Subjects with major depression will be evaluated and intensively characterized through questionnaires, computerized cognitive evaluation and laboratory investigations. Magnetic resonance imaging will be used to document baseline white matter structure. subjects will then receive desvenlafaxine which will be adjusted as clinically indicated. After 16 weeks the evaluations will be repeated.
40 subjects will be included in the study. Diagnosis will be confirmed by MINI. Participants will be characterised using questionnaires, pain threshold, cognition, facial expression recording and MRI. Desvenlafaxine will be initiated at 50mg AM. At week 8 Desvenlafaxine may be increased to 100mg as clinically indicated. Measures will be repeated at the end of the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Desvenlafaxine 50mg from week 1-8. At week 8 optional increase to 100mg if remission has not been attained.
Centre de Recherche Fernand-Seguin
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
RECRUITINGAnisotropy
Degree of anisotropy will be measured at baseline and 16 weeks and correlated to remission status
Time frame: 16 weeks
cognitive measures
cognitive deficits will be measured at baseline and 16 weeks and correlated to anisotropy using computerized neuropsychological testing of memory, speed and executive function.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Pain threshold
Pain threshold will be measured at basline and 16 weeks and correlated to inflammatory markers and anisotropy
Time frame: 16 weeks
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