Info for Health Care Providers, Youth & Families

 

We are looking for teens with a significant number of depressive symptoms to participate in a research study to examine the effects of exercise on depression. The study title is "Depression Outcomes Study of Exercise (DOSE)."

 

This study is being funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH R34MH082153).  

 

Screening Assessment:

 

Prior to entering the study, potential participants will undergo two or more assessments to see if they would be eligible.

 

Eligible Participants Are:

• Aged 12-21
• Having symptoms of major depression, which include five or more of the following symptoms during the same two-week period, which are a change from previous functioning that may consist of:
  • Troubles sleeping
  • Troubles with appetite
  • Troubles with low energy
  • Problems with low self-esteem or guilt
  • Loss of pleasure or enjoyment, or loss of interests in activities
  • Recurrent thoughts of suicide

Participants are NOT Eligible if They:

• Have had past or present hypomanic or manic episode(s)
• Are having active symptoms of psychosis such as hallucinations or delusions
• Are having significant problems with alcohol or street drug use
• Are pregnant
• Live outside of the Denver city limits

The Depression Study Consists of the Following:

1. In the initial phase, lasting up to 12-weeks (3-months), all eligible depressed adolescents will receive exercise in combination with clinical monitoring of depressive symptoms.
2. All participants will receive a one-year membership to the local Denver recreation center, and all exercise will be supervised by a recreation therapist to insure participants are performing the required amount of exercise.

Study personnel include Dr. Andrea Dunn, the previous PI of the adult DOSE study, and Dr. Donald Bechtold, an adolescent psychiatrist from the Jefferson Center for Mental Health.

 

If you are a parent or guardian of a teen or are treating a teen who is interested in this study, please contact Jennifer, the Project Coordinator, at (303) 565-4321 x3673 or email info@doseforteens.org. There will be rolling admission into the study until December 2011.