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About Our Study

We are investigating the effects of stress on the immune system in women suffering from depression.

Specifically, we are examining how immune-to-brain signaling proteins called “cytokines” respond to stress, and whether these responses are altered in women with depression.

This study involves a phone interview and one visit to the UCSF Parnassus Campus. Women with depression  will be recontacted 6 and 12 months later for follow-up telephone interviews and mailed questionnaires. For more information about the study design, click here.

We are currently recruiting depressed women and a healthy control sample of women:

• clinically depressed
• medically healthy
• pre-menopausal (age 21-50)

Healthy Control Women

• medically healthy
• no history of psychiatric disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorder, etc)
• pre-menopausal (age 21-50) 

• Women recruited as healthy controls will be matched to depressed participants by age and body mass index (BMI). If women interested in participating as healthy controls do not have a match in the depressed sample, she will be placed on a waiting list and recontacted once a match becomes available.

Contact Information

If you are interested in participating in the study or have questions, please contact us:

• Email: sad@sadstudy.org