The BRITE Study – Depressed Mothers

STUDY BASICS

Are you the birth mother of a child ages 1-3? Are you currently depressed? If so, you and your child may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand how mothers with depression and their young children respond to each other while playing. Compensation provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

Depression is a serious illness that affects more than 1 in 20 Americans. Symptoms of depression include feeling sad or hopeless, feeling tired or not having energy, changes in appetite or activity, and thoughts of death or suicide. The purpose of this study is to help researchers better understand how depressed mothers and their young children respond to each other while playing. Researchers hope their findings will lead to better ways to prevent depression in children with a family history of mood disorders.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Women ages 21 to 45
• Biological mother of a 1-3 year old
• Mother is currently depressed
• Child is healthy and typically developing (reaching their growth and developmental milestones)

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Participation involves an initial phone interview with the study team to find out if you and your child are eligible, followed by 6-7 in-person visits for qualified participants. Each visit takes about 1-2 hours. During the first visit each year, participants will complete interviews and questionnaires. During the second visit each year, the participant and their child will wear a head cap called NIRS that measures brain response while playing together. This visit will be video recorded for research purposes. If your child is 5 years old in the third year, he or she will also undergo fMRI scanning. Both NIRS and fMRI are painless, non-invasive tests.