Sleep and Cognition in Depression- A Feasibility Study (SCiD)

One of our Psychiatry Research Fellows, Dr Jennifer Burgess, is conducting a research study into how sleep affects certain functions of the mind like attention and memory, in patients with depression compared with people who have never had a psychiatric diagnosis (a "control group").

What does the study involve?
The study involves 2 appointments. The first visit takes approximately 1 hour and involves filling in some questionnaires about your mood and sleep. The second visit takes between one and three hours, and participants will perform some tests of concentration and memory. Some participants will have a type of brain scan called Diffusion Tensor Imaging. This is an MRI scan (so does not involve any radiation) that looks at the white matter tracts and connections in the brain. Between these two visits participants will wear an actigraph, which is like a wrist watch and measures your movements and can be used to tell when people are awake, asleep, or napping. They will also complete a one night home polysomnography test to see if they have a sleep condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

Who is eligible?
Anyone who is aged 18-65 and has been diagnosed with depression may be eligible to take part in the depression group. Participants do not have to feel depressed at the moment or have any sleep problems. We know many people have more than one psychiatric diagnosis, and we are also including people who are also diagnosed with, for example, anxiety disorders, PTSD, or autism. However, we are not including patients who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or psychosis, people who work shifts, or people who have major medical or neurological conditions that affects their sleep (e.g. Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis).

Anyone who is aged 18-65 and has never had a psychiatric or mental disorder diagnosis could be eligible to participate as part of the control group, as long as you also do not work shifts or have a major medical condition that affects your sleep.

If you would like more information and are interested in taking part please email: jennifer.burgess6@nhs.net