UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute scientists seek people of Mexican origin to enroll in a clinical trial that will apply information from the Human Genome Project to understand which antidepressant medications work best for persons in this population who are suffering from major clinical depression.
Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the multi-center project will study the DNA of each volunteer and explore how genetic differences affect drug response. Led by Dr. Julio Licinio, director of the pharmacogenomics laboratory at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, the local research will help researchers develop antidepressant treatments that prove more effective for people of Mexican origin, as well as for other ethnic groups.
UCLA aims to enroll 140 persons per year in a five-year period. To qualify, individuals must be between 18 and 70, possess at least three out of four Mexican-born grandparents, pass a physical exam and meet criteria for major depression after a psychiatric interview. Researchers will not inquire about volunteers' insurance or citizenship status.
Persons suffering complex medical problems or other psychiatric problems, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or alcohol/drug abuse are not eligible.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups for treatment with either Prozac or Norpramine for 11 weeks. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved both of these drugs for the treatment of depression more than 15 years ago. UCLA physicians and nurses will monitor volunteers for mood changes, track possible side effects and adjust dosages accordingly. The participant will be paid $20 per weekly follow-up visit, for a total of $220.
Free door-to-door transportation to UCLA is available. At the end of the study, participants will receive one month's supply of appropriate antidepressant medication at no cost. A UCLA social worker may refer participants to a mental health or psychiatric clinic in their area for continued care.
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