Depression

Massachusetts

177 Depression Trials near Massachusetts

Power is an online platform that helps thousands of Depression patients discover FDA-reviewed trials every day. Every trial we feature meets safety and ethical standards, giving patients an easy way to discover promising new treatments in the research stage.

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No Placebo
Highly Paid
Stay on Current Meds
Pivotal Trials (Near Approval)
Breakthrough Medication
The overall aim of this program of research is to improve the mental health of people who identify as LGBTQ+ by increasing their social support through a brief intervention. The purpose of the proposed project is to establish the effectiveness of our empirically-supported, brief acceptance-based behavioral therapy (ABBT). To achieve the specific aims, the investigators will conduct a fully-powered, randomized clinical trial (n=240) with two treatment arms: treatment-as-usual (TAU) vs. ABBT.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2

240 Participants Needed

This trial is testing if ketamine can help reduce depression in people with Parkinson's disease. The study will use brain scans to see if ketamine changes brain activity and increases connections between brain cells. Researchers hope that these changes will lead to less severe depression symptoms. Ketamine has been studied for its potential effects on depression and other symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:40 - 80

51 Participants Needed

SPT-300 for Depression

Boston, Massachusetts
This is an open-label, monotherapy, extension study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of SPT-300 (GlyphAllo) in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), with or without anxious distress.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Enrolling By Invitation
Trial Phase:Phase 2

360 Participants Needed

Zelquistinel for Depression

Worcester, Massachusetts
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if GATE-251 works to treat depression in adults. It will also learn about the safety of GATE-251. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does GATE-251 reduce depression scores in participants compared to participants who take a placebo (a look-alike tablet that contains no GATE-251)? What medical problems are observed in participants who take GATE-251? Participants will take one tablet of GATE-251 or placebo every week for 6 weeks. Participants will visit the clinic every week of the 6 week period to have the severity of their depression evaluated.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 64

164 Participants Needed

SPT-300 for Depression

Boston, Massachusetts
This is a randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, monotherapy study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of SPT-300 (GlyphAllo) in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), with or without anxious distress.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 65

360 Participants Needed

Zelquistinel for Depression

Boston, Massachusetts
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if GATE-251 works to treat depression in adults. It will also learn about the safety of GATE-251. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does GATE-251 reduce depression scores in participants compared to participants who take a placebo (a look-alike tablet that contains no GATE-251)? What medical problems are observed in participants who take GATE-251? Participants will take one tablet of GATE-251 or placebo every week for 6 weeks. Participants will visit the clinic every week of the 6 week period to have the severity of their depression evaluated.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 64

164 Participants Needed

BHV-7000 for Depression

Boston, Massachusetts
This trial is testing a new medication called BHV-7000 to see if it is safe and well-tolerated over several months in people with Major Depressive Disorder. The goal is to help those who suffer from severe depression by potentially offering a new treatment option.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Enrolling By Invitation
Trial Phase:Phase 2

480 Participants Needed

The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the anti-depressant and anti-suicidal effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist Ketamine is critically dependent on stimulation of Alpha-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-Isoxazole Propionic Acid receptors (AMPAR).

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:21 - 65

30 Participants Needed

Centanafadine for Depression

Bennington, Vermont
This is a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of centanafadine once-daily (QD) extended-release (XR) capsules for the treatment of adult subjects diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of centanafadine QD XR capsules as monotherapy or as adjunct to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), escitalopram.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 65

336 Participants Needed

Psilocybin for Depression

West Haven, Connecticut
This trial tests if psilocybin, a compound from mushrooms, can help people with major depression by making their brains more adaptable and improving their symptoms. Psilocybin has shown promise as a treatment for depression in various studies, indicating its potential to improve depressive symptoms.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 1
Age:18 - 65

18 Participants Needed

D-serine + TMS for Depression

Belmont, Massachusetts
The goal of this study is to test whether combining D-serine with 30 treatments of a) iTBS and b) 18-Hz protocols will enhance clinical outcomes compared to rTMS with placebo (i.e., sugar pill). The investigators hypothesize that NMDA receptor activation via D-serine combined with repeated sessions of rTMS will produce greater clinical outcomes than iTBS with placebo and 18-Hz with placebo.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 1

60 Participants Needed

DMT for Depression

West Haven, Connecticut
The goal of this phase 1 study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in individuals with depression and healthy controls. We hypothesize that administration of DMT will result in decreases in depression, associated symptoms, and neuroplastic changes in depressed subjects. We expect that DMT will induce changes in neuroplasticity as indexed using electroencephalographic (EEG) measures and tasks in both depressed individuals and healthy volunteers, though to different degrees. These neuronal changes may in parallel cause changes in mood measured both in healthy and depressed subjects, which will be captured using appropriate psychometric measures of mood.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 1
Age:21 - 65

