Clinical Research Directory

Depressive Symptoms, Cognitive Impairment, and Outcomes in Hospitalized Chronic Heart Failure Patients

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the prevalence of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment and their association with worse outcomes in a cohort of hospitalized patients between the ages of 18 ang 85 years with chronic heart failure. The main question it aims to answer is: • Does the presence of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment lead to worse outcomes in a cohort of hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure? Participants who are hospitalized due to exacerbation of chronic heart failure will answer survey questions to assess their cognitive function and depressive symptoms.

Adolescent Interpersonal Counseling in Primary Care

The demand for prevention and treatment of adolescent depression has rapidly increased over years. A national project to improve treatment of adolescent depression in primary care has taken place in Finland starting 2020. The goal of this prospective observational cohort study is to describe pathways to mental health services in adolescents with depressive symptoms. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do young people reporting depressive symptoms have equal access to treatment? * How is it best to recognize those adolescents who will benefit from IPC-A? Adolescents who participate in the study will * complete a survey on protective and risk factors of depression three times over 6 months * report possible depressive symptoms every two weeks over 6 months * report whether they needed and received help, motivation for treatment, and benefits and harms from treatment We will also collect * information from one of caretakers with two surveys within 6 month- intervals on their view on adolescent's need for support, strengths and risks, and benefits and harms from treatment where applicable * where applicable, from the professional who provided support after the intervention on their training and competence, as well as content of and response to treatment * register data to estimate overall provision and cost of social welfare and health care services one year preceding the study and over 2 to 10 years after the observation period Researchers will compare an intervention that is new in Finland, adolescent interpersonal counseling (IPC-A), to other treatments of depression, to see if it is equal to or better than other treatments of depression.

A Pilot Study of Synbiotics in Adults With Depressive Symptoms

This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of a synbiotic formula (MQU10) in improving mood and well-being in adults with mild to moderate depressive symptoms.

Effects of Intranasal Ketamine on Depression and Anxiety in Palliative Care Cancer Patients

With progression of cancer, patients and their caregivers experience challenging emotional distress, which can make them feel depressed and very anxious. Patients with advanced cancer often do not have long to live. However, most antidepressants take a long time to act and cause unwanted side effects. There is hence a need for a fast acting antidepressant with fewer unwanted side effects. Ketamine is an effective and fast acting antidepressant originating from pain treatment, which has few unwanted side effects. It can be taken by a patient as a nasal spray when it is needed. The idea of treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients in palliative care with ketamine nasal spray is new. How effective ketamine will be at reducing depression and anxiety in patients is unknown . It is also unknown whether this kind of treatment will be safe and practical for palliative care patients. This study aims to answer these questions. Patients will be treated with a low dose (5 mg) of ketamine nasal spray and then measure its effectiveness, practicality and safety. Questionnaires will be used to measure these outcomes. If treating depression and anxiety with ketamine nasal spray proves to be effective, practical and safe, then it could help to improve the quality of life for palliative care patients and reduce the burden of their caregivers.