There is heterogeneity in patients with depression. Many scholars propose that individualization of antidepressant achieves better outcomes. However, the scientific theoretical basis of individualized treatment is still quite weak. Different clinical subtypes of depression and their possible biomarkers are critically needed to provide the individualization with theoretical base. Diagnostic types of major depression disorder (MDD) based on the Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and possible differentiations in neurobiochemistry, metabonomics and neuroimaging could be one of ways to explore the biomarkers and support the theory of the individualized treatment. The hypothesized results will be of help to clarify the biological basis of MDD with LDQS and with DBHS, to provide the TCM with further scientific evidence, to explore the pathogenesis of depression, to improve the objective diagnosis of depression, and to promote targeted interventions by Western medicine, TCM or both.

Brief Title

Neurochemical, Metabonomics and Neuroimaging Characterization of TCM Diagnostic Subtypes of Major Depression Disorder

Official Title

Neurochemical,Metabonomics and Neuroimaging Characterization of TCM Diagnostic Subtypes of Major Depression Disorder

Brief Summary

There is heterogeneity in patients with depression. Many scholars propose that<br /> individualization of antidepressant achieves better outcomes. However, the scientific<br /> theoretical basis of individualized treatment is still quite weak. Different clinical<br /> subtypes of depression and their possible biomarkers are critically needed to provide the<br /> individualization with theoretical base. Diagnostic types of major depression disorder (MDD)<br /> based on the Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and possible differentiations in<br /> neurobiochemistry, metabonomics and neuroimaging could be one of ways to explore the<br /> biomarkers and support the theory of the individualized treatment.<br /><br /> The hypothesized results will be of help to clarify the biological basis of MDD with LDQS and<br /> with DBHS, to provide the TCM with further scientific evidence, to explore the pathogenesis<br /> of depression, to improve the objective diagnosis of depression, and to promote targeted<br /> interventions by Western medicine, TCM or both.

Detailed Description

The objectives of this study is to explore if there are any differences in neurobiochemistry,
metabonomics and neuroimaging (1) at the baseline, between the subjects who are the normal
controls (C Group) and who both meet diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of 5th edition (DSM-V) on MDD and TCM criteria of 'pattern of Liver Depression and Qi
Stagnation (LDQS)' or'pattern of Deficiency of Both Heart and Spleen (DBHS)' (T Group); (2)
at the baseline, between the MDD subjects of LDQS and DBHS; (3) after 6-week venlafaxine
administration, between the MDD subjects of LDQS and DBHS. 50 subjects in T Group and 25 in C
Group are recruited in the study and the main laboratory tests include High Performance
Liquid Chromatography(HPLC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrum(GCMS) and neuroimaging DTI
technology.

Outcome Measures

Outcome measures are the tests that investigators perform to prove whether or not a treatment being tested in a clinical trial is having any effect.