Clinical trial NCT00005914: Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Depression
Official title: Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Depression
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Depression
Keywords: Depression
Depressive Disorder
Family
Genes
Genetic Techniques
Genetics
Linkage (Genetics)
Nuclear Family
Recurrence
Severity of Illness Index
Lead sponsor: Stanford University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
First posted: 2000-06-16
Enrollment: 2533
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: FAMILY_BASED
Time perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Probands will have major depressive disorder meeting the eligibility criteria described below.

Brief summary: 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.

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

Eligibility criteria: 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.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Major depressive disorder
timeFrame: One patient interview session (typically 2 hours), and blood draw (10-20 minutes)
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Chicago
country: United States
facility: Rush Presbyterian - Saint Luke's Med Ctr
state: Illinois
city: Iowa City
country: United States
facility: Univ of Iowa Hosp and Clinic
state: Iowa
city: Baltimore
country: United States
facility: Johns Hopkins University
state: Maryland
city: New York
country: United States
facility: New York State Psychiatric Institute / Columbia Univ
state: New York
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Univ of Pennsylvania
state: Pennsylvania
city: Pittsburgh
country: United States
facility: Univ of Pittsburgh / Western Psychiatric Inst and Clinic
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: Columbia University
name: Myrna Weissman
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Johns Hopkins University
name: J R DePaulo
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Rush University Hospital
name: William Scheftner
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of Iowa
name: Raymond Crowe
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of Pennsylvania
name: Douglas Levinson
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of Pittsburgh
name: George Zubenko
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: