A Neuroimaging and Epigenetic Investigation of Antidepressants in Depression

Conditions

Depression, Depression Secondary to Other Disease

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is: 1. to find out the structural or functional effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in major depressive disorder (MDD); 2. find special abnormalities in depression secondary to other disease, e.g., autoimmune disease like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 3. find the relationship between the efficacy of antidepressant and the change of neuroimaging in MDD 4. to find possible predispose to MDD 5. to explore the DNA methylation status in depression;

Detailed description

1. to explore the pathology of depression 2. to identify the difference between MDD and depression secondary to other disease ,especially autoimmune disease 3. to explore the effect of gene-environment interaction on the epigenetic regulation of the depression

Yang Y, Tao L, Zhao R, Bai R, Liu S, Zhang G, Li S, Xu X, Cheng Y, Xu J.

2026-06-25

10.1136/lupus-2026-002032

Delineation of Early and Later Adult Onset Depression by Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Yuqi Cheng, Jian Xu, Hongjun Yu, Binbin Nie, Na Li et al. (12 authors)

PLoS ONE2014-11-1365 citations

10.1371/journal.pone.0112307

White-matter volume reduction and the protective effect of immunosuppressive therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with normal appearance by conventional magnetic resonance imaging.

Xu J, Cheng Y, Chai P, Lu Z, Li H, Luo C, Li X, Li L, Zhou Q, Chen B, Cao J, Xu X, Shan B, Xu L, Wen J.

2010-03-1523 citations

10.3899/jrheum.090967

Interventions

DRUGEscitalopram

A,1: Escitalopram, oral, 20 mg/day, 8 weeks

Study design

Allocation

NA

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 70 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* DSM-IV Major Depression or Dysthymia * Age 18-65 * Physically healthy * Drug-free

Exclusion criteria

* Body metal (e.g., wire stitches, screws in bones, stainless steel hips) * History of Psychosis or Epilepsy * Current (past six months) Substance Use Disorder (illicit drugs and/or alcohol) * Bipolar I * Need for wash-out from effective treatment in order to participate * Pregnant * High suicide risk * Currently taking (within 2 weeks; 4 weeks for Fluoxetine) antidepressants

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
change of fMRI after medication	baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks

Countries

China

Outcome results

None listed