Major Depressive Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Heart Rate
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to understand if there is a relationship between the way that emotions are regulated by the brain and the way that heart rate is regulated by the brain. The study also seeks to understand whether having depression changes the way that emotions and heart rate are regulated.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALVideo Task
Subjects are asked to watch a series of six two-minute video clips. The video clips are designed to induce sad or happy emotions or no emotion (neutral) and are taken from movies, documentaries, or instructional videos. There are two videos for each emotion condition. Videos and fixation cross screens are viewed on a laptop computer. In between video clips, patients are asked to quietly look at a fixation cross for one minute, describe their emotional reaction to the video for up to one minute, then again attend to a fixation cross for one minute. A video recording of the frontal view of the participant's face will be made during task performance.
OTHERImaginal Task
Subjects are asked to think about happy or sad memories for 2 minutes. Subjects are asked to imagine performing neutral tasks, such as buying groceries. Subjects are then asked to think about a memory that makes them feel angry. A video recording of the frontal view of the participant's face will be made during task performance.
Sponsors
Emory University
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Ages 18-65 years * Able to understand and provide informed consent * Male and female Depressed Subjects: * Current diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and currently in an major depressive episode (MDE) * Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology (QIDS-SR16) score of 11 or greater * Anticipated treatment with ketamine infusion for depression
Exclusion criteria
* Current daily use of tricyclic antidepressants * Current diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia or heart failure * Pregnancy * Current use of cardiac medications of the class beta-blockers * Current treatment with deep brain stimulation for any reason Healthy Controls: * Current psychiatric treatment, including use of antidepressants or daily use of anxiolytic medication Depressed Subjects: * Previous history of ketamine infusion for depression * Psychotic symptoms * Active co-morbid psychiatric diagnosis including anxiety disorder or personality disorder that significantly affects the current clinical condition, as determined by medical records
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in heart rate variability (HRV, also called RSA) | Baseline, Post-Video Task Session 1 (30 minutes) | HRV is measured as the variations of the time interval between two consecutive cardiac beats registered by means of electrocardiogram (EKG). Change is the difference from between HRV at baseline and after video task. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mean values of negative emotional expressions | Post-Video Task Session 1 (30 minutes) | Automated analysis of video data of facial expressions will be carried out using iMotions software (iMotions Inc, Cambridge, MA). This software can calculate the probability of expression of certain emotional states (e.g. neutral, positive, negative). |
| Mean activation of muscle action units | Post-Video Task Session 1 (30 minutes) | Automated analysis of video data of facial expressions will be carried out using iMotions software (iMotions Inc, Cambridge, MA). This software can calculate the activation of facial muscle action units. |
| Change in heart rate | Baseline, Post-Video Task Session 1 (30 minutes) | Heart rate will be measured with the electrocardiogram (EKG) and recorded in beats per minute. Change is the difference from between heart rate at baseline and after the video task. |
| Mean values of positive emotional expressions | Post-Video Task Session 1 (30 minutes) | Automated analysis of video data of facial expressions will be carried out using iMotions software (iMotions Inc, Cambridge, MA). This software can calculate the probability of expression of certain emotional states (e.g. neutral, positive, negative). |
| Change in respiration rate | Baseline, Post-Video Task Session 1 (30 minutes) | The respiration rate will be measured by the respiration monitor belt and recorded as number of breaths per minute. Change is the difference from between respiration rate at baseline and after the video task. |
| Change in pulse rate | Baseline, Post-Video Task Session 1 (30 minutes) | The peripheral pulse rate will be measured by pulse oximeters placed on one finger on the left and right hands. Change is the difference from between pulse rate at baseline and after the video task. |
| Change in skin conductance response (SCR) | Baseline, Post-Video Task Session 1 (30 minutes) | The skin conductance will be measured between two leads attached to the participant's the left and right palms which records electrodermal measures. Change is the difference from between SCR at baseline and after the video task. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed