Brain Response in Depressed Patients

An ongoing study at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) has been expanded to investigate brain responses to pain in patients with diagnosed depression. The study began last year enrolling patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome — chronic disorders with shared symptoms of severe muscle pain and tiredness — to see if the disorders elicit similar brain responses to pain. Now, researchers also will examine if brain responses to pain are similar in patients with depression since these patients also tend to experience fatigue, aches, and pains.

May 16, 2000

WHAT:
An ongoing study at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) has been expanded to investigate brain responses to pain in patients with diagnosed depression. The study began last year enrolling patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome — chronic disorders with shared symptoms of severe muscle pain and tiredness — to see if the disorders elicit similar brain responses to pain. Now, researchers also will examine if brain responses to pain are similar in patients with depression since these patients also tend to experience fatigue, aches, and pains.

WHO:
Laurence A. Bradley, Ph.D., and Graciela S. Alarcón, M.D., M.P.H., professors of medicine with UAB's Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, are the principal investigators for the study.

WHEN:
Researchers are currently evaluating and enrolling healthy and depressed women between the ages of 18 and 65. Symptoms of depression include sadness, lack of concentration, appetite and sleep changes.

BACKGROUND:
"We want to understand the similarities and differences in how the brain responds to pain in people with depression compared to those with chronic pain and healthy people," says Bradley. “We know that depression and chronic pain are both influenced by similar brain chemicals such as serotonin. This study will give us the opportunity to see the extent to which these disorders share similar brain activity responses to pain.”

During the study, researchers will apply pressure to three muscle points on the body and use neuroimaging to observe changes in certain parts of the brain responsible for processing pain-related sensory and emotional information. This is the first study using brain imaging to investigate similarities and differences among the disorders and depression.

Volunteers will be screened to ensure they meet the study's criteria. Volunteers accepted for the study will report to the clinic three half-days in a single week and will be compensated $250.

For more information, or to volunteer, contact Leanne Cianfrini (205) 934-9614.