60 Participants Needed

The investigators will test the hypothesis that inhaled xenon will produce a rapid improvement in depressive symptoms in patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression. Specifically, the investigators will conduct a parallel randomized, double-blind crossover study that will compare the effects of xenon-oxygen (35:65 ratio by volume) added to treatment as usual (X-TAU group) to the effects of nitrogen-oxygen (35:65 ratio by volume) added to treatment as usual (N-TAU group). A total of 20 severely depressed patients, 10 with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 10 with Bipolar Depression (BP), will be exposed in random order to N-TAU and X-TAU in a double-blind protocol.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Early Phase 1
Age:18 - 65

20 Participants Needed

DMT for Depression

West Haven, Connecticut
The goal of this fixed order, open-label, dose-escalation study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of specific doses of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in humans.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 1
Age:21 - 65

30 Participants Needed

Neurofeedback for Depression

Belmont, Massachusetts
The goal of this interventional double-blind study is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of PRISM neurofeedback training within an MDD Anhedonia sample. The goals of this study include: 1. Demonstrating the safety and efficacy of Prism Neurofeedback training within an MDD Anhedonia sample; 2. Identifying clinical profile/symptoms-based biomarkers (e.g., Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - HDRS-21, Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale - DARS, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale for Clinicians SHAPS) scores that can be used by clinics to administer Prism therapy in conjunction with standard of care (SOC) therapy; 3. Producing initial guidelines for integrating Prism neurofeedback training for MDD therapy with MDD Anhedonia (SOC). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms, Active, or Sham.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:22 - 65

80 Participants Needed

This trial is testing a new brain stimulation method called low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) on veterans with depression and anxiety. LIFU uses sound waves to reach deep brain areas that current treatments can't. The study aims to see if LIFU is safe and effective in changing brain activity to help with these conditions.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:22 - 75

25 Participants Needed

This is a prospective, randomized clinical study to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a digital neurotherapy on depression, cognition, and quality of life in two groups of patients with major medical illness: 1) a sample of cancer survivors, and 2) a sample of patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) on dialysis.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

220 Participants Needed

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is prevalent and debilitating chronic disease in Veterans. COPD is highly co-morbid with depression and anxiety conferring greater morbidity and mortality risk. Physical activity is a modifiable behavior that can improve COPD outcomes. However, to date, interventions targeting physical activity have not addressed the high comorbidity between COPD and depression and/or anxiety symptoms ("emotional distress") despite emotional distress predicting poorer response to physical activity interventions. This CDA-2 proposal will develop and test the acceptability and feasibility of an integrative physical activity and mental health intervention for Veterans with COPD, emotional distress, and low physical activity. The intervention will be delivered via VA Video Connect enabling access to care among Veterans with substantial barriers to hospital-based outpatient care.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:40+

40 Participants Needed

The purpose of this study is to pilot two resilience interventions for cardiac arrest survivors and their informal caregivers, Recovering Together after Cardiac Arrest 1 and Recovering Together after Cardiac Arrest 2 . The data the investigators gather in this study will be used to further refine the interventions.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

84 Participants Needed

This project explores whether heated yoga, sauna, and a mindfulness app reduce depressive symptoms
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 65

120 Participants Needed

Why Other Patients Applied

"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 experienced drug resistant MDD for 2 decades. I have had no success with CBT and medication, nor either alone. I had success once with TMS, about 5 sessions, in 2014. I have not had TMS since then."

YB
Depression PatientAge: 58

"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've been through a substance abuse program three times. Clearly, it's not working. I need to try something totally different and new to deal with my depression (plus alcohol usage) once and for all. I did some research on psilocybin and want to try."

QP
Depression PatientAge: 55

"I have struggled my entire life with depression. I feel like it took away half my life because I've been unable to truly feel the good times and people around me, like I'm numb. I would like to take part to see if it might help me, but I would also like to help others by doing this trial if I am accepted. I would love to enjoy life and truly feel the happy experiences that might come my way rather than observe them without feeling."

