Understanding why some teens don't respond to depression treatment

This research study is looking for teens with depression who are about to start treatment with fluoxetine or escitalopram to understand why up to 40% of depressed adolescents don't respond well to these common antidepressants. The study uses advanced brain imaging scans and mild stress tests to measure inflammation and brain chemistry before and after 12 weeks of medication treatment. By understanding what's happening in the brains of teens whose depression doesn't improve, researchers hope to develop better ways to predict and treat depression in the future.

Many depressed teenagers don't get better with first-line antidepressants, which puts them at serious risk for physical health problems, suicidal thoughts, and ongoing suffering. Researchers think that inflammation and certain brain chemicals may be driving treatment resistance, but they don't fully understand the connection yet. This study aims to identify the biological markers that could help doctors predict which teens will struggle with standard treatment and find better options for them.