Early Life Stress and Depression: Molecular and Functional Imaging
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Severe childhood adversity accounts for a large portion of psychiatric illness, and an increased risk for major depressive disorder (MDD). For some individuals, childhood adversity has negative psychological and medical consequences; others preserve mental and physical health despite such experiences (they are resilient). In spite of this, little is known about the neurobiological mechanisms related to childhood adversity, especially oxidative stress abnormalities in the brain. To fill this gap, this study combines functional, structural, and molecular imaging approaches to examine the role of oxidative stress abnormalities related to childhood adversity.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Females of all races and ethnic origins * Ages from 20 to 32 * Right-handed * Capable of providing written informed consent * Currently unmedicated. Note that this criterion applies at enrollment only, and subjects will be informed that they can continue to be in the study if they begin a new medication after enrollment. * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing * Fluency in written and spoken English * Absence of first-degree relatives with a history of a psychotic disorder or psychotic symptoms; (adopted individuals are eligible to participate but we will probe about family history in case such information is available to the adopted subject) Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with suicidal ideation where continued study participation is deemed unsafe by the study clinician (these participants will be immediately referred to appropriate clinical treatment) * Pregnant women, or women of childbearing potential who have a positive result on a urine pregnan