Why Participate in Research?
Research is an important way to better understand medications, help update warning labels and provide information regarding potential side effects. We are interested in learning more about how the body and brain affect each other. Our research looks at how weight, development, gut bacteria, and bone health are affected by mental health and it’s treatment. Research can also help with identifying the role of genetics in mental health, and if those genetic factors influence someone’s risk of side effects. By participating in research, you can be a part of helping to create safer ways to treat mental health disorders.
Current Studies
The following studies are open to participation.
Do SSRI Medications Affect Growth Spurts?
We are researching if fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro) affect height in children and teens. These medications are commonly prescribed, so understanding their long-term safety is important.
You may participate in this study if you have a child who has recently started or plan to start one of these medications. By participating, you will help us determine if these medications DO or DO NOT affect growth in kids and teens, which is necessary for their safety and overall care. In return, your family will receive compensation of up to $890, plus reimbursement for transportation costs.
What does this study entail?
The study includes 5 in-person visits, 6 months apart, and monthly online/phone check-ins. During the in-person visits the following will be completed:
- Questionnaires
- Blood draws
- Urine samples
- A physical exam
- An x-ray of your child’s left wrist
- Height and weight measurements
During the phone visits, we will just get some updates about your child’s health.
Please note that some of the above procedures are optional. Also, your child’s care remains with their doctor. They may also stop the medication at any point and still continue in the study.
We are also looking for kids who are NOT on any psychiatric medication to participate in this study.
If you are interested in the study, please complete our online screening form and a team member will contact you.
Do iron levels affect brain structure and feelings?
Iron Deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. It can be associated with problems with attention, learning, and even depression and anxiety. In this study, we would like to learn how the amount of iron children and teens have in their body affects the amount of iron they have in their brain and whether this affects brain development, thinking, and emotions. This study is funded by the National Institute of Health.
What does the study entail?
- Blood draw
- Spit, urine, and stool sample
- Physical exam
- Memory and concentration tests
- Questionnaires for participants and parents
- Brain MRI scan (You may receive a copy!)
Study requirements
- Must be 10-17 years of age.
- Diagnosed with depression or anxiety and not taking any psychiatric medications, OR kids taking risperidone for at least 6 months, OR kids who have never experienced a psychiatric illness.
If you are interested in the study, please complete an online screening form.
Completed Projects
Below are some previous projects completed by the Calarge Lab and its collaborators.
Intestinal Permeability in Depression (H-36114)
Does gut function affect depression?
This project investigates whether teens aged 12 to 17 with depression have 'leaky gut' syndrome. We would ask the participants to fast overnight, so when they come in the morning for the visit, we would give them a sugar cocktail to drink. The sugars include mannitol and lactulose, which are present in nature and sometimes found in our diet. We then would collect the participants urine, in order to see how much of these sugars get into the urine. We then relate this information to feelings of depression by comparing teens with and to those without depression. We also collected stool samples to better understand the link between depression, gut function, and gut bacteria. The efforts of this study were to further the current treatments we have for depression.
Long-term Antipsychotic Pediatric Safety Trial (H-43567)
What are the long-term side-effects of antipsychotic medications?
Antipsychotic medications are often used to treat mood swings, aggression, and sometimes psychosis. These medications are quite effective but can also cause side effects, such as weight gain. This study focused on two antipsychotics: risperidone (Risperdal) and aripiprazole (Abilify). In this study, we hope to learn about changes in health, including weight, and quality of life in children and adolescents who are taking one of these two medications. This study was carried out across many sites in the USA and was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Examining the Skeletal Effects of Psychostimulants (H-47530)
Do ADHD medications affect bone health?
Stimulant medications, like Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, Vyvanse, or Adderall, are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD – sometimes called ADD). These medications are known to have an effect on growth in height. Our research shows that they may also have an effect on bone strength. As such, this study was focused on evaluating the effect of these medications on bone quality and strength. This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Microbiome-Bile Acid Cross-Talk as a Mechanism of Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain (H-44069)
Do bile acids affect weight gain in children taking Risperidone?
Antipsychotic medications are often used to treat mood swings, aggression, and sometimes psychosis. These medications are quite effective but can also cause side effects, one especially being weight gain. This study focused on risperidone; an antipsychotic very often given to children. We are specifically asking if weight gain caused by risperidone is due to changes in the gut bacteria and chemicals made by the liver, called bile acids. This study was a collaboration between our lab and researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles and was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
