At week 33 of pregnancy
One blood sample will be drawn in the third trimester and the epigenetic information obtained will be put into a model of prediction for postpartum depression.
At week 33 of pregnancy

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brain Imaging
Time Frame: 4 Weeks
An functional MRI (fMRI) of hippocampal subregions and surrounding structures at a postpartum time period prior to the onset of depressive symptoms (2 weeks postpartum) and compared with those obtained during depressive episodes (6 weeks postpartum) to assess differences in functioning.
4 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Collaborators

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Zachary A Kaminsky, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Actual)

May 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 16, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 16, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

August 20, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 22, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 18, 2020

Last Verified

September 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB00038271
  • R01MH104262 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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.

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