Stimulating the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) may restore a disturbed balance as seen in depression. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial the investigators will test the effects of a single dose (500mg) fludrocortisone, an MR-agonist, on the information processing in healthy female volunteers (N = 2x20). The investigators want to investigate whether the acute administration of fludrocortisone (FC) in healthy females enhances the appraisal of emotional information related to depression, hypothesizing that: - FC relative to placebo selectively improves the recognition of happy and fearful faces: resulting in more correct responses and faster RTs. - FC induces a bias towards more positive self-description and an improved memory for positive information. Female participants were selected because the haplotype MRI180V is related to depression vulnerability in women, not in men. If the effects of fludrocortisone are comparable to the effects of antidepressants on the same tests and the same population, it might be a first indication that fludrocortisone may function as an antidepressant.

NCT01648998

Conditions

1. Depression

Interventions

1. Drug: Fludrocortisone
2. Drug: Placebo

MeSH:Depression

This MR I180V gene variant showed less activity in vitro, which suggests that functionality in vivo is decreased. --- I180V ---