Volunteer in New York City for Research on Treatment for Depression

Are you sad? Down? Don’t enjoy things? Do you have trouble concentrating and sleeping?
Consider free evaluation and treatment for depression within the context of a research study at Columbia University’s Depression Evaluation Service (DES) in New York City.
For further information about participation in any of the following studies, please call 212-543-5734 or e-mail desdesk@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu. Further information is available on the Depression Evaluation Service (DES) web site.

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Treatment for Atypical Depression with Cymbalta

* For depressed adult patients with atypical depression (patients experience overeating, oversleeping, severely low energy, marked sensitivity to personal rejection).
* Offers treatment with Cymbalta (generic name duloxetine), a recently marketed antidepressant that has a dual mode of action.
* Participants in this 8-week study are eligible for 3 months of follow-up.
* All study treatment, including visits with a psychiatrist and study medication, is provided at NO COST to participants.

Treatment for Depression Unresponsive to Previous Treatment
IRB #4213

· For adult patients with a history of poor response to antidepressants
· Includes a careful history of psychiatric illness and prior treatment
· Offers a series of treatment trials until depression is relieved:

(1) Standard dose of a marketed monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI)
(2) MAOI above the usual maximum dose
(3) Addition of dextroamphetamine (a stimulant)
(4) Addition of thyroid hormone
· Study medication provided at no cost for 8 to 39 weeks

Sensory Testing as a Predictor of Response to Antidepressant Treatment
IRB #4217R

· For depressed adult patients
· Includes testing with three measures of brain functioning: paper and pencil, hearing, and vision>BR> · Offers sequential trials of three treatments: Tofranil (imipramine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and placebo (an inactive substance, such as a sugar pill)
· Patients who respond to treatment may remain on the same treatment
· Patients who do not respond to treatment are switched to another treatment
· Study medication provided at no cost for 6 to 24 weeks

Medication Treatment for Depression Following Three Tests of Brain Functioning
IRB #4781

· For depressed adult patients
· Includes testing with three measures of brain functioning: memory and cognition testing, hearing testing, and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (f-MRI; to assess brain activity) · Offers a series of treatment trials with three standard antidepressant medications until depression ceases:
(1) Lexapro (escitalopram)
(2) Wellbutrin (bupropion)
(3) Tofranil (imipramine)
· Study medication provided at no cost for 8 to 28 weeks

Depression and Marijuana Dependence
IRB #4695

· For depressed adult patients with marijuana dependence
· Offers 12 weeks of individual counseling at no cost
· Patients receive Effexor (venlafaxine) or placebo (an inactive substance, such as a sugar pill) at no cost for 12 weeks

Treatment with Provigil for Fatigue in HIV/AIDS
IRB #4839

· For HIV positive adult patients with significant fatigue who are taking antiretroviral medication
· Offers 12 weeks of treatment at no cost with Provigil (modafinil), an approved medication for wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness due to narcolepsy
· Patients meet with psychiatrist weekly or biweekly

Combined Lexapro/Wellbutrin Treatment for Depression
IRB #4653

Treatment with Depakote for Teenagers/Young Adults with Temper Outbursts and Mood Swings with or without Marijuana Use
IRB #4767R

· For physically healthy adolescents and young adults with long-standing temper outbursts and irritable mood swings with or without marijuana use
· Patients receive six weeks of Depakote (divalproex sodium) or placebo (an inactive substance, such as a sugar pill) at no cost and then receive six weeks of Depakote depending on response
· Individual drug counseling provided at no cost

Treatment with Depakote for Children with Temper Outbursts and Irritable Mood Swings
IRB #4592R

· For physically healthy children with temper outbursts and irritability
· Patients receive six weeks’ treatment successively with Depakote (divalproex sodium) and placebo (an inactive substance, such as a sugar pill) in either order at no cost
· If medication is helpful, long-term treatment and follow-up is provided at no cost, including medication, if patient’s parents do not have a prescription plan

Approved by the New York State Psychiatric Institute Institutional Review Board 12/10/04-06/17/05

Revised 7/2/05