Dopamine and depression with loss of enjoyment in teens
Dopamine Availability and Developmental Pathways of Adolescent Depression and Anhedonia
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-11145084
This project looks at how dopamine relates to mood and loss of enjoyment in adolescents aged 12–20.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11145084 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be followed over several years to see how mood and pleasure change during the teen years. Researchers will use brain imaging to measure activity in reward circuits and scans that estimate dopamine availability, run behavioral tasks that test how you respond to rewards, and collect reports about your daily moods and experiences. The study may also measure biological signs of inflammation to see how they interact with dopamine and mood. You'll come to the University of Pittsburgh for repeated in-person visits so the team can map developmental pathways across ages.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Teens aged 12–20 who are experiencing depressive symptoms or trouble enjoying activities are the best candidates for this project.
Not a fit: Children under 12, adults over 20, or people who cannot attend in-person imaging visits or tolerate scans are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help pinpoint biological targets and timing for better treatments or prevention of adolescent depression and anhedonia.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked dopamine and reward-circuit changes with adolescent depression, but long-term, multi-method studies like this are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FORBES, ERIKA E — UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- Study coordinator: FORBES, ERIKA E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.