Condition

Major Depression clinical trials and research

• 28Clinical trials
• 45NIH research projects
• 2New in 30 days
• 9Countries

Newest Major Depression clinical trials

All recruiting trials (28)

• Can tACS modulate motivation and reward signals in cannabis use disorder and depression

  We’re testing whether a gentle brain stimulation method (tACS) can boost motivation and reward responses in adults with cannabis use and/or depression to see if it helps with anhedonia.

  Recruiting Florida State University · Tallahassee, Florida and 1 other locations · NCT07924852

• Neural links for real-world emotions in mood and anxiety

  Researchers are testing how real-life emotional moments relate to brain activity and stress responses in young adults with mood and anxiety symptoms, using smartphones, self-reports, tasks, and MRI.

  Recruiting University of Miami · Coral Gables, Florida · NCT07891624

• EEG-Guided TMS for Adults With Depression

  This study tests whether delivering intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) timed to brain waves using EEG can improve treatment for adults with major depressive disorder who have not responded to usual antidepressants.

  Recruiting Mayo Clinic · Rochester, Minnesota · NCT07862205

• iTBS to help anhedonia in depression (dual left DLPFC + OFC or left DLPFC alone)

  A brain stimulation study tests whether intermittent theta burst stimulation can help people with major depression who have anhedonia, using both dual-target (left DLPFC and OFC) and single-target (left DLPFC) approaches.

  Recruiting Central South University · Changsha, Hunan · NCT07813169

• One Day of Ultra-Accelerated TMS With a Dose of NRX-101 for Major Depression

  This study tests whether a single day of rapid TMS plus NRX-101 can help people with moderate to severe depression see improvement over six weeks.

  Recruiting Early Phase 1 Mclean Hospital · Belmont, Massachusetts · NCT07785102

• EEG microstates and inflammatory markers in treatment-resistant depression patients undergoing ECT

  This study tests how electroconvulsive therapy affects brain activity patterns seen in EEG and inflammatory biomarkers in adults with treatment-resistant major depression.

  Recruiting Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Istanbul, Bakırköy · NCT07748091

• Psychobiotics added to antidepressants in major depression

  Researchers test whether adding a probiotic blend (Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum) to standard antidepressants helps adults with major depression more than antidepressants alone.

  Recruiting Jinnah Hospital · Lahore, Punjab Province · NCT07691749

• Response to Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation in Treatment-Resistant Depression

  This study tests whether a four-week course of intermittent theta burst stimulation can help people with treatment-resistant depression by looking at symptoms, thinking skills, and blood biomarkers.

  Recruiting Gulhane Training and Research Hospital · Ankara, Ankara and 1 other locations · NCT07673913

• Synaptic Effects of iTBS for Depression in Adults

  Researchers are testing whether a brief form of brain stimulation, called iTBS, plus certain medicines, can better help adults with major depression who haven’t fully improved with standard treatments.

  Recruiting Phase 1/2 Mclean Hospital · Belmont, Massachusetts · NCT07593222

• Inhaled DMT for major depressive disorder

  This trial tests whether inhaled DMT can quickly ease depressive symptoms and reduce suicide risk in adults with major depressive disorder.

  Recruiting Phase 2 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte · Fortaleza, Ceará and 4 other locations · NCT07562191

• How patterned magnetic pulses (cTBS) change brain wiring in depression

  This study tests whether a patterned magnetic brain stimulation called continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS), with and without short-acting drugs, changes synaptic signaling and brain responses in people with major depression.

  Recruiting Early Phase 1 Mclean Hospital · Belmont, Massachusetts · NCT07560878

• Personalized modular psychotherapy for depression complicated by personality or trauma-related problems

  This trial tests whether a personalized, algorithm-guided modular psychotherapy helps adults (18–65) in Chile with major depression plus personality dysfunction or early-life trauma more than usual individual therapy.

  Recruiting at 4 sites Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile · Santiago and 4 other locations · NCT07380451

• Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Veterans

  This study tests whether psilocybin can help U.S. military veterans with treatment-resistant depression, with or without PTSD.

  Recruiting at 5 sites Phase 3 VA Office of Research and Development · Birmingham, Alabama and 4 other locations · NCT07226232

• Blood biomarker plus questionnaire test to help diagnose bipolar disorder

  This trial will test whether a blood-based biomarker algorithm combined with the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) can accurately identify adults with bipolar disorder who are currently experiencing a major depressive episode in primary care.

  Recruiting University Hospital, Montpellier · Montpellier · NCT07031817

• Sleep-focused TMS for Depression

  Aims to see if sleep-state targeted TMS can help people with major depression who have not fully responded to at least one antidepressant.

