"I have struggled with depression since I was a child. I have experienced about more than 6 major depressive episodes lasting at least 4 months since I was 7 years old. I have tried talk therapy, a plethora of medication, and nothing has worked long term. Medication and talk therapy helps me manage and reduce the length of depressive episodes but I am in search for alternative treatments. My depression has made completing a bachelors degree a major challenge."
UD
Depression PatientAge: 25
"My long history of depression has been met with a long list of trial and error drugs. My current medication (generic Pristiq) has been prescribed for two decades (though I tried several other medications during my last serious episode several years ago. When the episode passed I returned to generic Pristiq. I am interested in a clinical trial because I wonder if I can do something different to more effectively avoid a serious depressive episode and lift the general malaise I often feel."
DD
Depression PatientAge: 62
"I had a serious spinal cord injury four years ago, and my entire life turned upside down. I lost everything including a 10 year relationship. I became handicapped and part of that handicap is a mental handicap or I just can’t seem to find my happiness anymore. I go to events where everybody’s laughing, smiling, dancing, and having a good time, and I seem to just sit there like a bump on log. It feels like my spirit is broken. I want to feel happiness and motivation for life again."
YX
Depression PatientAge: 76
"I have dealt with depression my entire adult life. I have been on multiple different meds, went through 10 weeks of TMS treatments (didn't work for me personally), done fairly extensive counseling. I’ve kind of lost hope that anything will ever help me to feel better. But I learned about new meds in clinical trials and I'm ready to try."
YP
Depression PatientAge: 60
"I've used SSRIs (Lexapro, Celexa) and they helped a bit but also, truthfully, they've had pretty serious sexual side effects. Depression was already hurting my marriage, and now these drugs continue to paralyze my it. I've heard that psilocybin-based treatments typically have no sexual side effects... I think a clinical trial will let me try safely."
LN
Depression PatientAge: 44
