Stress Dynamics and Familial Risk for Depression in Female Adolescents

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Major Depressive Disorder

In brief

Stress and a parental history of major depressive disorder (MDD) are among the strongest risk factors for future development of MDD. Studies have shown that having a parental history of MDD may be associated with behavioral, psychophysiological, and hormonal responses to stress that are associated with poorer stress coping. . Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental window linked to increased MDD risk, especially for females, as rates of MDD surge relative to males. Despite the central role of stress in MDD onset, little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying stress responses in susceptible female adolescents at high familial risk for MDD. Also, it is unclear how stress-related brain network alterations may relate to "real-world" maladaptive stress responses and whether these stress-related brain network changes are predictive of future depression onset. We will fulfill these research gaps by combining neuroimaging with intensive longitudinal tracking of depressive symptomology as well as behavioral and physiological responses to "real world" stress using smartphone and smartwatch technology. Elucidating these neural mechanisms may aid in the discovery of MDD biomarkers that could identify youth at greatest risk for future MDD development and lead to earlier intervention efforts.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT06816329
Run by
Mclean Hospital
People needed
148
Starts
2025-10-15
Expected to finish
2030-03-31
Last updated by the study team
2025-10-23

Who can join

Age: 13 and older, up to 15. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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