Actively Recruiting
Dopamine Modulation of Motivation and Motor Function in Major Depression & Inflammation
Led by Charite University, Berlin, Germany · Updated on 2026-03-18
165
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
153 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
C
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Lead Sponsor
P
Prof. Dr. Stefan M. Gold
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
A large body of evidence on depression heterogeneity point to an "immunometabolic" subtype characterized by the clustering of immunometabolic dysregulations with atypical behavioral symptoms related to energy homeostasis. Motivational and motor impairments reflected by symptoms of anhedonia and psychomotor retardation in major depression are closely related to alterations in energy homeostasis, are associated with increased inflammation, and may be a direct consequence of the impact of inflammatory cytokines on the dopamine system in the brain. In the proposed project, the investigators will examine the effect of dopamine stimulation on motivation and motor function in patients with major depression and healthy controls and the role of inflammation using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. If successful, this study would provide crucial evidence that pharmacologic strategies that increase dopamine may effectively treat inflammation-related symptoms of anhedonia and psychomotor retardation in major depression.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Dopamine Modulation of Motivation and Motor Function in Major Depression & Inflammation
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder according to DSM-5
- Patients must not be taking antidepressant medication
- Healthy participants must have C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of 1 mg/l or less
- Healthy participants must not be taking antidepressant medication
- Healthy participants must have no current psychiatric disorders
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, dementia, or current/past alcohol or drug dependence
- Central nervous system diseases
- Neurological diseases
- Suspicious undiagnosed skin lesions or history of melanoma
- Narrow-angle or wide-angle glaucoma
- Bronchial asthma
- History of peptic ulcer disease
- History of seizures
- Any severe somatic disease
- Current infections or chronic inflammatory diseases (such as rheumatic diseases or inflammatory bowel disease)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Class 3 obesity (body mass index of 40 or higher)
- Use of medications containing reserpine, tricyclic antidepressants, certain monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antiparkinsonian drugs, sympathomimetic drugs, or tetrabenazine
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Steglitz, Germany, 12203
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
W
Woo Ri Chae, MD MSc
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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