Treatment Resistant Depression

Current Location

93 Treatment Resistant Depression Trials Near You

Power is an online platform that helps thousands of Treatment Resistant 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.

Learn More About Power
No Placebo
Highly Paid
Stay on Current Meds
Pivotal Trials (Near Approval)
Breakthrough Medication
The purpose of this trial is to conduct an adequately powered clinical trial of once daily LFR for individuals diagnosed with treatment-resistant BD-DE who have not responded to iTBS or sham treatment applied to the left DLPFC. This work will develop the evidence supporting the use of LFR rTMS for individuals with treatment-resistant BD-DE who currently have limited treatment options to alleviate their suffering. Participants will come for 30 days of LFR, with a 6-week follow-up period. Symptoms of depression (for determining treatment efficacy) and mania (for determining treatment safety) will be assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) every five treatments during the treatment course, and at 1 week and 6 week after treatment completion.
No Placebo Group
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3

80 Participants Needed

This study is a 12-week (in addition to up to 30 days of screening) randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of single-dose psilocybin (25 mg)-assisted therapy in comparison to active placebo (1 mg micro-dose) psilocybin-assisted therapy in patients with bipolar II depression who have not responded to adequate trials with at least two first or second-line treatments for bipolar II depression (i.e. quetiapine, lithium, lamotrigine, sertraline, or venlafaxine as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy, or bupropion adjunctive therapy). The active placebo is a substance that looks identical to the study medication but contains less therapeutic ingredients, and thus is less capable of producing the transformative and meaningful aspects of psychedelic experience compared to the 25 mg dose. Participants will have a total of 11 study visits over a period of up to 16 weeks, which includes 5 therapy sessions from trained study therapists.
Stay on current meds
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3
Age:19 - 65

90 Participants Needed

The CogniTReaD study is a pilot clinical trial that will compare the effects of active accelerated bilateral sequential theta burst stimulation (absTBS) and sham or inactive treatment. The goal is to see if absTBS can help older adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) by looking at dual-task cost and mood, as well as other cognitive functions, anxiety levels, quality of life, and physical performance, while also checking for any treatment side effects. The study will recruit participants who will receive different study treatments in a specific order. The study will be double-blinded, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers will know who is receiving which treatment. The study will include people who are 50 years old or older and diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression with at least a moderate severity of depression. This study seeks to discover if absTBS can modify a dementia risk marker (i.e., dual-task cost and depression) in older patients with TRD, and to determine the effect size for larger investigations in the future.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:50+

54 Participants Needed

Psilocybin for Depression

Baltimore, Maryland
This trial explores the safety of a single 25mg dose of psilocybin given to adults with depression that hasn't improved with other treatments and who have ongoing suicidal thoughts. Psilocybin works by changing brain cell communication to improve mood and reduce negative thoughts. Psilocybin has shown promise in treating depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions in recent studies.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 65

20 Participants Needed

Psilocybin for Depression

Baltimore, Maryland
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin (25 mg) administered under supportive conditions to adult participants with severe TRD, in improving depressive symptoms.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:18 - 65

27 Participants Needed

The goal of this clinical trial is to test how well psilocybin-assisted therapy works in treating people with depression. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does psilocybin with assisted therapy help improve symptoms for people with depression? * How long do the effects of this treatment last? Participants will: * Take part in a couple of screening and preparation visits. * Be given psilocybin in one or two treatment sessions. * Attend a series of follow-up sessions over the following year. * Complete forms and surveys to test how their symptoms have changed and what they thought of their experience. Researchers will also compare whether one treatment or two treatments help improve symptoms more for participants.
No Placebo Group
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3

23 Participants Needed

This pilot study aims to investigate the potential role of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). tDCS is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique which has been utilized for the treatment of major depression in several studies, both as a primary and adjunctive treatment. The treatment will be administered under the supervision of a physician with experience in administering the treatment and monitoring for complications. This will be a prospective "adaptive tDCS stimulation" open label research study. Participants will receive 20 minute sessions of up to 4 milliamps (mA) transcutaneous electrical stimulation sessions over 4 to 6 weeks. Building on the theory that greater current "dose" may be a significant factor in determining efficacy, this study aims to determine whether higher tDCS current doses lead to greater improvements in depressive symptoms in this population of patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
Stay on current meds
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

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

25 Participants Needed

Our hypothesis is that targeted propofol infusion in treatment-resistant depressed patients will induce slow wave activity during sedation and augment subsequent sleep slow wave activity. We will recruit 15 participants for this open label single arm Phase I trial. All participants will undergo two propofol infusions 2-6 days apart, with each infusion maximizing expression of EEG slow waves. To minimize bias, there will be no specific gender or ethnic background consideration for enrollment. This will be a single site investigation at Washington University Medical Center.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 1
Age:60+

