Summertime Blues and Depression—Help is Possible

Summer is a time when people are more optimistic about everything – summer vacations, beautiful weather, time with family and more. Yet, people with clinical depression continue to feel hopeless and pessimistic. When you're depressed, your interest in everything wanes – perhaps even sex. Then when you take anti-depressants, your mood may improve, but your libido may not. Or maybe there is literally more of you to feel, as some of those same drugs can cause weight gain.

At Suburban Research Associates in Media we are running a clinical trial of a new type of anti-depressant that could treat depression with fewer side effects. In an earlier clinical study, patients felt better without the weight gain and sexual side effects that are common with other anti-depressants.

In this clinical trial, we are examining treating depression with an anti-depressant called amitifadine that affects all three chemical pathways in the brain that may be affected in those who suffer from depression. Anti-depressants that are currently on the market affect only one or two of these pathways. Physicians have long appreciated the benefits of simulating this effect on the three pathways, but to do that they’ve had to prescribe two or even three separate medications.

We should all be concerned about depression. One out of two people will be diagnosed with mental illness at some point, and major depression is a leading diagnosis, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control study. Another CDC survey reported that by 2020, depression is expected to be second only to cardiovascular disease in disease burden.

The many advantages of taking part in a clinical research study include assessments by expert physicians, and access to the latest medical treatments and follow-up care, at no cost. Volunteers are compensated for their time and travel expenses. TRIADE participants visit our clinic once a week during the 12-week trial. They are not required to spend the night at the clinic. For information on the TRIADE study, call 610-891-7200.  

About Dr. Shivkumar Hatti, MD,MBA

Dr. Hatti is a board certified General Adult Psychiatrist and has been practicing in Media for the past 31 years. He divides his professional time in clinical practice, pharmaceutical research, and administrative consultations. As the C.E.O. of Suburban Research Associates, Dr. Hatti has been the Principal Investigator on over 100 studies.

Dr. Hatti graduated from Seth G.S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital in Mumbai, India, and completed his psychiatric residency at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where he is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor. He is the founding member and President of the tristate chapter (SE PA, DE and NJ) of the Indo-American Psychiatric Association (IAPA) and President of the national chapter. He is also the Immediate Past President of the American Association of Psychiatric Administrators (AAPA) and the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society. Dr. Hatti was the 2010 recipient of the NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award.