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Inflammatory and Glutamatergic Mechanisms of Sustained Threat in Adolescents With Depression

Inflammatory and Glutamatergic Mechanisms of Sustained Threat in Adolescents With Depression: Toward Predictors of Treatment Response and Clinical Course

Who can join

Ages 14 to 21 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* All sexes and genders
* All ethnicities
* Ages 14-21
* Postpubertal (Tanner stage \> 3)
* No medications that will interfere with the study (including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, hormone supplements, steroids, etc.) for at least 2-6 weeks (depending on exact medication)
* Currently being seen by a clinician who will treat the participant with fluoxetine or escitalopram
* The ability to provide assent, understand, and complete all study procedures
* Caregiver consent (if applicable)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Primary mental health diagnosis other than a depressive disorder according to DSM-V
* Any contraindications to MRI scanning, phlebotomy, or SSRI treatment
* Stimulant usage
* A concussion within the last 6 weeks or any lifetime concussion with loss of consciousness for at least 10 minutes
* Any inflammatory conditions or use of anti-inflammatory medications that may influence study findings
* Any major neurological or developmental disorders which could impact the participant's ability to comply with study procedure
* Meeting for current or lifetime criteria of mania or psychosis, diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or any substance use disorders
* First-degree relative with current, past, or suspected mania or psychosis

About the study

Despite the prevalence and significant public health concern over depression among adolescents, up to 40% of depressed adolescents do not respond to first-line antidepressants (herein termed treatment non-response, TNR). The goal of this project is to recruit and assess 160 treatment-seeking depressed adolescents and test whether acute stress impacts peripheral levels of inflammation and downstream levels of glutamate in corticolimbic regions previously associated with depression, whether these stress-related biomarkers predict TNR to a 12-week trial of either fluoxetine or escitalopram, and whether these stress-related biomarkers predict 18-month clinical course.

What is being tested

• Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles · Participants: 160 · Started: Jul 6, 2023

Contact the study team

• Tiffany Ho, Ph.D. · Phone: 310-825-2961

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05329441

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Depression

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 29, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.