Actively Recruiting
Early Life Stress and Depression: Molecular and Functional Imaging
Led by Mclean Hospital · Updated on 2025-12-12
160
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
282 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Severe childhood adversity accounts for a large portion of psychiatric illness, and an increased risk for major depressive disorder (MDD). For some individuals, childhood adversity has negative psychological and medical consequences; others preserve mental and physical health despite such experiences (they are resilient). In spite of this, little is known about the neurobiological mechanisms related to childhood adversity, especially oxidative stress abnormalities in the brain. To fill this gap, this study combines functional, structural, and molecular imaging approaches to examine the role of oxidative stress abnormalities related to childhood adversity.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Early Life Stress and Depression: Molecular and Functional Imaging
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Female participants of all races and ethnic origins
- Age between 20 and 32 years
- Right-handed
- Able to provide written informed consent
- Currently not taking any medications at enrollment (may start medication after enrollment and remain in study)
- Normal or corrected vision and hearing
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- No first-degree relatives with a history of psychotic disorders or symptoms (adopted individuals eligible if family history is known)
You will not qualify if you...
- Suicidal ideation deemed unsafe for participation
- Pregnant or positive urine pregnancy test if woman of childbearing potential
- Not meeting MRI safety requirements, including metal implants or shrapnel exposure
- Claustrophobia or severe anxiety affecting neuroimaging participation
- Injury or movement disorder making it difficult to lie still in scanner
- Current recreational or illicit drug use as detected by urine drug test
- Use of depression-related drugs or herbal supplements affecting stress response
- Use of any medication within 24 hours before scanning
- Recent use (within 3 weeks) of medications affecting blood flow or blood pressure
- Melatonin use within 5 days of scanning
- Metformin use in past 6 months
- Serious or unstable medical illnesses including cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory, endocrine, neurologic, autoimmune, or hematologic diseases
- Current infectious illness, allergic reaction, or asthma episode
- Hemophilia, poorly controlled diabetes, chronic migraines, or dementia
- History of seizure disorder
- Significant head injury or concussion
- Past or current diagnosis of OCD, ADHD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, psychotic disorders NOS, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, autism spectrum disorders, organic mental disorders, anorexia, binge eating disorder or bulimia (unless remission for at least 2 years)
- History of moderate or severe substance or alcohol use disorder, or mild disorder within last 12 months (except cocaine or stimulant abuse, which excludes automatically)
- History of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Clinically unstable as judged by clinician
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
McLean Hospital
Belmont, Massachusetts, United States, 02478
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Aliza Brown
CONTACT
E
Emma Palermo
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
4
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