MicroRNA Correlates of Childhood Maltreatment and Suicidality

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · Jun 10, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how childhood trauma and stress might be linked to major depression and thoughts of suicide. Researchers want to understand how both short-term and long-term stress can affect tiny pieces of genetic material called microRNAs (or miRNAs) found in our blood. These miRNAs can change based on our experiences, making them important for understanding mental health. The study plans to enroll 450 participants who are between 18 and 60 years old and are either physically healthy or have major depressive disorder (MDD).

If you're considering participating, you'll need to be willing to provide consent and meet certain health criteria. For example, women who are pregnant or recently gave birth, as well as those with a history of certain mental health issues, will not be eligible. Participants will provide blood samples for analysis, and this research aims to shed light on the causes of mental illness, potentially leading to better care and treatment in the future. Your involvement could help improve understanding of how early life experiences affect mental health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age 18-60
• • 2. Physically healthy
• • 3. Willing and able to provide informed consent
• • 5. Diagnosis of MDD or No history of mental illness
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Pregnancy or lactation (women of reproductive potential must have a negative urine pregnancy screen)
• • 2. Post-partum state (being within 2 months of delivery or miscarriage)
• • 3. Homicide risk as determined by clinical interview
• • 4. A lifetime history of psychotic disorder
• • 5. Any history of dissociation or dissociative disorder
• • 6. Bipolar disorder
• • 7. Pervasive developmental disorder
• • 8. Cognitive disorder
• • 9. Cluster A personality disorder
• • 10. Borderline personality disorder
• • 11. Anorexia nervosa
• • 12. Alcohol or drug dependence (except nicotine and caffeine) within the last month or the use of any hallucinogen (except cannabis), including phencyclidine in the last month (NOTE that a positive UDS is not exclusionary except for hallucinogens, methamphetamine, or cocaine. People presenting intoxicated with alcohol may be included when a Breathalyzer test (Alco-Sensor IV) is negative as long as there is no history of recent dependence.
• • 13. Recent myocardial infarction
• • 14. Unstable angina
• • 15. Active neoplasm in the past 6 months
• • 16. Immunosuppressive or corticosteroid therapy within the last month, with the following exceptions: any inhaled, intranasal, topical or vaginal corticosteroids are allowed.
• • 17. Chemotherapy
• • 18. Head injury with loss of consciousness in the past 6 months