  Recruiting Stanford University · Stanford, California · NCT06824415

• Combining light therapy with CPAP for treating depression

  This study is testing if adding light therapy to CPAP treatment can help adults with depression and sleep apnea stick to their therapy better.

  Recruiting Hôpital le Vinatier · Bron, France and 1 other locations · NCT06781593

• Identifying genetic markers for SSRI-induced behavioral activation in youth

  This study is trying to find genetic markers that can help predict which children and teens with depression or anxiety might experience increased energy or restlessness from taking certain antidepressants.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University of Manitoba · Winnipeg, Manitoba and 1 other locations · NCT06763081

• Sleep inertia in major depressive disorder measured with the psychomotor vigilance task

  This study will test whether overnight sleep recordings and a simple vigilance task can reveal sleep inertia in people with major depression compared with depressed people without sleep inertia and with non-depressed controls.

  Recruiting Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes · Nîmes · NCT06732284

• Investigating leucine's effects on midlife depression

  This study is testing whether taking leucine supplements can help people with midlife depression feel better by looking at changes in their brain and mood over six weeks.

  Recruiting Phase 2 Emory University · Atlanta, Georgia · NCT06580145

• Evaluating neuroendocrine tests to predict response to rTMS in major depression

  This study is trying to see if certain hormone tests can help predict how well a new brain stimulation treatment will work for people with major depression who haven't responded to other medications.

  Recruiting Centre Hospitalier Rouffach · Rouffach, Alsace · NCT05964192

• Understanding the link between exercise and mood in bipolar disorder

  This study is trying to see how exercise affects mood in people with bipolar disorder, major depression, and their healthy family members over two years.

  Recruiting National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · Bethesda, Maryland · NCT05669703

• Interpersonal Psychotherapy for adolescents with depression

  This study is testing if Interpersonal Psychotherapy can help teenagers with major depression feel better by improving their emotions and social connections.

  Recruiting Linnaeus University · Norrköping · NCT05575960

• At-home brain stimulation for depression during pregnancy

  This study is testing if a type of at-home brain stimulation can help pregnant people with moderate to severe depression feel better.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Women's College Hospital · Toronto, Ontario and 1 other locations · NCT05097586

• Registry for patients with treatment-resistant depression and OCD receiving interventional therapies

  This study is testing different treatments like ECT, TMS, and ketamine to see how they help people with treatment-resistant depression and OCD feel better.

  Recruiting University of Iowa · Iowa City, Iowa · NCT04480918

• Understanding how ketamine helps treat severe depression

  This study is trying to understand how ketamine helps people with severe depression feel better quickly by looking at changes in their brain activity and mood.

  Recruiting Phase 1 National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · Bethesda, Maryland · NCT03973268

• Understanding cognitive decline in older adults with depression

  This study is trying to understand how depression affects thinking and memory in older adults by looking at brain scans and comparing them to people without depression.

  Recruiting University of Southern California · San Francisco, California and 1 other locations · NCT02434393

• Using ketamine to treat major depression in patients with a family history of alcohol use disorder

  This study is testing if a single dose of ketamine can help people with treatment-resistant depression who have a family history of alcohol problems feel better.

  Recruiting Phase 2 University of Iowa · Iowa City, Iowa · NCT02122562

• Preventive intervention for young people at risk of severe mental illness

  This study is testing a new program to help young people aged 9-21 who are at risk of serious mental illnesses by teaching them skills to manage early warning signs like anxiety and unusual experiences.

  Recruiting Nova Scotia Health Authority · Halifax, Nova Scotia and 1 other locations · NCT01980147

NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 45)

Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.

• Trans-Nordic look at extreme major depression genetics

  A large genetics study is exploring what makes extreme forms of major depression unique, by studying many thousands of people and their DNA.

  NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-11549993

• Genetic factors behind alcohol and opioid use disorders and depression in veterans

  A study using genetic data from veterans to understand how genes contribute to co-occurring alcohol use, prescription opioid use, and depression.

  NIH research Philadelphia VA Medical Center · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11536898

• Global Deep Learning effort to predict depression treatment response

  A patient-focused project uses AI on brain scans to predict who with major depression will respond to rTMS treatment.

  NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11519980

• Understanding immune dysfunction and social stress in veterans with depression

  A study in U.S. veterans with major depressive disorder looks at how stress-related immune changes may be linked to depression and heart health.

  NIH research James J Peters VA Medical Center · Bronx, United States · NIH-11518516

• Risk pathways to major depression using big Danish and Swedish data

  A large study using health and genetic data from Denmark and Sweden will help understand what genetic and environmental factors contribute to major depression across how people grow up.

