Depression

West Virginia

62 Depression Trials near West Virginia

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

Brain Stimulation for Depression

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The central goal of this application is to demonstrate the causal contribution of reward learning signals (expected values and reward prediction errors \[RPE\]) to antidepressant responses (Aim1) by experimentally manipulating expected values using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting the vmPFC (Aim 2) and μ-opioid striatal RPE signal using pharmacological approaches (Aim 3).

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 4
Age:18 - 55

120 Participants Needed

Centanafadine for Depression

Charlottesville, Virginia
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

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how different types of non-invasive brain stimulation affect mood and brain function in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). It will also study how brain stimulation may work together with antidepressant treatments. The main questions this study aims to answer are: How do different patterns of brain stimulation affect mood in people with depression? Do brain networks involved in emotion and self-reflection respond differently depending on the type of stimulation? What are the combined effects of brain stimulation and antidepressant treatments on mood and brain activity? Researchers will compare different brain stimulation patterns and target areas to understand their individual and combined effects. Participants will: Receive three types of brain stimulation (intermittent, continuous, and sham) in different sessions Undergo MRI scans during the administration of either a fast-acting or conventional antidepressant Complete mood assessments during the scan and for one week after each session This study may help identify brain-based strategies to improve treatment for depression.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 55

200 Participants Needed

Deep TMS for Depression

South Charleston, West Virginia
This trial is testing a device that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain. It aims to help people with Major Depressive Disorder who have depressive episodes. The study will check if this new method is as safe and effective as current treatments. Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a potential alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) that may not adversely affect memory.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:22 - 68

104 Participants Needed

This protocol will test the effectiveness of an intervention, iCHART (integrated Care to Help At-Risk Teens) and facilitate recruitment for other studies in the larger ETUDES Center grant, which are focused on treatment development for target risk factors for suicidal behavior, specifically, sleep, anhedonia, and stress related to cybervictimization. This study will recruit 900 adolescents which will be enrolled in a randomized controlled trial to test iCHART and will be randomized to iCHART or treatment as usual (TAU). Based on previous work, the investigators hypothesize that iCHART, compared to TAU, will decrease suicidal-related events by 50%, and the effects will be mediated by increases in referrals, treatment engagement, and safety planning. The investigators will use implementation science methods to assess contextual factors (i.e., barriers and facilitators) and implementation outcomes specifically, acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and cost for our predictive algorithm and iCHART to inform future implementation efforts and promote health equity.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:12 - 18

900 Participants Needed

Light Therapy for Depression

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The goal of this neuroimaging pilot study is to understand developmental differences in the impact of therapeutic wavelength light (blue light) versus a non-therapeutic wavelength (red light) on emotional brain function in depression. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does acute exposure to blue light (vs red light) stabilize emotional brain function in depressed individuals? * Are stabilizing effects of blue light (vs red light) stronger for blue light in adolescents than young adults? Participants will complete: * A magnetic resonance imaging brain scan, in which we will examine the effect of blue versus red light on emotional brain function at rest and in response to rewards and losses. * A pupillometry test of sensitivity to blue vs red light * Clinical interviews and surveys * Screening measures for drug and alcohol use, MRI safety, and current pregnancy \[if relevant\] * Home sleep tracking with sleep diary and actigraphy for one week
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:12 - 30

80 Participants Needed

Neurofeedback for Depression

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The goal of this study is to evaluate whether rtfMRI-nf training to increase the amygdala response to positive memories may serve as a stand-alone intervention for major depressive disorder

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 55

200 Participants Needed

eCBT for Depression

Morgantown, West Virginia
This trial will test online therapy sessions for depression in rural West Virginia and Kentucky. The therapy can be done alone or with support from a remote coach. It aims to improve mental health by changing negative thoughts and behaviors, with coaches providing extra help in guided sessions.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

3360 Participants Needed

PRISM for Cancer

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial testing the efficacy of the Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM) intervention among Adolescents and Young Adults with Advanced Cancer
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:12 - 24

195 Participants Needed

Rates of depression increase rapidly during adolescence, especially for girls, and, thus, research is needed to spur the development of novel interventions to prevent adolescent depression. This project seeks to determine if a novel visuocortical probe of affect-biased attention (i.e., steady-state visual evoked potentials derived from EEG) can 1) be used to prospectively predict depression using a multi-wave repeated measures design and 2) modify affect-biased attention and buffer subsequent mood reactivity using real time neurofeedback. This work could ultimately lead to improved identification of adolescents who are at high risk for depression and directly inform the development of mechanistic treatment targets to be used in personalized intervention prescriptions for high-risk youth.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:13 - 15
Sex:Female

70 Participants Needed

NMRA 335140 for Depression

Charlottesville, Virginia
This trial is testing a new medication called NMRA 335140 to see if it can help people with Major Depressive Disorder feel less depressed. The study involves an initial evaluation and a treatment phase where participants will receive either the medication or an inactive substance. The medication likely works by changing brain chemicals that affect mood.
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Age:18 - 65

332 Participants Needed

In an effort to reduce rural-urban disparities and improve the quality of cancer care for these patients, the objectives of this study will be to: (1) adapt the intervention to maximize effectiveness for rural, low-income patients, (2) test the effectiveness of the adapted intervention, and (3) prepare for implementation of the intervention in rural, low-income communities.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Age:21 - 100

512 Participants Needed

ECT vs. Ketamine for Depression

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This trial compares two treatments for patients with severe depression who are at risk of suicide. One treatment uses electric currents to change brain activity, while the other uses a low dose of a fast-acting drug. The goal is to find out which treatment works better for rapid relief. The drug has recently emerged as a fast-acting alternative for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Enrolling By Invitation
Trial Phase:Phase 4

1500 Participants Needed

RE104 for Postpartum Depression

Charlottesville, Virginia
This trial is testing whether a single injection of RE104 can help reduce depression in women who have moderate-to-severe postpartum depression. The goal is to see if this treatment works effectively. The exact way RE104 works isn't detailed, but it likely helps by affecting brain chemicals related to mood.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 45
Sex:Female

72 Participants Needed

Ketamine for Postpartum Depression

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The purpose of this study is to identify pharmacokinetics of postpartum ketamine infusion. This study will assess ketamine kinetics and metabolism in this setting. Ketamine is expected to exert different kinetics during the physiologic state of post-pregnancy. The goal in conducting this study is to better understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of postpartum ketamine infusion. A secondary goal is to compare these kinetics to reproductive age matched controls and to assess sex differences in ketamine pharmacokinetics. The peripartum group of this study will receive ketamine after cesarean delivery, while the control group will consist of non-pregnant female subjects and male subjects receiving the same infusion protocol.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 1

50 Participants Needed

VNS for Bipolar Depression

Huntington, West Virginia
This trial is testing whether VNS Therapy, which sends electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, can reduce depression symptoms in patients who haven't responded to other treatments. The study will observe the effects of VNS therapy over a year. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a recognized treatment for severe treatment-resistant depression and has shown promising results.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

6800 Participants Needed

The primary objective of this study is to assess acquisition and retention of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based "cognitive restructuring" skill, among young adolescents (12-15 years of age) with elevated depression symptoms and with population-level variability in lifetime exposure to adverse childhood experiences. This study uses a repeated-measures, longitudinal design to investigate associations between adversity exposure and learning-related cognitive control processes in the context of elevated depression (Aim 1). Adversity exposure and cognitive control will be examined as direct predictors of cognitive restructuring skill acquisition and skill retention over six-months; an indirect pathway from adversity to skill acquisition through cognitive control will also be examined (Aim 2). The study also includes exploration of key characteristics of adversity, namely the type (threat of harm versus deprivation of resources) and developmental timing of exposure, as distinct predictors of skill acquisition (exploratory Aim 3).
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:12 - 15

90 Participants Needed

Cognitive impairment and brain abnormalities are common and persist after depression remission in those with Late Life Depression (LLD), compounding dementia risk in both individuals with acute and remitted LLD (rLLD). In this study, investigators will examine systemic neural and cognitive benefits of aerobic exercise training in older adults with remitted LLD. This will generate preliminary data regarding neural targets of aerobic exercise training that may translate to cognitive benefits in those with rLLD, a population who remains at high risk for dementia despite successful treatment of depression.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:60+

46 Participants Needed

This trial tests if adding light exposure and a set sleep routine to regular care can reduce depression and anxiety in pregnant women. It targets women aged 18-40 in late pregnancy who have depression. The treatment aims to adjust the body's natural rhythms and stabilize sleep patterns to improve mood. Light exposure is a promising treatment for depression during pregnancy, being easily accessible, effective, affordable, and safe for both mother and child.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 45
Sex:Female

