Exploring Psychedelics to Improve Motivation in Depression
Determining the efficacy of psychedelic agents reversing depression-relevant amotivated behaviors with concomittant EEG biomarkers.
This project is looking into how psychedelic compounds might help improve motivation in people with depression, using new ways to measure changes in behavior and brain activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128607 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with major depression find that current treatments don't fully work, especially for symptoms like a lack of motivation. This is partly because depression symptoms can be very different from person to person, and existing medications weren't always designed to target specific underlying causes. This project aims to develop better ways to test new medications by using behavioral and brain activity measurements that are more closely related to how depression affects people. By doing so, we hope to find new treatments that are more effective for those struggling with depression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work is for future patients with major depressive disorder, especially those experiencing a lack of motivation or treatment resistance.
Not a fit: Patients without major depressive disorder or those whose depression is well-managed by current treatments may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, more effective treatments for major depression, particularly for those who haven't responded well to current therapies.
How similar studies have performed: This approach seeks to improve upon existing models by using more clinically relevant behavioral and EEG assessments, suggesting a novel strategy for drug discovery in depression.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, Jared William — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Young, Jared William
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.