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How
to Enter a Study
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To find out about our current studies,
call: 646-774-8000 and speak to one of our staff. After a brief
telephone screening, we may ask you to make an appointment for a visit
to determine whether your are eligible for one of our studies
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You can also visit Clinicaltrials.gov for details about this study, Desvenlafaxine vs. Placebo in Chronic Depression
Questions about participating in our studies:
What is a clinical
trial?
One way to identify new treatments and to develop further insight into
the causes and symptoms of mood disorders is through clinical trials. A
clinical trial is a medical research study which often focuses on the
effectiveness and safety of a specific type of treatment. At the Mood
Disorders Research Program (MDRP), we only offer clinical trials of
medications for which safety information is already known, and we focus
primarily on the effectiveness of the treatment. In some studies, some
of the people participating take a placebo (an inactive pill) instead
of the study drug. In other studies, everyone takes the study drug. You
will be told which type of study you might participate in. Everyone
eventually will receive active medication.
What can I expect
during my first visit?
The first visit involves a comprehensive interview with a psychiatrist
and a psychologist. During this interview, you will be asked questions
about your mood, sleep patterns, energy level, and appetite. You will
also be asked to give a blood and urine sample to determine whether
there are medical causes of your depression or other problems which may
complicate your treatment. In addition, it may also be necessary to
perform a physical examination and/or an ECG so that we can accurately
diagnose your mood disorder and any other conditions you may have. Upon
completing the evaluation, your doctor will discuss your diagnosis with
you, along with recommendations for treatment.
What does treatment
involve?
If you are eligible for one of our clinical trials, you will come to
our office at Roosevelt Hospital for regularly scheduled visits.
Routine visits with your doctor allow us to closely monitor your
treatment and provide optimum clinical care. At these visits, you will
meet with your doctor and discuss your progress and the effectiveness
of the treatment. The clinical trials vary in length, as does the
frequency of visits.
How much does treatment
cost?
The MDRP is supported by private funding, mostly from pharmaceutical
companies, and as a result, all evaluations are provided at no cost to
you. If you are eligible for one of our clinical trials, study drugs
are also provided free of charge.
What treatments are
available?
The MDRP focuses on treating depression using medication. The specific
drugs that are available depends on the nature of your depression and
what clinical trials are currently being conducted. In addition, new
clinical trials are being developed all the time. Our colleagues in the
Depression Evaluation Service or other programs at Columbia Psychiatry
and the NY State Psychiatric Institute may also have ongoing
psychotherapy studies. For more specific
information about the available treatments, call 646-774-8000 or visit our website: www.DepressionNY.com.
Who comes to the MDRP?
The MDRP specializes in treating adults who suffer from various types
of mood disorders, including depression and manic-depression. Our
patients are diverse, ranging in age from 18 to 75. Some come to us
after trying a number of other treatments, either medication or
psychotherapy, and others come to us seeking treatment for the first
time.
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