158 Participants Needed

Ketogenic Diet for Bipolar Disorder

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This trial is testing if a high-fat, low-carb diet can help adults with Bipolar Disorder. The diet increases a substance that might reduce severe mood swings. Researchers will use various methods to study its effects on brain activity and emotions. The diet may have mood-stabilizing properties.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 40

107 Participants Needed

Why Other Patients Applied

"Dealt with treatment-resistant depression for pretty much my entire life. I would be eternally grateful for something that actually worked for once. I'd just like to feel normal. "

CM
Depression PatientAge: 55

"I've tried several different SSRIs over the past 23 years with no luck. Some of these new treatments seem interesting... haven't tried anything like them before. I really hope that one could work."

ZS
Depression PatientAge: 51

"I was first diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety over twenty years ago. I have tried different medications. Had to come off medications due to pregnancies, and have worked through different side effects like weight gain, nausea, sleepiness, and the more severe where i have tried to claw my way out of my skin it itched so bad. I dont want other people to have to go through this and I wish I could be off of my medication for good but it just hasnt happened. IF something is out there to improve the life of an anxious and/or depressed person I'd like to be able to say I helped find it."

HD
Depression PatientAge: 46

"I've been struggling with alcoholism and depression on-and-off for about 12 years. I have heard of people have good outcomes for various mental health issues after using psilocybin but would not be willing to try it without a doctor's care. So I'm applying to a trial. "

QJ
Depression PatientAge: 60

"I’m ready to move on with my life. I did a poor job bouncing back from COVID (dealing with a disability). I'd already had a PTSD diagnosis after my spouse died. These past few years have been tough and I'd like to feel like I'm alive again. I need help getting out of this phase."

FY
Depression PatientAge: 60
This trial tests a telehealth therapy called IPSRT to help children at high risk of bipolar disorder due to having a bipolar parent. The therapy focuses on improving sleep and daily routines to prevent the disorder. The study will monitor outcomes over time. Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) was specifically developed to manage stressful life events, improve disruptions in social and circadian rhythms, and has shown efficacy in treating bipolar disorder.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:12 - 18

120 Participants Needed

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a common and highly debilitating psychiatric disorder, however, the predisposing brain mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, the investigators aim to examine the immediate effect of transcranial brain stimulation (TBS) on brain activity and emotions in adults with and without BD as a first stage toward understanding the predisposing brain mechanisms of BD. The investigators hypothesize that TBS will reduce brain activity while playing a game with rewards in all adults, but the TBS will reduce brain activity more in the adults with BD compared to adults without BD. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that this reduced brain activity will be associated with reduced BD symptoms, such as negative emotions.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 35

134 Participants Needed

Anhedonia Therapies for Depression

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The goal of the ADEPT Study is to understand anhedonia in young people and how it changes based on treatments targeting the brain circuit underlying it. Anhedonia is a challenging mental health symptom that involves difficulty with motivation to experience pleasant events. This study could help develop treatments for people whose depression does not improve with traditional treatments. The ADEPT Study includes two phases. In Phase 1, participants are asked to go through a series of activities to measure anhedonia, including MRI scans, blood draws, behavioral tasks, clinical interviews, questionnaires, and app-based assessments of experiences and behaviors. Phase 2 involves therapeutic activities, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), positive affect training, and, for some people, ketamine administration. If the participant qualifies and is interested, they may choose to do Phase 2 activities in addition to Phase 1.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 4
Age:15 - 25

123 Participants Needed

L-Dopa for Late-Life Depression

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
This trial tests L-DOPA, a medication that increases dopamine levels in the brain. It targets elderly individuals with depression who have issues with motivation, thinking speed, and movement. By boosting dopamine, the treatment aims to improve mood, cognitive function, and mobility. L-DOPA is used to treat the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease by increasing dopamine levels in the brain.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:60+

100 Participants Needed

The study will adapt and deploy a digital Behavioral Activation app with mobile sensing, supported by health coaches, that encourages youth to engage in positive activities. The study has the potential to offer a low-cost and scalable behavioral intervention that may decrease risk of suicide among at-risk youth. This research will examine specifically whether an intervention involving an app called Vira, combined with health coaching (GET ActivE) can improve enjoyment for teens coping with depression. Research participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study intervention. One study intervention involves a) downloading an app called Vira and engaging by responding to a daily question, and b) participating in a conversation via text, phone, or messages through an appt with a health coach. The health coach will use the Vira app and principles from evidence-based therapy and behavior change to provide users with insights to sustain well-being and better manage risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors such as depressed mood and behavioral withdrawal. The second study intervention involves downloading an app called EARS and responding to a daily question.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:12 - 18

