Bone Mineral Density in Women With Major Depression

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH (NIMH) · Nov 3, 1999

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Osteoporosis is a condition that is underdiagnosed and undertreated, and often goes unnoticed until a fragility fracture occurs after many years of progressive loss of bone quality. Risk factors for osteoporosis include glucocorticoid excess and a pro-inflammatory state, both of which we and others have observed in a substantial proportion of patients with Major Depressive Disorder.

We have found statistically and clinically significant reductions in bone mineral density (BMD) in a group of 24 depressed but otherwise healthy pre-menopausal women, as compared to 24 healthy, closely matched ...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • -
• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • A history of current or past major depression of at least four months duration, or a history of two or more brief depressive episodes will be the primary criterion for inclusion.
• • Patients with Bipolar Disorder will be eligible if they meet the depressive episode criterion.
• • No specific inclusion criteria are set for normal volunteers.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• DEPRESSED SUBJECTS:
• • Pregnant women will not be eligible to participate.
• • Known medical causes of osteoporosis, other than depression.
• • Current or past history of eating disorders, or schizophrenia, as per DSM-IV.
• • Chronic use of oral or parenteral steroids (daily use for 3 months or longer).
• HEALTHY SUBJECTS:
• • Pregnant women will not be eligible to participate.
• • Known medical causes of osteoporosis.
• • Any history of DSM-IV diagnosis, including depression, eating disorders, and alcohol or drug abuse.
• • History or current evidence of any significant clinical or laboratory abnormalities.