  NIH research Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, United States · NIH-11517264

• Understanding genetic and environmental pathways to major depression in Nordic health records

  A large study will look at how genes and life experiences combine over time to influence major depression, using Danish and Swedish population data.

  NIH research Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, United States · NIH-11517263

• Detailed brain mapping for bipolar disorder and major depression

  Researchers are using thousands of MRI scans to map fine-grained brain structure differences in people with bipolar disorder and major depression compared with people without these conditions.

  NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11512325

• Genomic clues to how pollutants raise depression risk in Mexican American families

  This project looks at how environmental pollutants may contribute to major depressive disorder in multi-generational Mexican American families, using genomic and pollutant measurements to find risky factors.

  NIH research University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · Edinburg, United States · NIH-11421465

• Global Deep Learning to Predict Depression Treatment Response

  Researchers are using advanced AI on brain scans to predict which people with major depressive disorder will respond to rTMS treatment.

  NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11415542

• Understanding how cannabis use and genes change the brain to increase depression risk

  A research project at Yale is exploring how cannabis use might change specific brain cells and genes, potentially making people more vulnerable to depression.

  NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11395269

• Risk Pathways to Major Depression using population registers in Denmark and Sweden

  A large population-based study uses Danish and Swedish health records to map genetic and environmental factors that contribute to Major Depression across the lifespan.

  NIH research Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, United States · NIH-11326191

• Sex differences in major depression and heart disease: how prenatal immune and brain pathways affect risk

  A study to understand why women have higher risk of major depressive disorder with heart disease and how early immune factors and brain connections shape this risk.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11301320

• Sex differences in how respiratory-gated tVNS affects brain, mood, and heart health in major depression

  A study at a major hospital will test whether a breathing-linked ear nerve stimulation helps mood and brain signals differently for men and women with major depression.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11301318

• Impact of prenatal immune dysregulation on brain networks related to mood in major depression

  This project looks at how immune system changes before birth may influence brain networks tied to mood and mood disorders in adults.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11301317

• Understanding why depression is different for women and how it links to heart health

  This research looks at why sex differences contribute to major depression and how immune and brain signals during pregnancy might affect women’s heart health later in life.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11301316

• Trans-Nordic study of extreme major depression genetics

  A large genetics study is examining extreme forms of major depressive disorder to uncover why it is more severe and how it differs from typical depression.

  NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-11296620

• Understanding how social stress affects immune function and depression in veterans

  This study is looking at how problems with the immune system might be connected to depression in veterans who have faced social stress, especially those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it hopes to find new ways to help improve their treatment for depression and PTSD.

  NIH research James J Peters VA Medical Center · Bronx, United States · NIH-11262178

• Resistance Exercise for Major Depression and Brain Blood Flow

  This project explores if resistance exercise can help people with major depression by improving blood flow in the brain.

  NIH research University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, United States · NIH-11261418

• How genes and life experiences affect depression in people from diverse backgrounds

  This project looks at how genetic differences and environmental experiences relate to major depression in people from many ancestry groups.

  NIH research Suny Downstate Medical Center · Brooklyn, United States · NIH-11242071

• Mapping brain structure in bipolar disorder and major depression

  This project uses thousands of brain scans to find detailed patterns in brain anatomy linked to bipolar disorder and major depression.

  NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11235831

• How gene changes tied to cannabis use and depression affect the brain

  This project looks for molecular changes in brain tissue from people with cannabis use disorder or major depression to link cannabis exposure with biological changes that may raise depression risk.

  NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11179270

• Mapping molecular changes in the depressed hippocampus

  Researchers will compare proteins and gene activity in hippocampus tissue from adults with major depression and people without psychiatric illness to learn what changes in the brain.

  NIH research New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · New York, United States · NIH-11141783

• Suicide risk in bipolar disorder and major depression

  This project uses brain scans and questionnaires to find brain circuit and metabolic differences linked to suicidal behavior in people with bipolar disorder or major depression.

  NIH research University of Iowa · Iowa City, United States · NIH-11137744

• Genetic links between alcohol or opioid problems and depression

  Researchers are looking for genes that may help explain why some people, especially Veterans, have both alcohol or prescription opioid problems and major depression.

  NIH research Philadelphia VA Medical Center · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11132714

• How pollution and genes affect depression risk in Mexican American families

  Researchers will measure personal pollutant levels and genetic factors in Mexican American families to look for links with recurrent major depression.

