An observational study in Depression, sponsored by University of Maryland, Baltimore. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 64 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-11-21.
Sponsored by University of Maryland, Baltimore · Observational
This study will examine whether spring and fall seasonal depression in individuals with high sensitivity to pollen is linked to seasonal increases in tree and ragweed pollen.
Those who suffer from depression have their normal lives interrupted by symptoms such as persistent sad thoughts, inability to feel pleasure, and potential suicide. Suicide and depression peak in the spring and fall. Worsening of depression, admission to a hospital for depression and bipolar depression, and use of electroconvulsive therapy for treatment of depression all peak in the spring. Although seasonal affective disorder (SAD), in which depression corresponds with seasonal changes, is commonly associated with the winter subtype, SAD is actually more prevalent as the spring subtype.
Allergies, which also peak in the spring and fall, have been linked to depression. Allergic reactions release cytokines, which are proteins that mediate the immune system response when a foreign substance enters the body. Previous studies have found both that an increase in cytokines in otherwise healthy individuals causes depressive symptoms and that cytokines cause the chemical tryptophan (TRP) to switch from producing serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of well-being, to producing kynurenine (KYN), a potentially toxic chemical. To determine whether and to what extent allergies are linked to depression, this study will compare depression levels of participants with and without allergies before and during peak times for seasonal allergies. Results from this study may be used in further research to examine the effects of allergy prevention on depression.
Participants in this study will meet with researchers three times. At the first visit, they will be screened for allergies and give their demographic information. The timing of the second and third visits will depend on each participant's allergies. Those with spring allergies will be tested before and then during the spring allergy season. Those with fall allergies or with no allergies will be tested before and then during the fall allergy season. On the second and third visits questionnaires and clinical interviews will assess depression symptoms, and blood tests will be performed to measure chemical levels of cytokines, TRP, and KYN. During these visits participants will also be asked to complete a sleep log for 1 week. This will entail describing their sleep, activity, caffeine consumption, alcohol consumption, and use of sleep medications. A subgroup will wear an Actiwatch device, which electronically monitors sleep and wakefulness cycles, for 1 week, 24 hours a day.
8,057 studies on the registry are indexed under Depression; 1,641 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 100 is below the median of 160 across 1,084 observational studies indexed under Depression.
Browse Depression studies →University of Maryland, Baltimore is the lead sponsor of 687 studies on the registry; 130 are open to participants now.
Of its 90 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 63 (70%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
A community sample will be recruited via local press and radio advertising. Referrals from mental health providers will be used to supplement this population.
Exclusion Criteria:
All participants testing positive for tree and ragweed pollen allergies, as determined by levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies
All participants testing negative for tree and ragweed pollen allergies, as determined by levels of IgE antibodies
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD)
Time frame: Measured before and then during the peak fall or spring pollen period
Hypomania Interview Guide (HIGH-SAD)
Time frame: Measured before and then during the peak fall or spring pollen period
Burns Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: Measured before and then during the peak fall or spring pollen period
Buss Aggression Questionnaire
Time frame: Measured before and then during the peak fall or spring pollen period
Allergy Symptom Severity Assessment (ASSA) Questionnaire
Time frame: Measured before and then during the peak fall or spring pollen period
Serum cytokine, tryptophan (TRP), and kynurenine (KYN) concentrations
Time frame: Measured before and then during the peak fall or spring pollen period
Nasal secretion test
Time frame: Measured before and then during the peak fall or spring pollen period
Sleep logs
Time frame: Measured over 1 week during pre- or post-pollen and peak pollen period
Actiwatch
Time frame: Measured after the pre-pollen and peak pollen visits for 24 hours a day for 1 week
Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)
Time frame: Measured during the peak pollen period
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: Measured during the peak pollen period
This study is completed, as verified in Nov 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Maryland, Baltimore