Using data to understand different symptoms in mood disorders for better treatment options
Official title: Data-Driven Models of Symptom Heterogeneity to Empower Transdiagnostic Multimodal Biomarker Discovery in Mood Disorders
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10832541 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to make mood disorder treatments better by figuring out how different symptoms respond to various therapies, especially for people getting electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), so that doctors can personalize treatments based on what works best for each person.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $220,389 |
| NIH project number | 5R00MH119314-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10832541 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with mood disorders, particularly those who may be undergoing electroconvulsive therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mood disorders who are not candidates for electroconvulsive therapy or those with other unrelated mental health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the treatment of mood disorders by analyzing various symptoms and their responses to different therapies. By utilizing advanced neuroimaging techniques and data-driven analysis, the project aims to identify specific biomarkers that can predict how individual patients will respond to antidepressant treatments. The study will involve patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), collecting MRI and clinical data to better understand the relationship between symptoms and treatment outcomes. This approach seeks to enhance precision medicine in mental health by tailoring treatments to individual needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized treatment options for patients with mood disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research in computational psychiatry has shown promise in using data-driven approaches to improve treatment outcomes, indicating that this methodology has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wade, Benjamin Seavey Cutler — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wade, Benjamin Seavey Cutler
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding gene activity in the brains of people with mood disorders who died by suicide
A study to map which genes are active in brain cells and where they are in the brains of people with mood disorders who attempted or died by suicide, using advanced single-cell and spatial techniques.
-
Synaptic changes in mood disorders and suicide risk
This project studies brain Synapse signals in people with mood disorders, including those with a recent suicide attempt, to understand what changes are linked to suicide risk and how ketamine might work.
-
Integrating immune and brain reward biology in veterans with mood problems
A study in veterans with mood disorders looks at how the immune system and brain reward circuits may work together to drive depression and suicide risk.
-
Mindfulness to reduce mood swings in teens at risk for mood disorders
This project teaches mindfulness skills to teens and young adults with family histories of mood disorders to help reduce frequent mood swings and improve sustained attention.
-
Understanding how calcium channels affect substance use and mood disorders
This study is looking at how problems with drugs and mood can affect each other, especially when someone is trying to stay off drugs, and it’s testing how certain brain channels might help us find better treatments for people dealing with both issues.
-
Exploring the link between immune system issues and mood disorders in veterans
This study is looking at how problems with the immune system might affect mood and increase the risk of suicide in veterans, using blood tests and brain scans to find clues that could help improve diagnosis and treatment for those dealing with depression.
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.