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NCT Number: NCT01743716

Genetic and Neural Predictors of Adolescent Depression

This study aims to examine the relationship between mood and brain activity in adolescent girls in order to better understand the genetic and neural predictors of adolescent depression. The participants in this study will be healthy female adolescents aged 12-14 and their mothers. They will participate for a total of six months. Adolescent participants will have three study sessions at McLean Hospital, and during two of them, their mothers will also have assessments. Adolescent assessments will include interviews, questionnaires, computer tasks, and collection of a saliva sample for genetic analyses. Their second study visit will include an fMRI scan. Parent assessments will include an interview, questionnaires, and a computer task.

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Key information

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Mental Disorders Mood Disorders

Age range

12 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

McLean Hospital

Belmont, Massachusetts, 02478, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Adult Cohort

A. MDD Mothers Cohort Inclusion Criteria:

  • Current or past Major Depressive Disorder
  • English as first language or English fluency
  • Biological daughter who meets inclusion/exclusion criteria for High Risk Female Adolescent

B. Healthy Control Mothers Cohort Inclusion Criteria:

  • No history of psychopathology
  • English as first language or English fluency
  • Biological daughter who meets inclusion/exclusion criteria for Healthy Female Adolescent

Adolescent Cohort

General Inclusion Criteria for Adolescent Cohorts:

  • Female
  • Ages 12-14
  • English as first language or English fluency
  • Right handed

General Exclusion Criteria for Adolescent Cohorts:

  • Past or present diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
  • Past or present diagnosis of any anxiety disorder
  • Past or present diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder
  • Past or present diagnosis of ADHD
  • Presence of medical or neurological illness (head injury, loss of consciousness greater than 5 minutes, seizure)
  • Current use of psychotropic medication
  • Presence of any contraindication for MRI:
  • Cardiac pacemakers
  • Metal clips on blood vessels (also called stents)
  • Artificial heart valve, artificial arms, hands, legs, etc.
  • Brain stimulator devices
  • Implanted drug pumps
  • Ear or eye implants
  • Known metal fragments in eyes
  • Exposure to metal filings or shrapnel (sheet metal workers, welders, and others)
  • Other metallic surgical hardware in vital area
  • Certain tattoos with metallic ink
  • Certain IUDs containing metal
  • Certain transdermal (skin) patches such as:
  • NicoDerm (nicotine for tobacco dependence)
  • Transderm Scop (scopolamine for motion sickness)
  • Ortho Evra (birth control)
  • Positive urine pregnancy test

C. High Risk Female Adolescent Additional Inclusion Criterion:

  • Biological daughter of participant in the MDD Mothers cohort

D. Healthy Female Adolescent Additional Inclusion Criterion:

  • Biological daughter of participant in the Healthy Control Mothers cohort

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Neurobiological Activity in Frontostriatal and Mesolimbic Regions

    Time frame: Baseline

  2. Depressive Symptoms

    Time frame: 6 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mclean Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • The Dana Foundation
  • The Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation

Registry information

Official study title

Towards Identification of Genetic and Neural Predictors of Adolescent Depression

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Dec 6, 2012
Registry last updated
Mar 12, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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