15 Participants Needed

This pilot open-label study examines the effects of a combination of dasatinib plus quercetin - two drugs that have known senolytics properties - on physiological aging in older individuals with depression or schizophrenia.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:50+

40 Participants Needed

This pilot study will assess the safety and feasibility of intravenous (IV) ketamine combined with RO DBT in young adults with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). In addition, this study will develop and utilize innovative methodological approaches to demonstrate the feasibility of precision medicine with this type of therapy.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

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

15 Participants Needed

In this proposal the investigators will use an accelerated TMS protocol that concentrates the magnetic stimulation that would usually occur over 6 weeks into 10 treatment sessions per days, for 5 consecutive days in patient with treatment-refractory depression. This protocol will build on a previously published study demonstrating clinical efficacy of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-dlPFC) in a treatment refractory population.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

40 Participants Needed

The purpose of this study is to test the safety, efficacy and mechanism of action of subgenual cingulate (Cg25) deep brain stimulation (DBS) for major depression in patients who have not responded to prior antidepressant treatments. Participation in the study will continue for ten years or until the device receives FDA approval for depression. Forty (40) patients will be enrolled in this study.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

37 Participants Needed

Severe depression is devastating for those affected and is often associated with significant risk of suicide. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective acute treatment for severe depression, but its use and acceptability are limited by cognitive side effects. Of these, retrograde memory loss is most concerning, and can be long-term. The introduction of ultrabrief right unilateral (UBRUL) ECT into clinical practice has been an important step in reducing the risk of memory impairment, but significant deficits still occur. A new form of UBRUL ECT which utilises a Frontoparietal electrode placement represents a further development. Preliminary data suggest that Frontoparietal UBRUL has good efficacy and less cognitive side effects than UBRUL given using the conventional Temporoparietal electrode placement. Designed as a pivotal trial, this protocol will be the first RCT comparing these two forms of ECT, producing the rigorous efficacy and safety data required to change clinical practice/policy. This is a multicentre, parallel group RCT with 1:1 allocation ratio between Frontoparietal (intervention) and Temporoparietal (comparator) forms of UBRUL ECT. Participation will involve receiving randomised acute ECT under blinded conditions during the randomised acute treatment period (typically around 4 weeks), then completion of a 24-week follow-up period which commences after the cessation of all acute ECT. The study protocol aims to provide 12 randomised acute ECT treatments, though the number of treatments (and hence the length of the randomised acute treatment period) can be adjusted by the participant's own treating/admitting psychiatrist according to their clinical judgement.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

154 Participants Needed

This trial is testing a new device that sends electrical signals to the brain to help people with severe depression who don't respond to usual treatments. The device also records brain activity to understand how the treatment works. The study will involve 10 patients and last for several years. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been investigated for a long time as a treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression, showing potential but requiring further research.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:25 - 70

10 Participants Needed

This trial uses a device to send electrical signals to a specific brain area in patients with severe depression that hasn't improved with other treatments. The goal is to see if this can help reduce their symptoms by resetting brain activity. The study will monitor changes in brain signals and patient symptoms.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:25 - 70

10 Participants Needed

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), yet substantial uncertainties persist regarding its efficacy as a maintenance treatment. This prospective study seeks to investigate the efficacy of maintenance rTMS in individuals with TRD who have previously responded to an acute course of rTMS. In the R61 phase of the study, we will recruit 75 participants across three study sites, the University of California San Diego, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Australian National University, into a double-blind, three-arm maintenance treatment trial. In this trial, participants will be randomized to receive either standard maintenance rTMS, clustered maintenance rTMS, or sham maintenance rTMS for a duration of 6 months. Our primary aim is to examine the efficacy of maintenance rTMS on sustaining connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and subgenual cingulate cortex (SGC) measured through concurrent TMS and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) at baseline and every six weeks throughout the 6-month treatment period. We will also assess changes in depressive symptom severity using clinical scales, including the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) as a secondary outcome measure. It is hypothesized that stimulation with clustered maintenance rTMS will demonstrate superiority in sustaining DLPFC-SGC connectivity compared with standard maintenance rTMS and sham maintenance rTMS

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

75 Participants Needed

This trial tests ixekizumab, a medication that blocks a specific protein, in adults whose depression hasn't improved with other treatments. By reducing inflammation, it may help alleviate their symptoms.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting

20 Participants Needed

Tianeptine for Depression

New York, New York
This trial tests tianeptine, an antidepressant that targets specific brain receptors, on adults with major depressive disorder who haven't responded to other treatments. The goal is to see if tianeptine can help these patients by working on the brain's natural painkiller system. Tianeptine is known for its unique way of working and its ability to protect the brain from stress.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 4
Age:21 - 60

75 Participants Needed

DBS for Depression

Queens, New York
This trial aims to test if deep brain stimulation can help people with treatment-resistant depression. The device is implanted in the brain and sends electrical signals to control mood. Researchers will monitor patients over several years to see if it reduces depression symptoms. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has a decades-long history in psychiatric neurosurgery and has shown promise for treatment-resistant depression.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

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

20 Participants Needed

Mobile TMS for Depression

Charleston, South Carolina
In this pilot study, investigators propose to design and create a portable TMS unit, in a van, and then test out delivering TMS in three different locations in South Carolina, all affiliated with MUSC and within 2-hours driving from Charleston, SC. This study would test out this new delivery mode, and provide valuable feasibility, safety, and efficacy lessons for later refinement and potential widespread adoption of mobile TMS as a treatment option, both in our state and across the US.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 4
Age:22 - 80

30 Participants Needed

Why Other Patients Applied

"I've heard great things about ketamine for treatment resistant depression and PTSD but haven't been able to try it. I've been struggling to find something to alleviate my symptoms since my son passed away in 2017."

XB
Treatment-Resistant Depression PatientAge: 54

"I'm taking a medication for anxiety and it's not helping/working. I want to try and find something that would help with my anxiety. My research brought me to clinical trials."

ZD
Anxiety PatientAge: 36

"I tried Prozac, Lamictal, TMS, a psychotherapy, and mindfulness meditation. These treatments provided limited relief. I hope for a new treatment that will be more effective. Looking for something that lasts long-term so that I can get my life back."

HY
Depression PatientAge: 63

"I’ve tried so many drugs and treatments for depression it won’t go away or if it does it just comes back. I want to help others who may have this awful condition while also helping myself. If something new works for me, maybe it'll work for other people too."

WK
Depression PatientAge: 56

"I've tried 8 or 9 different combinations of antidepressants (SSRI, SNRI, etc) + antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics... I’ve been through on- and off-label treatments, I've had at least 4 serious side effcts in the 10 years I've been on antidepressants. I've done PGx testing for genetic markers, too. My experience finding appropriate treatment has been lonely, exhausting. I'd love to participate in something that helps others like me."

HZ
Treatment-Resistant Depression PatientAge: 31
The Investigators are proposing to demonstrate safety and efficacy of LIFUP for treatment resistant major depressive disorder in a ten-patient pilot study. LIFUP is an emerging treatment with the advantage of being able to target subcortical transcranial targets, which may have superior efficacy or a shorter treatment course compared to other available treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation. This study will investigate the effect of this stimulation on the left subgenual cingulate cortex, a highly connected node in the depression network that is correlated with clinical symptomatology.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

10 Participants Needed

This is a randomized clinical trial to test the effectiveness of combining a proven psychological intervention called behavioural activation therapy alongside esketamine treatment for treatment resistant major depressive episodes in individuals with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. Encouraging participants to practice new behaviours while their mood is improved through esketamine treatment may lead to more lasting recovery from depression.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

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

40 Participants Needed

Objective: Chronic epidural cortical stimulation (ECS) involves the neurosurgical placement of an electric wire on the surface of the brain with intermittent activation. Over time, ECS modulates local and distal connected brain regions. It is being currently applied over the motor cortex to treat intractable pain. Because of the important role played by the medial prefrontal cortex in mood regulation, the goal of this study is to apply this minimally invasive neurostimulation modality over medial prefrontal cortex in severely ill depressed subjects who have failed all other attempts at treatment.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:21 - 80

5 Participants Needed

The goal of this study is to collect feasibility data on combining structured exercise aimed to improve physical fitness, and intermittent TBS (iTBS) in treating individuals diagnosed with difficult-to-treat depression who are physically inactive. By conducting this trial, we will compare the therapeutic benefits of the combined approach against the standard treatment of iTBS alone (without exercise). These findings will be used to inform future large-scale projects in which we will investigate, in a larger sample size, whether structured exercise aimed to improve fitness as recommended by most public exercise guidelines (i.e., ≥3x/week, moderate-to-vigorous intensity) serves as an active ingredient that amplifies the effectiveness of iTBS. Ultimately, the insights gained from this study will be valuable for clinicians seeking to alleviate depressive symptoms in MDD through neuromodulation techniques such as iTBS.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

20 Participants Needed

Ketamine for Depression

Rochester, Minnesota
The purpose of this study is to to evaluate the relationships between peak (% change from baseline) central GABA and Glu levels during a 40-min IV ketamine or normal saline infusion utilizing fMRS, and change in peripheral GABA and Glu levels from baseline to 24-hr postinfusion utilizing LCMS, with baseline to 24-hr post-infusion change in depression (MADRS) in 30 TRD adults.

