Featured Studies
Featured studies include only those currently recruiting participants. They are listed according to the date they were added to the ClinicalTrials.gov registry, with the most recent studies appearing first.
- Improving Depression Outcome by Enhancing Memory for Cognitive Therapy.
Interventional study. Existing drug and talking therapies for major depressive disorder (MDD) fail to produce complete recovery. Ages 18 and over. Location in Berkeley, CA.
- A Pilot Study to Extend the K-SADS-PL to Adolescents and Young Adults.
Evaluation study. Background: - An interview called the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) is used to identify mental health problems among children and younger teens. Ages 18-80. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Intensive Outpatient Services for Teens.
Interventional study. This study will identify the effectiveness of an intensive treatment program for teens who are at high risk for harming themselves. Ages 12-18. Location in Providence, RI.
- Improving Outcomes for Individuals With Serious Mental Illness and Diabetes.
Interventional study. This project tests a model for improving illness self-management among persons who have both serious mental illness and diabetes and will be performed within a primary care setting at a safety net hospital system. Ages 18 and over. Location in Cleveland, OH.
- Combined Illness Management and Psychotherapy in Treating Depressed Elders.
Interventional study. The purpose of this research study is to test a program developed to help patients with chronic heart or lung problems take care of themselves and cope with their illness or limitations. Ages 55 and over. Location in Iowa City, IA.
- PERSONALIZED ANTIDEPRESSANT ADHERENCE STRATEGIES FOR DEPRESSED ELDERS.
Interventional study. The study is a randomized controlled trial to test the usefulness of a brief intervention to improve adherence to antidepressant medication prescribed to older adults in a primary care setting. Ages 65 and over. Locations in Ann Arbor, MI; New York, NY.
- PET Brain and Whole Body Distribution Studies for Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Peptide (NOP) Receptor Using [11C]NOP-1A.
Interventional study. Background: - A small brain protein called nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor may be involved in several brain diseases such as anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and seizures. Ages 18-50. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Integrated Treatment for Comorbid Depression and Obesity in Adolescents.
Interventional study. Lifetime prevalence of major depression is estimated at 28% by age 18 (Lewinsohn et al., 1999), with higher cumulative rates in females (35%) than males (19%). Ages 12-18. Location in Providence, RI.
- Concurrent Treatment for Depressed Parents and DepressedAdolescents.
Interventional study. This study will develop an integrated treatment for adolescents who are depressed and suicidal and their parents who are depressed and have a history of suicidality. Ages 12-17. Location in Providence, RI.
- Assessing Anterior Cingulate Brain Activity in People With Late-Life Depression.
Evaluation study. This study will examine differences in activity of the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain area involved in emotion and cognitive regulation, between older adults with and without depression. Ages 60-85. Location in White Plains, NY.
- Preventing Depression in the Children of Depressed African American Mothers.
Interventional study. This study will test a program for preventing depression from developing in the children of depressed African American mothers. Ages 18 and over. Location in Philadelphia, PA.
- Adding an Insulin-Sensitizing Medication to Depression Treatment for People Who Are Depressed and Overweight.
Interventional study. This study will determine whether the drug metformin improves the effects of traditional antidepressant medications in people who are overweight. Ages 20-60. Location in St. Louis, MO.
- Effectiveness of Nimodipine Plus Antidepressant Medication in Treating Vascular Depression.
Interventional study. This study will examine whether combined use of an antidepressant medication and the medication nimodipine reduces risk of depression relapse in patients with vascular depression. Ages 50 and over. Location in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Comparing Delivery Methods of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed African-American Dementia Caregivers.
Interventional study. This study will compare the effectiveness of face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy versus telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy for treating African Americans who care for family members with dementia. Ages 18 and over. Location in Tallahassee, FL.
- p11 Protein Levels in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Treated With Citalopram.
Evaluation study. This study will compare levels of p11 protein in people with and without major depressive disorder (MDD) and examine if p11 levels in patients are affected by treatment with citalopram (Celexa). Ages 18-65. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treating Adolescents With Emotional Disorders.
Interventional study. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an emotion-focused cognitive behavioral treatment program for adolescents with anxiety or unipolar depressive disorders. Ages 12-17. Location in Miami, FL.
- Sequential Treatment of Pediatric MDD to Increase Remission and Prevent Relapse.
