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Study of the Hypothalmic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Its Role in Major Depression
NCT00001479 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Major depression represents a major public health problem worldwide and in the U.S. Fifteen percent of the U.S. population has depression at some point in life (40 million individuals). The condition is more common in women, occurring at a female to male ratio of 5:2. Presently, 6-8% of all outpatients in primary care meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression. Fifteen percent of untreated patients with depression will commit suicide. Most of the people committing suicide are depressed. Researchers believe that by the year 2020 suicide will be the 10th most common cause of death in the U.S. In addition to mortality due to suicide, depression is also associated with other severe health conditions. Areas of the brain (hippocampus) begin to deteriorate, heart disease, and decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis) are all associated with major depression. Researchers have believed for years that hormones controlled by the hypothalmus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland (commonly referred to as the HPA axis or system) are in some way associated with psychiatric illnesses like depression. According to previous studies, researchers have theorized that increased activity of the HPA axis is associated with depressed patients with typical melancholic features. Melancholia refers to the feelings of anhedonia (absence of pleasure from activites that would normally be thought of as pleasurable), insomnia (inability to sleep), guilt, and psychomotor changes. On the other hand a decrease in activity of the HPA axis may be associated with the atypical features of depression. This study has already developed and refined studies that have improved the understanding of the HPA axis in healthy humans and depressed patients. Researchers have already identified and plan to continue identifying distinct subtypes of depressive disorders based on the activity of the HPA axis.
Conditions Studied
Study Locations (1)
Maryland
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Bethesda
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 60 participants |
| Start Date | 1995-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2000-05 |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT00001479
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT00001479 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as an unspecified phase, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 60 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which has 317 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 3 conditions, with Healthy appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 0 interventions. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT00001479 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Maryland. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT00001479 about?
NCT00001479 is a clinical study titled "Study of the Hypothalmic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Its Role in Major Depression". Major depression represents a major public health problem worldwide and in the U.S. Fifteen percent of the U.S. population has depression at some point in life (40 million individuals). The condition is more common in women, occurring at a female to male ratio of 5:2. Presently, 6-8% of all outpatie...
What is the current status of trial NCT00001479?
This trial is currently completed. The enrollment target is 60 participants. The study started on 1995-01. Estimated completion is 2000-05.
What conditions does trial NCT00001479 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Healthy, Mood Disorders, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT00001479?
This trial is sponsored by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which has 317 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT00001479 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Maryland. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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