RecruitingNCT04923685

MicroRNA Correlates of Childhood Maltreatment and Suicidality

Sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Enrollment

450 participants

Start Date

Feb 26, 2021

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Conditions

Suicidal Ideation Major Depressive Disorder

Summary

This is a research study to find out if childhood trauma and stress are associated with depression or suicidal risk. The study will assess the effects of both short-term and long-term stress on biomarker (e.g. miRNA \[MiRNA\]) levels. miRNAs are a type of RNA (genetic material that is translated into protein) that are found in throughout the body and blood. They are called microRNA because their size is much smaller than typical RNA molecules. miRNAs are highly responsive to environment. This responsiveness is reflected in their expression in individuals who are affected by environment such as stress. The investigators are gathering genetic material, including DNA and RNA, from each participant. The RNA will be taken from the small vesicles and cells in the participant's blood and analyzed. The vesicles are small objects that occur normally in the blood and that contain RNA. This information may help us to understand the cause of mental illness and to improve medical and psychiatric care in the future. There will be 450 participants enrolled in this study.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 60 Years

Inclusion Criteria4

Age 18-60
Physically healthy
Willing and able to provide informed consent
\. Diagnosis of MDD or No history of mental illness

Exclusion Criteria18

Pregnancy or lactation (women of reproductive potential must have a negative urine pregnancy screen)
Post-partum state (being within 2 months of delivery or miscarriage)
Homicide risk as determined by clinical interview
A lifetime history of psychotic disorder
Any history of dissociation or dissociative disorder
Bipolar disorder
Pervasive developmental disorder
Cognitive disorder
Cluster A personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Anorexia nervosa
Alcohol or drug dependence (except nicotine and caffeine) within the last month or the use of any hallucinogen (except cannabis), including phencyclidine in the last month (NOTE that a positive UDS is not exclusionary except for hallucinogens, methamphetamine, or cocaine. People presenting intoxicated with alcohol may be included when a Breathalyzer test (Alco-Sensor IV) is negative as long as there is no history of recent dependence.
Recent myocardial infarction
Unstable angina
Active neoplasm in the past 6 months
Immunosuppressive or corticosteroid therapy within the last month, with the following exceptions: any inhaled, intranasal, topical or vaginal corticosteroids are allowed.
Chemotherapy
Head injury with loss of consciousness in the past 6 months

Interventions

OTHERTrier Social Stress Test

The TSST is a standardized test to induce acute psychological stress in humans. Participants will abstain from caffeine for 12 hours and nicotine for 2 hours prior to the test. An IV butterfly catheter will be placed in an arm vein and flushed with saline. Participants will rest for 15 minutes. A 10ml baseline blood sample will be drawn. They will perform the TSST task and then have 10ml of blood drawn at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes post-TSST.