Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2005

Mentor: Madhukar Trivedi, M.D.
Department: Psychiatry
Room number: FL13.313
Mail Code: 9119
Phone number: 214 648 5237
E-mail: Madhukar.Trivedi@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: 1. Association of BDNF, COMT, MDRI, CRH r-1, and GC receptor
Genetic polymorphisms with symptomology and treatment response in psychiatric disorders.
2. Standard Consent for Psychiatric Screening
3. Treatment with Exercise Augmentation for Depression, NIH grant No. 5R01 MH67692.
4. Computerized Decision Support System for Depression, NIH grant No. 5R01 MH64062.

Human subjects IRB approved project number:
1. IRB 082004-043
2. IRB 0797312
3. IRB 1101-605
4. IRB 0496-12100

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Patient-based research

Brief Description of Project:
1. Patients enrolled in our multi-site NIH study of chronic depression, REVAMP, are invited to participate in the genetics study initiated by Stanford University. In this study, we are collecting 24cc of whole blood to be shipped to Stanford for processing and storing of DNA material. Students may be involved in contacting patients for appointments, obtaining informed consent, blood draws, preparing/shipping samples.
2. Individuals who self-refer for studies in our clinic receive preliminary screening prior to specific study informed consent and initiation of any study-specific procedures. This screening may include phone interviews and face-to-face patient interviews to cover pertinent health and psychiatric history that may impact study eligibility. Following this initial screening, patients will be scheduled for a study screen or given an appropriate referral in the community or with another UTSW research group.
3. This study is an efficacy trial for the use of exercise as an augmenting agent for patients being treated for major depression that have only achieved a partial response to antidepressant mono therapy. It is designed to test two levels of exercise; a low dose control and a high dose (i.e. a public health dose). This is a twelve weeks trial with twelve weeks of follow-up. Patient for the study are seen at both UT-Southwestern and the Cooper Aerobics Center.
4. This study is a large scale trial of the use of a Computerized Decision Support System for the treatment of depression. It will compare the use of the CDSS to a Paper Pencil Algorithm, and Usual Care. This study will evaluate the effects of the use of these systems on Physician Behavior (their adherence to treatment guidelines), Patient Outcomes ( such as changes in symptom severity, social function ) and treatment cost ( both direct cost of the care and indirect cost or total medical care cost). This study is being conducted at sites in Texas and California.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Psychiatric Residency Research
James Knoll Sleep and Depression
Shaily Jain Depression and Attachment
Shailesh Jain Depression and Epilepsy

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