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Sleep/Wake Cycle and Depression: An Imaging and Treatment Study

NCT04350567 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 61

Last updated 2025-07-17

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

16.2 million American adults are affected by depression each year. The investigators are studying the relationship between sleep/wake cycle and depression. Mounting evidence suggests that abnormalities in circadian rhythms (biological changes that happen over the course of the day or night) are related to mood disorders. This may explain why people with depression frequently suffer with sleeping problems. The purpose of this study is to understand how circadian (sleep/wake) rhythms may be affected in depression and the best way to improve depression caused in this way. This will be performed by comparing circadian (sleep/wake) rhythms in people with and without depression.

The study involves being kept awake for one night. For depressed individuals, this technique will likely result in a brief (\<1 day) improvement in depression. Following this study, participants with depression will be offered antidepressant medication at no cost. During the study, the investigators use brain scans to learn more about brain chemistry in health and depression.

Conditions

  • Depression; Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

OTHER

Sleep Deprivation

On the first night, the participant sleeps normally as we assess their melatonin through blood work. On the second night, the participant has 3 PET/MRI scans. On the third night, the participant undergoes sleep deprivation. On the fourth night, the participant sleeps normally and we assess their melatonin again through blood work. Depression scores are taken before and after the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
100 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-09-01
Primary Completion
2025-05-31
Completion
2025-05-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04350567 on ClinicalTrials.gov