Why some teens' depression doesn't improve: inflammation and brain chemistry
Inflammatory and Glutamatergic Mechanisms of Sustained Threat in Adolescents with Depression: Toward Predictors of Treatment Response and Clinical Course
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11368453
Researchers will follow 160 unmedicated teens (ages 14–18) with depression to look at blood markers of inflammation and a brain chemical called glutamate to find clues about who doesn't get better on antidepressants.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11368453 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be asked to join an 18-month study at UCLA that involves blood draws and very high-resolution brain scans using a 7 Tesla MRI. The team will measure inflammation in your blood and glutamate levels in brain areas tied to mood, like the amygdala and frontal cortex. They will track symptoms and treatment over time to see which biological signals link to not improving on first-line antidepressants. The goal is to find early signs that could guide better treatment choices for teens.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are treatment-seeking, unmedicated adolescents aged 14–18 with a diagnosis of depression.
Not a fit: Teens who are not depressed, are younger or older than 14–18, are already stably treated with antidepressants, or cannot undergo MRI may not directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors predict which teens are unlikely to respond to standard SSRIs and steer them toward more effective treatments sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked inflammation and glutamate to depression, but combining 7T imaging with a longitudinal adolescent sample to predict SSRI nonresponse is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HO, TIFFANY CHEING — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: HO, TIFFANY CHEING
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.