The research requirement includes several ongoing projects which meet for ½ day weekly for the entire year, and is a required rotation in the second year. Research meetings are held Friday mornings from 9 – 10:30 a.m. Fellows are also required to complete an individual Research Project to be presented in the spring of the second year of the fellowship.
The following is updated information regarding the fMRI study for depressed adolescents, the Stanley Bipolar study for 10 - 17 year olds, and the exercise treatment study for adolescents with depressive symptoms. All of these studies are currently enrolling with the exception of the Stanley Bipolar study which should start enrolling in the next 2 weeks - although patients can be referred now for scheduling. We would be very happy to get about 5 patients for each of these studies in the next 3 months so if you have any referrals, please either ask the family to call us or ask the family's permission for us to call them and we will contact the family directly.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study: (fMRI study):
The purpose of the study is to evaluate fMRI findings in adolescents with major depressive disorder before and after treatment with an SSRI medication. To be included, subject's must have a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (for at least four weeks) and must be about to initiate treatment with an SSRI medication for their depression. Subjects should be outpatients between the ages of 11-18 years of age and should be in good general medical health and of normal intelligence. Subjects may have comorbid psychiatric diagnosis as long as they are psychotropic free for 4 weeks prior to the initial fMRI. Subject's will participate in three scans (pre-treatment, week 1 after treatment with a SSRI and week 8 after treatment with a SSRI) and will receive $25.00 gift certificate for each scan. If the subject does not want to participate in the week 1 scan, that is acceptable as well.
PI: Dr. RongRong Tao: 214-456-4223. Study Coordinator: Jarrette Moore: 214-456-5909
Stanley Bipolar Study: Ziprasidone in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and dosing of Ziprasidone in treating pediatric bipolar disorder. To be included, subjects must be between the ages of 10 - 17 years of age and be diagnosed with bipolar I, II, or NOS disorder. The study consists of a two week screening and evaluation period followed by 6 weeks of treatment with Ziprasidone in either rapid titration or slow dose titration. Lab work is assessed at the beginning and the end of the study and ECG's at the beginning, two weeks after initiating treatment and at the end of the study. Subjects must be willing to be off other medications for bipolar disorder, however the use of stimulants to treat comorbid ADHD is allowed.
PI: Dr. Kirti Saxena: 214-456-8991. Study Coordinator: Annie Walley: 214-456-2416
Exercise Treatment in Adolescents with Depressive Symptoms:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether an exercise treatment program is effective for the treatment of depressive symptoms in adolescents. To be included, subjects must be between the ages of 10 - 18 years of age, must have depressive symptoms, and must be willing and able to participate in routine exercise sessions (3 - 5 sessions per week) for 12 weeks. Subjects may be either treated or untreated with psychotropic medication for their depression. Exercise sessions will be conducted at the Shelton School of Dallas (Hillcrest Road and Arapaho Road in North Dallas/Richardson) for the first two - four weeks and then will be continued at home with a once a week session at the Shelton school for the next 8 - 10 weeks.
PI: Dr. Carroll Hughes: 214-648-4325. Study Coordinator: Triage line: 214-456-8918
