Individuals age 21 and older who have depression are invited to participate in a family study of depression at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Nancy Hale, BS, RN, clinical research coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry, tells about the study:
Who is invited to participate in the study?
We are looking for individuals age 21 and older, there's no upper limit, who have suffered from depression, major depressive disorder, over the years that have had more than one episode of depression.
Do participants have to have a diagnosis of depression, or just know that they may have had a depression episode?
It's beneficial for the study if they know that they have a diagnosis of depression and have been treated.
Are there other criteria for participation?
One of the things we're looking for with this participant is that they need to have become ill prior to age 30, because this is a study of recurrent, early-onset depression. We are also looking for this participant to have a first degree relative, that is a mother, a father or a brother or sister who is also ill with depression and that they were ill prior to age 40. They may not have been diagnosed prior to 40, but in retrospect they knew that they were having depressive episodes. We are trying to get as good a genetic sample as possible.
What will the participants be asked to do as part of the study?
Because this is a genetic study, there is a one time blood draw; we do that here at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. If somebody is out of town, it can be done locally; there are self-assessments that we send, there are only a couple of those and we ask that people return those, those are optional; and then there is an interview either in person or on the phone at the convenience of the participant, so we interview during the day, evenings, or weekends.
How long will the study last?
For the participant, this probably is a two-to three-hour length of time that they will be involved.
What are you looking for in this study?
It's a genetic study, so we are looking for those genes that predispose somebody to this illness and we are also looking for more information about medical history, family history, and their symptoms that they have experienced over their lifetime.
Is there a closing date to recruit or a number of people you are looking for to participate in the study?
We are about a year and a half into this study, so we have about three more years, but we need a total of 500 people, so that is the number we have promised to give NIMH, and that really our goal, is to get 500 people.
If someone would like to learn more about this study who do they contact?
They should call me directly at 319-353-5985 or 888-850-8531 and I will return their phone call and give them more information about the study or send them information. |
