Treatment Option For Major Depressive Disorder Research Articles

Personalized Medicine Using Neuroimmunological Biomarkers in Depressive Disorders.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased suicidal risk and reduced productivity at work. Neuroimmunology, the study of the immune system and nervous system, provides further insight into the pathogenesis and outcome of MDD. Cytokines are the main modulators of neuroimmunology, and their levels are somewhat entangled in depressive disorders as they affect depressive symptoms and are affected by antidepressant treatment. The use of cytokine-derived medication as a treatment option for MDD is currently a topic of interest. Although not very promising, cytokines are also considered as possible prognostic or diagnostic markers for depression. The machine learning approach is a powerful tool for pattern recognition and has been used in psychiatry for finding useful patterns in data that have translational meaning and can be incorporated in daily clinical practice. This review focuses on the current knowledge of neuroimmunology and depression and the possible use of machine learning to widen our understanding of the topic.

A Tellurium-Based Small Immunomodulatory Molecule Ameliorates Depression-Like Behavior in Two Distinct Rat Models.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of morbidity, and the fourth leading cause of disease burden worldwide. While MDD is a treatable condition for many individuals, others suffer from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Here, we suggest the immunomodulatory compound AS101 as novel therapeutic alternative. We previously showed in animal models that AS101 reduces anxiety-like behavior and elevates levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that has a key role in the pathophysiology of depression. To explore the potential antidepressant properties of AS101, we used the extensively characterized chronic mild stress (CMS) model, and the depressive rat line (DRL Finally, in Exp. 3 to attain insight into the mechanism we knocked down BDNF in the hippocampus, and demonstrated that the beneficial effect of AS101 was abrogated. Together with the previously established safety profile of AS101 in humans, these results may represent the first step towards the development of a novel treatment option for MDD and TRD.

Keeping up with the clinical advances: depression.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and heterogeneous disorder. Although there are many treatment options for MDD, patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remain prevalent, wherein delayed time to response results in inferior chances of achieving remission. Recently, therapeutics have been developed that depart from the traditional monoamine hypothesis of depression and focus instead on the glutamatergic, GABAergic, opioidergic, and inflammatory systems. The literature suggests that the foregoing systems are implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD and preclinical trials have informed the development of pharmaceuticals using these systems as therapeutic targets. Pharmaceuticals that target the glutamatergic system include ketamine, esketamine, and rapastinel; brexanolone and SAGE-217 target the GABAergic system; minocycline targets the inflammatory system; and the combinatory agent buprenorphine + samidorphan targets the opioidergic system. The aforementioned agents have shown efficacy in treating MDD in clinical trials. Of particular clinical relevance are those agents targeting the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems as they exhibit rapid response relative to conventional antidepressants. Rapid response pharmaceuticals have the potential to transform the treatment of MDD, demonstrating reduction in depressive symptoms within 24 hours, as opposed to weeks noted with conventional antidepressants. Novel therapeutics have the potential to improve both patient mood symptomatology and economical productivity, reducing the debased human capital costs associated with MDD. Furthermore, a selection of therapeutic targets provides diverse treatment options which may be beneficial to the patient considering the heterogeneity of MDD.

P278 Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as treatment for major depression (DepressionDC) – Objectives and design of a prospective multicenter double blind randomized placebo controlled trial

Objectives Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is considered as a putative therapeutical approach in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) allowing for a non-invasive modulation of dysregulated frontal activity (Kalu et al., 2012). Findings of the largest 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial (RCT) in MDD to date suggest an antidepressant effect of tDCS combined with a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI; Sertraline) that is superior to placebo treatment, tDCS alone and sertraline alone (Brunoni et al., 2013). With regard to a possible introduction of tDCS as treatment option for MDD a methodological sound replication trial is needed. Moreover, this study should overcome limitations of the previous trial (2 × 2 factorial design with small sample size; short treatment period; monocentre study). Methods In this randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter trial patients with MDD receive a 6-weeks treatment with prefrontal tDCS (anode over electrode position F3, cathode over F4, 5 sessions/week for 4 weeks followed by 2 sessions/week for 2 weeks, 30 min/day, 2 mA intensity) or sham tDCS (frequency and duration correspondent to active tDCS, ramp in and ramp out only without intermittent stimulation), as adjunctive treatment with a SSRI. Follow-up per patient is 3 and 6 months after the last tDCS session. Before, during, and after the treatment period different assessment scales will be conducted using a tablet-PC program which is specifically designed for this study to record neuropsychological features and the course of the individual symptomatology. Additionally, patients receive optional investigations including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measuring functional and structural connectivity at baseline, after 6 weeks of tDCS treatment and 12 weeks after the last tDCS session. Discussion The purpose of this study is to explore the sustained efficacy and tolerability of repeated tDCS for the treatment of MDD and to assess the long-term efficacy of tDCS over 3–6 months. It is hypothesized that prefrontal tDCS in combination with an SSRI will provoke an antidepressant effect while antidepressant medication alone (sham tDCS) did not. This will be measured by the change from baseline in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores after 6 weeks of treatment.

Transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder: A summary of preclinical, clinical and translational findings

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric illness, with 6-12% lifetime prevalence. It is also among the five most disabling diseases worldwide. Current pharmacological treatments, although relatively effective, present important side effects that lead to treatment discontinuation. Therefore, novel treatment options for MDD are needed. Here, we discuss the recent advancements of one new neuromodulatory technique--transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)--that has undergone intensive research over the past decade with promising results. tDCS is based on the application of weak, direct electric current over the scalp, leading to cortical hypo- or hyper-polarization according to the specified parameters. Recent studies have shown that tDCS is able to induce potent changes in cortical excitability as well as to elicit long-lasting changes in brain activity. Moreover, tDCS is a technique with a low rate of reported side effects, relatively easy to apply and less expensive than other neuromodulatory techniques--appealing characteristics for clinical use. In the past years, 4 of 6 phase II clinical trials and one recent meta-analysis have shown positive results in ameliorating depression symptoms. tDCS has some interesting, unique aspects such as noninvasiveness and low rate of adverse effects, being a putative substitutive/augmentative agent for antidepressant drugs, and low-cost and portability, making it suitable for use in clinical practice. Still, further phase II and phase III trials are needed as to better clarify tDCS role in the therapeutic arsenal of MDD.