Understanding how sleep affects depression and reward in teenagers

Mechanisms of Depression and Anhedonia in Adolescents: Linking Sleep Duration and Timing to Reward- and Stress-Related Brain Function

This study looks at how sleep and stress affect depression and feelings of pleasure in teenagers aged 14-18 to find ways to help prevent these issues.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 150 (estimated)
• Ages: 14 Years to 18 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Oregon (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Eugene, Oregon)
• Trial ID: NCT05691439 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This research investigates the connections between sleep patterns, stressful life events, and depressive symptoms in adolescents aged 14-18. By employing biobehavioral approaches, the study aims to identify how insufficient sleep and stressors influence brain functions related to reward and stress. The ultimate goal is to develop effective preventative interventions for depression and anhedonia in this vulnerable age group. Participants will be categorized based on their sleep duration and timing, as well as their exposure to stressful events, to better understand these relationships.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 14-18 who experience short and late sleep patterns or long and early sleep patterns, along with significant exposure to stressful life events.

Not a fit: Patients with current moderate to severe substance use disorders or specific psychiatric diagnoses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved prevention strategies for depression and anhedonia in adolescents.

How similar studies have performed: While there is growing interest in the relationship between sleep and mental health in adolescents, this specific approach linking sleep, stress, and brain function is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 14-18 years of age
2. Currently in high school
3. short and late sleep (weekday sleep duration ≤ 7 h and bedtime ≥ 22:30 (10:30 pm); n=100) or long and early sleep (weekday sleep duration \> 7 hours and bedtime ≤ 22:30 (10:30 pm); n=50), indexed by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire
4. Lifetime stressful event frequency ≥ 2 on the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) Screener
5. Depressive symptom severity t-score greater than or equal to 45 on the Patient Reported Outcomes (PROMIS) Depression scale
6. English language fluency

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria for current moderate to severe alcohol/substance use disorder (≥4 symptoms);
2. Current clinician-provided diagnosis of narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia;
3. Lifetime diagnosis of bipolar or schizophrenia spectrum disorder;
4. Certain medical conditions (e.g., serious neurological disorder, heart failure or serious heart trouble, history of head injury with unconsciousness \> 5 minutes);
5. Conditions that are contraindicated for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; e.g., ferrous metal in the body);
6. Positive screen for participant-reported eye disease, epilepsy, or photosensitizing medications that are contraindicated during the manipulation condition when bright light is administered (e.g., psychiatric neuroleptic drugs \[e.g., phenothiazine\], psoralen drugs, antiarrhythmic drugs \[e.g., amiodarone\], antimalarial and antirheumatic drugs, porphyrin drugs used in photodynamic treatment of skin diseases);
7. Use of melatonin if participant is not willing to discontinue use for the duration of the study.

We will schedule around (i.e., delay appointments as needed) to avoid the timeframe of the following events:

1. urgent suicide risk, defined by moderate/severe risk per Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) and clinician determination that current risk requires immediate action;
2. travel across two or more time zones within the month prior to the overnight study visits;
3. beginning or ending a prescribed medication within 2 months of the observational study;
4. prescribed medication dose changes within the timeframe calculated as 5x the drug's half-life \[the time to reach pharmacokinetic steady-state\] before the initiation of the observational or experimental studies;
5. anticipated change in prescribed medications or medication dosing during the observational or experimental studies;
6. current symptoms of airborne infectious illness prior to laboratory visits.

Participants with positive breathalyzer screen (blood alcohol level \> .02) will be rescheduled for an alternative overnight visit date.

Where this trial is running

Eugene, Oregon

• University of Oregon — Eugene, Oregon, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Melynda D Casement, PhD — University of Oregon
• Study coordinator: Amanda Johnson

Conditions: Depression in Adolescence