Trial Details

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

30 Participants Needed

This is a feasibility study and the goal of this project is to evaluate whether peak ACC GABA and glutamate, quantified as a CSF-corrected absolute concentration percent change from baseline, is associated with clinical remission, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score of \<10, to the anti-glutamatergic antidepressant ketamine. As MRS is expensive, we also aim to study a correlation between change in peripheral metabolites (GABA and glutamate) and central GABA and glutamate levels.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

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

18 Participants Needed

tDCS for Depression

Rochester, Minnesota
The researchers are trying to test the feasibility and acceptability of using transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in hospitalized adult patients with Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD), assess for any preliminary effect on depressive and cognitive symptoms, and explore the utility of biomarkers to assess response to tDCS.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

10 Participants Needed

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a frequent and lifelong recurrent mood disorder with treatment-resistant depressive episodes. Importantly, depressive symptoms and cognitive decline are major determinants of functionality and quality of life in this clinical population. There is robust evidence that individuals with BD have neurocognitive deficits (especially in memory and executive functioning domains) compared to the healthy population. These deficits are present in all mood states and can greatly affect patients' functional capacity, often more so than mood symptoms themselves. Many pharmacological treatments for BD adversely affect cognition, and those that are beneficial can be difficult to use. There is thus a pressing need to identify a safe, easy-to-use medication that can target both cognitive deficits and depressive symptoms in BD. It is expected that Brexpiprazole adjunctive treatment will be efficacious in treating BD type I and type II depression by improving mood symptoms, as well as cognitive capacity and global functioning, and that such changes will be accompanied by concurrent alterations in associated brain structures.
No Placebo Group
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting

58 Participants Needed

Given the growing evidence that aerobic increases cortical excitability and promotes neuroplasticity, the scientific premise for its potential priming effect on the brain is strong. Combining AE with rTMS may produce a neural environment optimized for a robust physiological effect of rTMS, thereby leading to improved depression outcomes. With positive findings, this study would provide preliminary support for an innovative, safe and feasible approach for improving outcomes for this significant public health problem.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

30 Participants Needed

This research study is designed to test if electrical stimulation of the surface of the brain in the frontal region will help treat depressive symptoms. Participants receive intermittent electrical stimulation to the brain, which involves surgically placing electric leads in between the tough fibrous membrane covering the surface of the brain and the surface of the brain itself. This type of stimulation is referred to as bilateral subdural prefrontal cortical stimulation (PCS) because it will specifically target the outer layer of the brain at the midline, right behind the forehead. It uses a pacemaker-like device, the Proclaim Elite SCS System (non-rechargeable) or the Eterna SCS System (rechargeable), both by Abbott Laboratories for stimulation. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Proclaim Elite SCS system for brain stimulation for patients with chronic pain and muscular diseases, such as Parkinson's, its use is still investigational, and the surgery is still experimental for patients who have depression.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

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

15 Participants Needed

Know someone looking for new options? Spread the word

Learn More About Power

Why We Started Power

We started Power when my dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and I struggled to help him access the latest immunotherapy. Hopefully Power makes it simpler for you to explore promising new treatments, during what is probably a difficult time.

Bask
Bask GillCEO at Power
Learn More About Trials

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Treatment Resistant Depression clinical trials 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 Treatment Resistant Depression clinical trials 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 Treatment Resistant Depression trials 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 for Treatment Resistant 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 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 Treatment Resistant Depression medical study?

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 Treatment Resistant Depression clinical trials?

Most recently, we added Nitrous Oxide for Acute Suicidality, Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Depression and Low Frequency rTMS for Bipolar Depression 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 Treatment Resistant Depression trials?

The Treatment Resistant Depression clinics currently recognized as Power Preferred are: Adams Clinical in Watertown, Massachusetts BioBehavioral Research of Austin in Austin, Texas Cedar Clinical Research in Draper, Utah The Treatment Resistant Depression clinics currently recognized as SuperSites are: The Medical Research Network, LLC in New York, New York Boston Clinical Trials (Alcanza Network) in Boston, Massachusetts Preferred Research Partners, Fayetteville in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Unbiased ResultsWe believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your DataWe only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials OnlyAll of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.
Terms of Service·Privacy Policy·Cookies·Security