Emotion Study in Adolescents with and without Depression

Teenagers, ages 12 –18, who are right-handed and do not currently have braces. In addition, participants should be either:

• free of major health or psychological problems OR
• have a current or past depressive episode and are not currently on medications for it

Because of the use of MRI, anyone who has a permanent metal object (such as braces) inside his or her body cannot participate.

Qualified participants will complete:

• an interview with trained staff
• neuropsychological testing, which consists of tests that measure cognitive abilities
• questionnaires about a variety of things, including the participant’s thoughts
• a safe and non-invasive fMRI scan

These activities may take 6-8 hours and can be scheduled over two visits, if desired. All information is kept strictly confidential, with one exception. Staff will tell parents or another health professional if they learn that the participant is in any danger of physically harming him/herself or others.

Participants will help us advance our understanding of brain function in teenagers with and without depression, with the goal of designing better treatment options in the future. Participants are given $20 an hour for the time that they participate. Also, a participant can request a CD with pictures of his or her brain after the fMRI scan. While our research staff cannot provide treatment, we can refer anyone who desires follow-up assessments or treatment to Hartford Healthcare staff who can assist you.

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• Information from the Centers for Disease Control:
  https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/index.html
  
  
• Information from the National Institute of Mental Health:
  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/children-and-adolescents-listing.shtml
  
  
• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry:
  http://www.aacap.org/aacap/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Depression_Resource_Center/Home.aspx
  
  
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America:
  http://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children
  
  
• The Connecticut Center for Health:
  www.yournaturalhealth.com/health_concerns/depression.htm