75 Participants Needed

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the feasibility of the Individualized Positive Psychosocial Interaction (IPPI) with 108 nursing home residents living with dementia and distress or depressive symptoms. The main questions it aims to answer are: •is it feasible to deliver the IPPI and track impact through data collected in the electronic medical records. Care partners will engage eligible residents in 2 brief preference-based IPPIs per week over the course of 6 months.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting

135 Participants Needed

A phase II, randomized, open-label, two-arm clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of pramipexole extended release (ER) versus escitalopram for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and comorbid MDD with mild neurocognitive disorder (MND) in persons with HIV (PWH). Participants will be assessed comprehensively and briefly at intercurrent visits to monitor for toxicity, response to therapy, and to assess for dose changes. An optional sub-study to evaluate treatment impact on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) profile will be conducted in a subset of 36 participants.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2

186 Participants Needed

Apimostinel shows initial promise as a novel rapid-acting antidepressant medication with minimal side effects or safety concerns. Cognitive Training (CT) is a digital intervention that has shown promise in extending the durability of another similar drug (ketamine). This randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy and safety of apimostinel (vs. placebo) for the acute treatment of depression, and will test the potential of CT to enhance and/or extend the durability of apimostinel's antidepressant effect.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 60

150 Participants Needed

There has been much interest in the potential role of social media (SM) use in driving a current mental health crisis among teens, with a dire need for evidence that goes beyond self-report. One important avenue is to understand the role of the brain in driving the effects of SM use on emotional health and vice versa. However, there is almost no research addressing these questions, largely due to a lack of tasks that can probe the neural correlates of modern SM use. The goal of this clinical trial is to develop and validate a new developmentally-appropriate and ecologically-valid functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and eyetracking task, the TeenBrainOnline (TBO) Task, that is more realistic and similar to modern SM platforms. Participants will be 50 teens (ages 13-17) with depressive symptoms who will complete the final version of TBO task during fMRI with eye-tracking, an older Chatroom Interact (CHAT-I) Task, daily surveys of SM use, and measures of depressive symptoms. Our goal is to show that the task works by: * Demonstrating that it activates expected regions of the brain and visual attention biases toward feedback cues. * Showing that brain and eyetracking (visual attention) activity on the task explain variability in depressive symptoms at baseline and three months later, and work better than similar indices from an older task. * Showing that brain and eyetracking (visual attention) activity on the task are associated with real-world measures of social media use collected during daily surveys. Specifically, The investigators expect that teens whose brain and eyetracking activity suggests they are more sensitive to feedback on SM will report a social evaluation orientation toward social media use in daily life, such as engaging a lot in social comparison, worrying about missing out, and caring about getting a lot of likes and comments. Participants will be asked to: * complete a 10-15 minute screening call to determine eligibility for the study * complete one 90 minute virtual study visit to complete questionnaires and prepare for the MRI visit (visit 1) * submit 24 photos to our study specific social media site * complete an (in person) MRI scan visit (\~4 hours), which consists of 2 tasks where they will interact with peers (visit 2) * complete \~5 minute smartphone surveys 3 times a day for 16 days, asking about their daily experiences online and emotional reactions. * complete 2 online questionnaires asynchronously 3 months after their scan date
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:13 - 17

60 Participants Needed

NRG-CC015 is a prospective, randomized phase III clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of two distinct digital approaches for delivering a mindfulness-based intervention: a live, instructor-led version delivered over Zoom (MAPs LO), and an app-based, self-paced version (MAPs App). Participants will include younger breast cancer survivors (BCS) who were diagnosed with breast cancer at or before age 50 years, have completed their primary cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy) at least 6 months earlier, and report elevated depressive symptoms.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 50

402 Participants Needed

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Depression clinical trials in West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia?

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 West Virginia?

Most recently, we added Theta Burst Stimulation for Major Depression, Morphine or Ketamine for Pain and Technology Assisted Collaborative Care for Chronic Kidney Disease to the Power online platform.

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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