Depression is a widespread disorder (lifetime prevalence >20%). Current antidepressant medications are effective for many patients; however, more than 30% fail to respond. Of the patients that do respond to treatment, some continue to suffer with primary symptoms of depression like an inability to experience pleasure, called anhedonia. In this regard, one biological pathway that may contribute to symptoms of depression and particularly anhedonia is inflammation.~The purpose of this 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study is to explore new treatment options for people with depression who have high inflammation and anhedonia. Despite evidence of low dopamine function in patients with depression, the ability of existing dopaminergic therapies, like L-DOPA, to affect brain circuits in depression has yet to be explored. This study will help determine the best dose of an FDA-approved medication, Sinemet (L-DOPA) that might be used in the future to treat sub-groups of depressed individuals.~Forty male and female participants with depression, between the ages of 25-55 years of age, will be randomized to two study tracks (A and B) to receive both placebo and three doses of L-DOPA, given in different orders. Increases or decreases in each dose will occur gradually over 6 weeks of the study. Participants will complete lab tests, medical and psychiatric assessments, neurocognitive testing and functional MRI (fMRI) scans as part of the study. The total length of participation is about 2 months.
The purpose of this 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study is to explore new treatment options for people with depression who have high inflammation and anhedonia. Thirty-five male and female participants with depression, between the ages of 25-55 years of age, will be randomized to two study tracks (A and B) to receive both placebo and three doses of L-DOPA, given in different orders. Increases or decreases in each dose will occur gradually over 6 weeks of the study. Participants will complete lab tests, medical and psychiatric assessments, neurocognitive testing and functional MRI (fMRI) scans as part of the study. The total length of participation is about 2 months.