Depression, Epinephrine, and Platelet Function

Do Antidepressants Reverse the Effects of Early Life Stress on the Brain and Thrombovascular System and Improve Psychological, Neuroendocrine, and Platelet Function: A Study of Men and Women With Childhood Abuse.

Men and women who have suffered sexual and/or physical abuse before the age of 12 are at increased risk for anxiety and mood disorders, other serious psychiatric disorders, and likely medical illnesses. What is not known is whether adult survivors of childhood adversity experience heightened negative emotions and increased physical responses due to altered norepinephrine or serotonin systems in their brains and bodies. The investigators expect to see that survivors of childhood adversity experience heightened negative emotions and increased physical responses to stress.

Inclusion Criteria:

-

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who are suicidal, psychotic, or with bipolar depression
• alcohol or substance abuse or
• regularly use medications which alter mood or blood vessel function (zolpidem or zalpelon, aspirin, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, sympatholytics, theophylline, central acting agonists, beta-blockers, coumadin, nitrates, triazolobenzodiazapines, or use steroids (testosterone-patch or pill form), use tryptophan or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs),
• have narrow-angle glaucoma, liver disease,
• severe allergies (especially to antidepressants similar to escitalopram or desipramine)
• seizures, or a serious medical disorder (e.g. hypothyroidism) that is unstable or is untreated.
• Depressed patients with a prior history of severe adverse events associated with SSRIs or TCAs will not be accepted into the study.