Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Individual Differences In Cannabis Use Disorder With Implications For Endocannabinoid Modulation In Therapeutics Development, Erin Martin

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is increasingly prevalent in the United States, but there is no effective pharmacological means to treat it. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has emerged as a candidate therapeutic target demonstrating some evidence of efficacy in treating CUD. However, clinical trials evaluating eCB-modulating therapeutics have historically undervalued individual differences that could contribute to variation in treatment outcome (e.g. sex, comorbid psychiatric illness). To address this gap in the literature, the present set of studies (a) compared plasma eCB tone in groups underrepresented in treatment trials for CUD (females, individuals with comorbid major depressive disorder; MDD/CUD) with males or …

The Functional And Structural Consequences Of Aberrant Microglial Activity In Major Depressive Disorder, Jasmine D. Cakmak

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly debilitating neuropsychiatric illness which has been linked with increases in both peripheral and central inflammation, as well as with changes in connectivity. Although countless studies have investigated these two topics, the relationship between neuroinflammation and functional/structural connectivity has not been explored. Using [¹⁸F]FEPPA PET imaging, we measured translocator protein-related (TSPO) microglial activity in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) and insula and confirmed significantly increased [¹⁸F]FEPPA uptake in depressed patients (N=12) compared to healthy controls (N=23). Using a seed-based ROI analysis of fMRI data, we found that patients show …

Therapeutic Potential Of A Ketogenic Diet In The Treatment Of Major Depressive Disorder, Jordan A. Murrin

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the second most common mental health condition and a leading cause of disability in the world. It is theorized that MDD develops from a combination of biological, psychological, and social stressors. The condition is typically treated using pharmaceuticals and psychotherapy. However, not all individuals with MDD have access to or choose to use these treatments, or may prefer to incorporate therapeutic lifestyle changes such as exercise, sleep, and healthy eating. Even with treatment, MDD can alter brain structure and function, leading to the development of comorbid mental health and chronic metabolic conditions like obesity, cardiovascular …

Predictors And Health Outcomes Of Treatment-Resistant Depression Among Adults With Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Conditions And Major Depressive Disorder, Drishti Shah

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Understanding major depressive disorder (MDD) as a comorbidity in patients with chronic non-cancer pain conditions (CNPC) is of importance because of the high prevalence and well documented bi-directional relationship between MDD and pain. Furthermore, presence of CNPC among adults with MDD often reduces benefits of antidepressant therapy, thereby increasing the possibility of treatment resistance. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) commonly defined as insufficient response to multiple antidepressant trials, often worsens depression and pain symptoms and can amplify the clinical and economic burden among adults with CNPC and MDD. Additionally, long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) may be prescribed at a higher rate to adults …

Is Incidence Of Nausea Influenced By Brintellix In Patients Over The Age Of 18 With Major Depressive Disorder?, Juris Eyler

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The Objective of this selective EBM review is to determine where or not, “Is Incidence of Nausea Influenced by Brintellix (Vortioxetine) in Patients over the Age of 18 with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies, published between 2011 and 2013

DATA SOUCES: Three double blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Sources were found on PubMed and Cochrane Library databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: To measure the incidence of nausea in patients over 18 who are diagnosed with major depressive disorder taking Brintellix compared to a placebo.

RESULTS: The randomized controlled studies results found that Brintellix …