Infrared Thermography, Major Depressive Disorder
Conditions
Brief summary
Three groups of subjects will be included: 20 subjects in the healthy control group, 20 subjects in the MDD electroacupuncture (EA) intervention group, and 20 subjects in the MDD waiting-list group (participants will receive no treatment within 4 weeks). The temperature and infrared thermography (IRT) images of the facial acupoints of three groups will be recorded by an infrared thermal-imaging camera. The average facial temperature and acupoints temperature will be analyzed and compared within 3 groups. In addition, the correlation between facial infrared radiation characteristics of MDD patients and emotional changes will be explored. Besides, the relative specificity of the two meridians will be investigated.
Interventions
The temperature and infrared thermography (IRT) images of the facial acupoints of three groups will be recorded by an infrared thermal-imaging camera.
Sponsors
Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria for healthy subjects: 1. Healthy subjects should provide a physical examination report within the last year, which could confirm they had not major systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, hematological, endocrine and neurological disease; 2. 18 ≤ age ≤ 60 years, both gender; 3. Subjects have clear consciousness and could communicate with others normally; 4. Subjects could understand the full study protocol and written informed consent is provided by themselves. Note: Subjects who meet the above four items will be included. Inclusion criteria for MDD patients: 1. Meeting the above diagnostic criteria for MDD; 2. PHQ-9 score of 5 to 14, HAMD score of 21 to 35, and a diagnosis of mild or moderate depression by a specialist; (3)18 ≤ age ≤ 60 years, both gender; (4) Patients have clear consciousness and could communicate with others normally; (5) Patients could understand the full study protocol and written informed consent is provided by themselves; (6) Those who did not use other therapies other than the basic treatment and this experimental therapy. The basic treatment refers to basic antidepressant medications under the supervision of a specialist. The basic antidepressant medications are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors, Tricyclic antidepressants, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors. Note: Subjects who meet the above six items will be included.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Average facial temperature | Change from Baseline average facial temperature at 4 weeks | Take the average facial temperature of 10 infrared images as the observation index, observe the change rule of the average temperature of MDD patient by comparing with healthy people. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared thermal images | Change from Baseline average facial temperature at 4 weeks | Direct contrast comparisons of the approximate distribution area of the high temperature and low temperature zone of the face between healthy subjects versus MDD patients will be done using software analyses. |
| Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) | HAMD will be performed in the first week, the second week and the fourth week to evaluate the severity of the disease and the treatment effect. | This scale is performed by two trained raters to perform a Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), usually in the form of conversation and observation. After the examination, the two raters will score independently. HAMD score of 21 to 35 values, and higher scores mean a worse outcome. |
Countries
China
Outcome results
None listed