  NIH research University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · Edinburg, United States · NIH-11109550

• Understanding the causes of major depression through genetic and environmental factors

  This study is looking at how our genes and life experiences work together to cause major depression, using data from Denmark and Sweden, to help find better ways to prevent and treat this condition.

  NIH research Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, United States · NIH-11108510

• Resistance Exercise to Help Major Depression: How Cerebral Blood Flow Changes Could Personalize Treatment

  A study tests whether a resistance exercise program can ease major depression by boosting brain blood flow and whether this approach can be tailored to individuals.

  NIH research University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, United States · NIH-11099946

• Understanding how reward sensitivity and inflammation contribute to depression in adolescents

  This study is looking at how feeling less excited about rewards and having higher inflammation might be linked to the risk of depression in teens aged 12 to 20, with the goal of finding new ways to help prevent depression during these important years.

  NIH research Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11070356

• Mapping brain structure differences in bipolar disorder and major depression

  This study looks at how the brains of people with bipolar disorder and major depression are different from those of healthy individuals, using advanced imaging techniques to find specific brain patterns, which could help improve how we diagnose and treat these conditions.

  NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11037814

• Understanding the genetic and environmental factors in major depression across diverse populations

  This study is looking at how our genes and surroundings can affect major depression, especially by including different groups of people who haven't been studied much before, to help find better ways to understand and treat this condition for everyone.

  NIH research Suny Downstate Medical Center · Brooklyn, United States · NIH-10977072

• How cannabis use affects brain changes linked to depression

  This study is looking at how using cannabis might affect the brain and contribute to major depression, by comparing brain samples from people who use cannabis, those with depression, and those without any issues, to better understand the changes that happen in the brain.

  NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-10932680

• Understanding the genetic links between substance use disorders and major depression

  This study is looking at how our genes might play a role in why some people, especially veterans, struggle with substance use issues like alcohol and prescription painkillers, along with depression, so we can find better ways to help them based on their unique genetic makeup.

  NIH research Philadelphia VA Medical Center · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-10930685

• Genetics of extreme depression treated with ECT

  Researchers are looking for genetic differences linked to very severe major depression in people receiving electroconvulsive therapy so doctors can better match treatments.

  NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-10926819

• Understanding the brain changes in major depression

  This study is looking at how major depressive disorder affects the brain, especially a part called the hippocampus that helps with mood and memory, to find out what changes happen in the brain and how stress and treatments might play a role, which could help us understand depression better and improve ways to treat it.

  NIH research New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · New York, United States · NIH-10912634

• Using smartphones to understand behavior and emotions in major depression

  This study is looking at how using smartphones can help us learn more about the feelings and behaviors of people with major depression, so we can find better treatments that fit each person's unique experience.

  NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-10893402

• Helping women cope with depression after losing a baby

  This study is looking to help women who have gone through the heartbreak of losing a baby and are dealing with depression by testing a special therapy designed just for them, which focuses on their unique feelings and challenges.

  NIH research Michigan State University · East Lansing, United States · NIH-10892190

• Understanding suicidality in bipolar disorder and major depression

  This study is looking at how certain brain connections might be linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in people with bipolar disorder and major depression, and it’s for individuals who have experienced suicidal thoughts or attempts, as well as those without such experiences.

  NIH research University of Iowa · Iowa City, United States · NIH-10880656

• Effects of fluoxetine on HIV treatment with dolutegravir in patients with depression

  This study is looking at how the antidepressant fluoxetine affects the HIV medication dolutegravir in people living with HIV and major depression, especially in Nigeria, to help find better ways to manage both conditions together.

  NIH research College of Medicine, University of Ibadan · Ibadan, Nigeria · NIH-10878931

• Investigating severe forms of major depression across Nordic countries

  This study is looking at people with severe depression to find out why some don’t respond to treatment and how their genetics might play a role, all with the goal of helping improve care for those who are really struggling.

  NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-10823226

• Investigating the links between inflammation, serotonin, and mitochondria in major depression

  This study is looking at how inflammation, serotonin levels, and energy production in the brain work together in people with major depressive disorder, and it’s for anyone who wants to help us learn more about depression so we can find better treatments.

  NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-10804603

Related topics

Quick answers

How many Major Depression clinical trials are recruiting right now?

28, as of November 12, 2026. 2 of them were first registered in the last 30 days. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where are these trials running?

In 9 countries. The most sites are in United States (14 trials), France (4 trials), Canada (3 trials), Turkey (Türkiye) (2 trials), Brazil (1 trial). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.

What phases are they in?

Phase 2: 3, Early Phase 1: 2, Phase 3: 1, Phase 1/2: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.

How do I join one?

Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.

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