The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded a $793,914 Project Grant (CFDA 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants) to The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York, doing business as Stony Brook University, to conduct research on the developmental pathways and adult outcomes of chronic-intermittent depression (CID) and time-limited depression (TLD).
The project aims to test a model hypothesizing that CID results from familial liability and childhood adversity leading to blunted reward system functioning, whereas TLD stems from exposure to severe life events. The research will follow a cohort of 550 young women from age 14 to 26 to distinguish the CID and TLD groups, assess trajectories of reward responsiveness, and evaluate long-term outcomes. The goal is to reduce the diagnostic heterogeneity in depression research and guide more targeted treatment development and services. The award runs from May 2024 through February 2028.