Interventional study. This study will compare the effectiveness of fluoxetine alone with the effectiveness of fluoxetine with cognitive behavioral therapy in increasing recovery and preventing relapse in youth with major depressive disorder. Ages 8-17. Location in Dallas, TX.
- Interpersonal Treatment Program to Prevent Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Low-Income Pregnant Women With Partner Abuse.
Interventional study. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an interpersonally oriented treatment program called Reach Out for a Safe Environment in preventing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in low-income pregnant women who have experienced recent partner abuse. Ages 18-40. Location in Providence, RI.
- Problem-Solving Therapy for People With Major Depression and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Interventional study. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of problem-solving therapy combined with treatment adherence procedures in treating older people with major depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ages 50-95. Location in White Plains, NY.
- Evaluating the Effects of Stress in Pregnancy.
Evaluation study. This study will evaluate pregnant women with a past or current diagnosis of depression or anxiety to gain a better understanding of how these disorders can affect an infant's development, both during and after pregnancy. Ages 18-45. Location in Atlanta, GA.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Help HIV Infected Adults With Depression to Adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy.
Interventional study. This study will compare the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral intervention versus usual clinic care in helping HIV infected adults with depression to take their HIV medications on schedule. Ages 18-60. Location in Torrance, CA.
- Reducing Health Risk Behavior and Improving Health in Adolescents With Depression.
Interventional study. This study will determine the effectiveness of a health education intervention in reducing health risk behavior and improving health in adolescents with depression. Ages 13-18. Location in Los Angeles, CA.
- Peer Support for Increasing Physical Activity in People With Serious Mental Illnesses.
Interventional study. This study will determine the effectiveness of a peer support system in increasing physical activity and effecting health behavior change in people with serious mental illnesses. Ages 18-70. Location in Baltimore, MD.
- Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques for Studying Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Evaluation study. This study is intended to help develop new MRI imaging techniques for studying mood and anxiety disorders. Ages 18-65. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Effects of Interpersonal Psychotherapy on Depression During and After Pregnancy.
Interventional study. This study will evaluate the impact of interpersonal psychotherapy on the course of depression during and after pregnancy, as well as its effect on infant birth outcomes. Ages 21-45. Location in Ann Arbor, MI.
- Antidepressant Effects on cAMP Specific Phosphodiesterase (PDE4) in Depressed Patients.
Interventional study. The primary purpose of this protocol is to compare PDE4 levels before and after starting a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline, citalopram or escitalopram in unmedicated depressed patients. Ages 18-55. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Effectiveness of a Telephone-Delivered Behavioral Treatment to Improve the Quality of Life of Older Adults With HIV.
Interventional study. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone-delivered coping improvement group intervention in improving quality of life in older adults with HIV. Ages 50 and over. Location in Athens, OH.
- Motivational Interviewing to Improve Medication Adherence Among Hispanic Adults With Depression.
Interventional study. This study will determine the effectiveness of motivational interviewing in improving antidepressant medication adherence among Hispanics. Ages 18-65. Location in New Brunswick, NJ.
- Evaluating the Effectiveness of Escitalopram in Preventing or Reducing Depressive Symptoms in People Receiving Interleukin-2 Treatment.
Interventional study. This study will determine the effectiveness of an antidepressant in preventing or reducing depressive symptoms in people with melanoma who are receiving Interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment. Ages 18-75. Location in Atlanta, GA.
- Group Intervention for Interpersonal Trauma.
Interventional study. This study will assess the acceptability and effectiveness of a six-session, modular, repeating group for low-income women who have symptoms of depression and/or post-traumatic stress disorder following interpersonal trauma exposure. Ages 18-70. Location in Washington, DC.
- Early Detection and Prevention of Mood Disorders in Children of Parents With Bipolar Disorder.
Interventional study. This study will develop strategies for early detection and prevention of mood disorders and associated impairment in adolescent children of parents with bipolar disorder. Ages 12-17. Location in New York, NY.
- Prevention of Depression in Spouses of People With Cognitive Impairment.
Interventional study. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a problem-solving training program in preventing depression in the spouses or family caregivers of persons with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia. Ages 18 and over. Location in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Identification and Therapy of Postpartum Depression.
Interventional study. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone-based depression screening and care management program in treating depression in postpartum women. Ages 18 and over. Location in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Understanding Brain Reward Responses in Individuals With Major Depressive Disorder.
