DEPRESSION RESEARCH

Dr. Hellerstein is Director of the Mood Disorders Research Program at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. This research center enrolls subjects for studies on a variety of medications, both established and new treatments. It has participated in pioneering studies in areas including:

· the treatment of dysthymia (chronic depression),

· the treatment of bipolar depression and bipolar mania,

· the combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for treatment of depression

The Mood Disorders Research Program (MDRP) has performed numerous important studies of Dysthymic Disorder and other types of depression. The MDRP is located at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital Center and affiliated with the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. In its previous location at Beth Israel Medical Center, the MDRP performed the world’s first double-blind-placebo controlled study of an SSRI medication in "pure dysthymia"—that is, Dysthymic Disorder without a superimposed episode of Major Depression.

(Recent publications of MDRU studies on depression)

1) Hellerstein DJ, Batchelder S, Lee A, Borisovaskaya M. Rating dysthymia: an assessment of the construct and content validity of the Cornell Dysthymia Rating Scale. J of Affective Disorders 2002;71:85-96

2) Hellerstein DJ, Batchelder S, Miozzo R, Kreditor D, Hyler S, Gangure D, Clark J. Citalopram in the treatment of dysthymic disorder. International Clinical Psychopharmacology 2004;19:143-148

3) Hellerstein DJ. Aripiprazole as an adjunctive treatment in refractory major depression. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 2004;28:1347-1348

4) Gelenberg AJ, Shelton RC, Crits-Christoph P, Keller MB, Dunner DL, Hirschfeld RM, Thase ME, Russell JM, Lydiard RB, Gallop RJ, Todd L, Hellerstein DJ, Goodnick PJ, Keitner GI, Stahl SM, Halbreich U, Hopkins HS. The effectiveness of St. John's Wort in major depressive disorder: a naturalistic phase 2 follow-up in which nonresponders were provided alternate medication. J Clinical Psychiatry 2004;65:1114-9

5) Markowitz JC, Skodol AE, Petkova E, Xie H, Chang J, Hellerstein DJ, Gunderson JG, Sanislow CA, Grilo CM, McGlashan TH. Longitudinal comparison of depressive personality disorder and dysthymic disorder, Comprehensive Psychiatry 2005;46:239-245

• To find out about our current studies, call 212-523-7666 and speak to one of our staff, or visit the following web-site: www.depressionny.com


If you are interested in enrolling in a study, call our office. After a brief telephone screening with one of our staff we may have you make an appointment for a complete screening to determine whether you are eligible for one of our studies.

The Mood Disorders Research Program
is conveniently located in midtown Manhattan:

910 9^th Ave. (9^th Ave. at 58^th Street)
New York, NY 10019
Tel. 212-523-7666

Current studies include:

1. Treating sexual dysfunction from SSRI medication: a study comparing Requip CR to placebo

2. Duloxetine for chronic depression: a double-blind study

3. Double-blind placebo-controlled study of escitalopram (Lexapro) in the treatment of dysthymic disorder

4. Double-Blind treatment of outpatients with Dysthymic Disorder with Wellbutrin XL

5. Aripiprazole (Abilify) as an adjunctive treatment for refractory unipolar depression