Stress Dynamics and Familial Risk for Depression in Female Adolescents

NCT ID: NCT06816329

Last Updated: 2025-10-23

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 148 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-10-15
• Study Completion Date: 2030-03-31

Brief Summary

Stress and a parental history of major depressive disorder (MDD) are among the strongest risk factors for future development of MDD. Studies have shown that having a parental history of MDD may be associated with behavioral, psychophysiological, and hormonal responses to stress that are associated with poorer stress coping. . Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental window linked to increased MDD risk, especially for females, as rates of MDD surge relative to males. Despite the central role of stress in MDD onset, little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying stress responses in susceptible female adolescents at high familial risk for MDD. Also, it is unclear how stress-related brain network alterations may relate to "real-world" maladaptive stress responses and whether these stress-related brain network changes are predictive of future depression onset. We will fulfill these research gaps by combining neuroimaging with intensive longitudinal tracking of depressive symptomology as well as behavioral and physiological responses to "real world" stress using smartphone and smartwatch technology. Elucidating these neural mechanisms may aid in the discovery of MDD biomarkers that could identify youth at greatest risk for future MDD development and lead to earlier intervention efforts.

Detailed Description

Participants in this research study will include female adolescent between the age of 13 to 15, who may or may not have a parental history of depression. About 148 adolescents will take part in this study along with a biological parent/parent(s) over the next five years.

The study will include five sessions over the span of 18-months, including:

• A clinical diagnostic interview as well as filling out a series of questionnaires and assessments. This can be done virtually over Zoom or in-person.
• The second session will include a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scan to be conducted at the McLean Hospital Imaging Center. Participants will be asked to respond to surveys on their cell phone in the two-weeks following the fMRI brain scan. Participants will also be given and asked to wear a smartwatch that tracks their heart rate, activity level, and sleep patterns for two-weeks.
• The third session will include a diagnostic interview, assessments, and questionnaires to be completed six-months after the fMRI brain scan. Participants will be asked to complete surveys on their cell phone during the two-weeks following this six month follow-up session. Participants will also be given and asked to wear a smartwatch that tracks their heart rate, activity level, and sleep patterns for two-weeks.
• The fourth session will include a diagnostic interview, assessments, and questionnaires to be completed 12-months after the fMRI brain scan. Participants will be asked to complete surveys on their cell phone during the two-weeks following this 12-month follow-up session. Participants will also be given and asked to wear a smartwatch that tracks their heart rate, activity level, and sleep patterns for two-weeks.
• The fifth session will include a diagnostic interview, assessments, and questionnaires to be completed 18-months after the fMRI brain scan. Participants will be asked to complete surveys on their cell phone during the two-weeks following this 18-month follow-up session. Participants will also be given and asked to wear a smartwatch that tracks their heart rate, activity level, and sleep patterns for two-weeks.

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Computer Task Manipulation

Participants will complete computer tasks while undergoing an fMRI brain scan.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Computer Task Manipulation

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete computer tasks.

Interventions

Computer Task Manipulation

Participants will complete computer tasks.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Female sex assigned at birth
• Ages 13-15
• English as first language or English Fluency
• Right-handed
• Have a personal cell phone to complete the ecological momentary assessments
• Ability to give signed, informed consent/assent either written or electronic (via RedCap eConsent)
• Normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing

• A biological parent meeting DSM-5 criteria for at least one past/current major depressive episode

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of any contraindication for MRI:

• Cardiac pacemakers
• Metal clips on blood vessels (also called stents)
• Artificial heart valve, artificial arms, hands, legs, etc.
• Brain stimulator devices
• Implanted drug pumps
• Ear or eye implants
• Known metal fragments in eyes
• Exposure to metal filings or shrapnel (sheet metal workers, welders, and others)
• Other metallic surgical hardware in vital area
• Certain tattoos with metallic ink
• Certain intrauterine devices (IUDs) containing metal
• Any other metallic objects that are deemed a contraindication to MRI that cannot be removed
• Certain transdermal (skin) patches such as:

NicoDerm (nicotine for tobacco dependence) Transderm Scop (scopolamine for motion sickness) Ortho Evra (birth control)

• Presence of medical or neurological illness that could impact fMRI measures of cerebral blood flow (e.g., head injury resulting in loss of consciousness greater than 5 minutes, seizure, tic disorder, serious/unstable cardiac, hepatic, renal, respiratory, endocrine, neurologic or hematologic illnesses)
• Clinical/Laboratory Evidence of Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism
• Use of hormonal replacement therapy, anabolic steroids
• Lifetime history of electroconvulsive therapy
• Current tobacco product use
• Lifetime use of any psychotropic medication
• Clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms according to the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (T Score > 54, Poznanski et al., 1996)
• Diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disorder w/ impairment in reading) that would interfere with study tasks (e.g., understanding and completing lengthy battery of questionnaires, ability to complete fMRI scan session and tasks without moving)

• Lifetime or current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 diagnoses of MDD, persistent depressive disorder, schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, substance/alcohol use disorder, eating disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder

• Any past or current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 psychiatric or substance/alcohol use disorder
• First-degree relative history of any psychiatric disorder

• Minimum Eligible Age: 13 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 15 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Mclean Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Emily L. Belleau

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Emily Belleau, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mclean Hospital

Locations

McLean Hospital

Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Emily Belleau

Role: CONTACT

ebelleau@mclean.harvard.edu

617-855-4245

Facility Contacts

Emily Belleau, Ph.D.

Role: primary

ebelleau@mclean.harvard.edu

617-855-4245

Other Identifiers

R01MH137441

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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