EW
Depression PatientAge: 45

tDCS for Depression

Boston, Massachusetts
The REACH-tDCS study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a noninvasive, at-home self-administered Sooma tDCS brain stimulation treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. The study uses randomized, blinded, placebo controlled design. The participants are assessed with video interviews and self-reports during the study, which lasts for 10 weeks followed by an optional continuation period.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:22 - 70

200 Participants Needed

Stress Dynamics for Depression

Belmont, Massachusetts
Stress and a parental history of major depressive disorder (MDD) are among the strongest risk factors for future development of MDD. Studies have shown that having a parental history of MDD may be associated with behavioral, psychophysiological, and hormonal responses to stress that are associated with poorer stress coping. . Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental window linked to increased MDD risk, especially for females, as rates of MDD surge relative to males. Despite the central role of stress in MDD onset, little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying stress responses in susceptible female adolescents at high familial risk for MDD. Also, it is unclear how stress-related brain network alterations may relate to "real-world" maladaptive stress responses and whether these stress-related brain network changes are predictive of future depression onset. We will fulfill these research gaps by combining neuroimaging with intensive longitudinal tracking of depressive symptomology as well as behavioral and physiological responses to "real world" stress using smartphone and smartwatch technology. Elucidating these neural mechanisms may aid in the discovery of MDD biomarkers that could identify youth at greatest risk for future MDD development and lead to earlier intervention efforts.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:13 - 15
Sex:Female

148 Participants Needed

Therapy Dog Visits for Injury

Boston, Massachusetts
Animal assisted therapy (AAT) with dogs has been shown to be beneficial for a wide range of patients with both acute and chronic illnesses, including spinal cord injuries, heart failure, myocardial infarctions, strokes, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Studies have also demonstrated that even in healthy adults, the presence of dogs is associated with physiologic changes such as increased pain threshold, decreased blood pressure, and decreased heart rate. However, few studies have investigated the role of AAT in the post-operative course in adults. This study will investigate the impact of therapy dog visits on pain and anxiety scores for trauma patients at Boston Medical Center (BMC).
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

80 Participants Needed

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, and there are persistent and significant disparities in tobacco use among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals. Stigma, discrimination, gender dysphoria, and other gender minority stressors likely contribute to these disparities, and the increased burden of gender minority stress may also be driving higher prevalence rates of anxiety and depression, both of which are more common among TGD individuals and among those who smoke relative to comparison samples. This study will (1) explore the ways in which gender minority stressors and associated anxiety and depression compromise smoking cessation among TGD individuals, identifying elements in an existing smoking cessation intervention that need to be adjusted to meet their unique needs; (2) adapt an existing smoking cessation intervention for TGD individuals; and (3) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted intervention in a pilot randomized controlled trial.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

100 Participants Needed

This research study is being done to test the feasibility of an existing supportive program (PRISM) to address psychological symptoms (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms) that young adult participants diagnosed with cancer or desmoid tumor may experience. The name of the intervention used in this research study is: -Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM) Program
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 39

15 Participants Needed

Major depressive and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in the general population and are a leading cause of disability. Black adults have a high burden of depression and anxiety. This study aims to assess a self- administered video-based intervention to reduce mental illness stigma and medical mistrust among Black adults with moderate to severe depression or anxiety.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 45

90 Participants Needed

DepWatch for Depression

Farmington, Connecticut
The current best practice guidelines for treating depression call for close monitoring of patients, and periodically adjusting treatment as needed. This present study seeks to develop and investigate an innovative digital system, DepWatch, that leverages mobile health technologies and machine learning tools to provide clinicians objective, accurate, and timely assessment of depression symptoms to assist with their clinical decision making process. Specifically, DepWatch collects sensory data passively from smartphones and wristbands, without any user interaction, and uses simple user-friendly interfaces to collect ecological momentary assessments (EMA), medication adherence and safety related data from patients. The collected data will be fed to machine learning models to be developed in the project to provide weekly assessment of patient symptom levels and predict the trajectory of treatment response over time. The assessment and prediction results are then presented using a graphic interface to clinicians to help them make critical treatment decisions. The main question the present clinical trial aims to answer are as follows: 1. Feasibility of the digital tool, DepWatch, to assist clinicians in depression treatment and inform their clinical decision process 2. Effectiveness of the digital tool, DepWatch, to improve depression treatment outcomes All study participants will carry the DepWatch app on their smartphones and wear a Fitbit provided by the study team during the study period. They will also complete brief questionnaires via the app at specific time intervals throughout the study period.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

128 Participants Needed

Pregnenolone for Depression

Boston, Massachusetts
This study aims to identify how enhanced allopregnanolone activity (via pregnenolone) affects behavior and neurobiology that may underlie perimenopausal depression.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:40 - 60
Sex:Female

80 Participants Needed

Maintenance TMS for Depression

Providence, Rhode Island
The goal of this study is to evaluate the use of ecological-momentary-assessment (EMA) as a method for scheduling maintenance treatments for patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who responded to an initial acute course of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). To assess symptom re-emergence and severity over time, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9) will be administered weekly via a prompt with a link send to a participants' smart phones. Adaptive algorithm software will monitor each participant's PHQ-9 scores over time and determine when a threshold increase in symptoms has occured and maintenance TMS sessions should be offered. Participants in this study will be randomized to either receive weekly EMA (monitoring only) or weekly EMA with maintenance TMS sessions (scheduled as indicated by the EMA algorithm). Participation for each subject will last for one year, with maintenance TMS offered as an adjunct to ongoing treatment as usual (TAU) for depression, i.e., ongoing pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy.
Stay on current meds
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

30 Participants Needed

VOICES Veterans Socials (VS) support Veterans in the community through weekly social groups. Veterans socials have the potential to improve social functioning, mental health symptoms, and create lasting social support. This project aims to evaluate and improve Veterans Socials to help older Veterans with depression by adapting materials, interviewing VS attendees, and collecting questionnaires. The goal is to improve the program based on the results for future use and research.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:65+

33 Participants Needed

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Depression clinical trials in Massachusetts pay?

Each trial will compensate patients a different amount, but $50-100 for each visit is a fairly common range for Phase 2–4 trials (Phase 1 trials often pay substantially more). Further, most trials will cover the costs of a travel to-and-from the clinic.

How do Depression clinical trials in Massachusetts work?

After a researcher reviews your profile, they may choose to invite you in to a screening appointment, where they'll determine if you meet 100% of the eligibility requirements. If you do, you'll be sorted into one of the treatment groups, and receive your study drug. For some trials, there is a chance you'll receive a placebo. Across Depression trials in Massachusetts 30% of clinical trials have a placebo. Typically, you'll be required to check-in with the clinic every month or so. The average trial length in Massachusetts for Depression is 12 months.

How do I participate in a study as a "healthy volunteer"?

Not all studies recruit healthy volunteers: usually, Phase 1 studies do. Participating as a healthy volunteer means you will go to a research facility in Massachusetts several times over a few days or weeks to receive a dose of either the test treatment or a "placebo," which is a harmless substance that helps researchers compare results. You will have routine tests during these visits, and you'll be compensated for your time and travel, with the number of appointments and details varying by study.

What does the "phase" of a clinical trial mean?

The phase of a trial reveals what stage the drug is in to get approval for a specific condition. Phase 1 trials are the trials to collect safety data in humans. Phase 2 trials are those where the drug has some data showing safety in humans, but where further human data is needed on drug effectiveness. Phase 3 trials are in the final step before approval. The drug already has data showing both safety and effectiveness. As a general rule, Phase 3 trials are more promising than Phase 2, and Phase 2 trials are more promising than phase 1.

Do I need to be insured to participate in a Depression medical study in Massachusetts?

Clinical trials are almost always free to participants, and so do not require insurance. The only exception here are trials focused on cancer, because only a small part of the typical treatment plan is actually experimental. For these cancer trials, participants typically need insurance to cover all the non-experimental components.

What are the newest Depression clinical trials in Massachusetts?

Most recently, we added Online Intervention for Transgender Young Adults' Alcohol Use, Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Serious Mental Illness and Behavioral Health Program for Nursing Home Residents to the Power online platform.

What do the "Power Preferred" and "SuperSite" badges mean?

We recognize research clinics with these awards when they are especially responsive to patients who apply through the Power online platform. SuperSite clinics are research sites recognized for a high standard of rapid and thorough follow-up with patient applicants. Meanwhile, Power Preferred clinics are the top 20 across the entire Power platform, recognized for their absolute top patient experience.

Which clinics have received Power Preferred and SuperSite awards recruiting for Depression trials in Massachusetts?

The Depression clinics in Massachusetts currently recognized as Power Preferred are: Adams Clinical in Watertown, Massachusetts Adams Clinical in Watertown, Massachusetts Copley Clinical in Boston, Massachusetts Boston Clinical Trials in Roslindale, Massachusetts Copley Clinical in Boston, Massachusetts Adams Clinical in Watertown, Massachusetts

What are the current treatment options for depression?

Doctors use a stepped-care approach. First, most people try evidence-based talk therapy (such as CBT or interpersonal therapy), an antidepressant medicine (SSRIs are typical), or both, while also improving sleep, exercise and diet. If symptoms persist, the next “step” is to add or switch treatments—e.g., combining two medicines, adding lithium or an antipsychotic, or using brain-stimulation methods like transcranial magnetic stimulation or, for severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy; newer options such as esketamine nasal spray are reserved for treatment-resistant depression. Working with a clinician to review progress every few weeks and adjust the plan is key to finding the right mix.

When is depression considered severe?

Doctors call a depressive episode “severe” when almost all of the nine core symptoms are present at high intensity, the person’s daily life has largely shut down (can’t work, study, or manage self-care), or there are high-risk features like active suicidal thoughts, a recent attempt, or hallucinations/false beliefs. On common checklists this usually means a PHQ-9 score of 20 or higher, and it signals the need for urgent, comprehensive care—often a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and sometimes hospitalization. If you or someone you know reaches this point, treat it as an emergency and contact a mental-health professional or call/text 988 (USA) or your local crisis line right away.

Is it possible to never be depressed again?

Some people have a single episode of depression and stay well, but the risk of another episode is higher if you stop treatment too soon, have had several episodes before, or still have mild symptoms. You can greatly lower that risk by continuing the treatment that got you better for at least 6–12 months, learning relapse-prevention skills in CBT or mindfulness therapy, keeping regular sleep, exercise, and social routines, and checking in early with a professional if warning signs return. In short, there is no iron-clad guarantee you’ll never be depressed again, but staying on maintenance care and a healthy lifestyle makes long-term wellness much more likely.

What are the top 3 symptoms of depression?

Doctors look first for three core signs: 1) a low or hopeless mood that hangs around most of the day, nearly every day; 2) a marked loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy (called anhedonia); and 3) big changes in body energy—feeling drained, sleeping or eating far more or less than usual. If any of these have lasted two weeks or longer, it’s time to talk with a health professional, because other symptoms can pile on and treatment works best when started early.

Is depression a chemical imbalance?

No—depression can’t be pinned on one missing brain chemical. Research shows it arises from a mix of factors: how your brain circuits and several neurotransmitters work, your genes, long-term stress, and life circumstances all interact. Because causes differ from person to person, the most effective care is usually a combination of approaches—medication when needed, talking therapies, and lifestyle changes—worked out with your clinician.

How many people have untreatable depression?

Doctors call “untreatable” depression “treatment-resistant depression,” meaning the person has not improved after trying at least two suitable antidepressants. Large studies show this applies to roughly one-quarter to one-third of people with major depression—about 2–3 % of adults overall, or roughly 5–8 million U.S. adults in any given year. Importantly, many still respond to other options such as medication combinations, ketamine/esketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or electroconvulsive therapy.

How to get out of deep depression?

Think of recovery as two tracks that run side-by-side. Track 1: get professional help right away—if you ever feel unsafe call 988 (or your local hotline), and with a clinician discuss proven treatments such as CBT, antidepressant medicine, and, when needed, newer options like ketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation or electroconvulsive therapy. Track 2: reinforce the medical plan daily with mood-boosting basics—consistent exercise, regular sleep, balanced meals, limited alcohol or drugs, and time with supportive people—because these habits make the treatments work better and give you small, sustainable lifts while you heal.

Why is depression so hard to treat?

Depression is hard to treat because it isn’t a single disease—each person’s symptoms arise from a unique blend of brain chemistry, genetics, stress, medical issues, and life circumstances—so one-size-fits-all therapies rarely work. Without a blood test to guide choices, clinicians must try treatments sequentially, and roughly one-third of people need several steps or a combination of medication, talk therapy, lifestyle changes, or newer options like ketamine or magnetic stimulation before they feel well. The encouraging news is that persistence with a systematic plan and attention to sleep, exercise, and co-existing conditions allows most patients to eventually reach full recovery.

What are unhealthy coping mechanisms for depression?

Unhealthy coping means doing things that give quick relief but actually deepen depression—common examples include using alcohol or other drugs, overeating or not eating, oversleeping or endless screen-scrolling to avoid feelings, cutting or other self-harm, harsh self-talk and rumination, and withdrawing from friends or lashing out at them. These behaviors worsen mood, relationships, and safety; if you notice yourself relying on them, reach out to a trusted person or mental-health professional (or call your local crisis line) and ask about safer skills such as problem-solving steps, scheduled activity, or therapy.

Is it OK to have clinical depression?

Yes—having clinical depression isn’t a personal failing; it’s a common medical illness, and recognising it is the first step toward feeling better. What isn’t OK is to face it alone, because untreated depression can worsen and raise the risk of other problems, whereas most people improve with timely care such as talk therapy, medication, or a combination. If symptoms last more than two weeks or include thoughts of self-harm, book a visit with a primary-care doctor or mental-health professional and, in crisis, call 988 (U.S.) or your local emergency number—effective help and recovery are the norm when treatment is started.

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