Evaluation study. This study will examine brain responses associated with reinforcement and reward tasks in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). Ages 18-64. Locations in Boston, MA; Cambridge, MA; Charlestown, MA.
- Family Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Preventing Depression in Children.
Interventional study. This study will determine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus educational treatment in preventing depression in the children of parents with a history of depression. Ages 10 and over. Location in Nashville, TN.
- Determining Changes in Brain Structure Associated With Symptoms of Late-Life Depression.
Evaluation study. This study will determine the changes in brain structure and function that are responsible for mood and cognition changes that are sometimes associated with late-life depression. Ages 55 and over. Location in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Effect of Family-Based Prevention on Children of Depressed Parents.
Interventional study. This study will test the Protecting Families Program, a 10-week prevention program for depressed parents and their pre-teenage children, by comparing the effectiveness of the program versus parent training alone. Ages 9 and over. Location in Philadelphia, PA.
- A Clinic-Based Prevention Program for Families of Depressed Mothers.
Interventional study. This study will assess the effectiveness of the "Keeping Families Strong" program (KFS) in avoiding or delaying the onset of psychiatric disorders among children with depressed mothers. Ages 8 and over. Location in Baltimore, MD.
- Parent Psychoeducation and Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Latino Adolescents With Depression.
Interventional study. This study will determine the effectiveness of adding a parent-involved intervention to cognitive behavior therapy in reducing depressive symptoms among Latino adolescents with depression. Ages 13-17. Location in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Hormonal Causes of Menstrual-Related Mood Disorders.
Evaluation study. This study will explore possible hormonal causes of menstrual-related mood disorders (MRMD) by stopping the menstrual cycle with a drug called Lupron and then giving in sequence two menstrual cycle hormones, progesterone and estrogen. Ages 18-50. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Effects of Tryptophan Depletion on Brain Processing of Emotions in Patients With Mood Disorders.
Evaluation study. This study will investigate how the brain process emotions in healthy people and in patients who have major depression in order to better understand the causes of depression. Ages 18-50. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine in Major Depression.
Interventional study. This study examines whether Ketamine can cause a rapid-next day antidepressant effect in patients with Major Depression/Bipolar Disorder . Ages 18-65. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Dutasteride to Treat Women With Menstrually Related Mood Disorders.
Interventional study. This study will explore the effects of dutasteride on mood and the stress response across the menstrual cycle. Ages 30-50. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Clinical Trial of Estrogen for Postpartum Depression.
Interventional study. This study evaluates the efficacy of estrogen treatment in women with postpartum depression (PPD). Ages 20-45. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Screening Evaluation for Women With Postpartum Depression.
Evaluation study. This study evaluates the relationship between mood changes and hormones in women with postpartum depression (PPD). Ages 20-45. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Cholinergic Modulation of Condition and Emotion in Mood Disorders: Functional Neuroimaging Studies.
Interventional study. This study looks at the role of a specific brain chemical system in the mood and attention symptoms seen in major depression and bipolar disorders using functional brain imaging. Ages 18-55. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Raloxifene and Rimostil for Perimenopause-Related Depression.
Interventional study. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the drugs raloxifene and rimostil in treating perimenopause-related depression. Ages 40-60. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Clinical Trial of Fluoxetine in Anxiety and Depression in Children, and Associated Brain Changes.
Evaluation study. This study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to learn how the brain functions in adolescents receiving fluoxetine (Prozac) cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT) for anxiety or depression in children/adolescents. Ages 8-40. Locations in Bethesda, MD; Richmond, VA.
- Combined Hormone Replacement in Menstrually-Related Mood Disorders.
Evaluation study. This study investigates the effects on symptoms of combined treatment with estrogen and progesterone in women with severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD). Ages 18-50. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Perimenopause-Related Mood and Behavioral Disorders.
Evaluation study. The purpose of this study is to investigate mood and behavior changes in the time period surrounding and including menopause. Ages 40-60. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- A Treatment Study for Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).
Evaluation study. This study examines the effects of estrogen and progesterone on mood, the stress response, and brain function and behavior in women with premenstrual syndrome. Ages 18-50. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Brain Tissue Collection for Neuropathological Studies.
Evaluation study. The purpose of this study is to collect and study the brain tissue of deceased individuals to learn more about the nervous system and mental disorders. Locations in Washington, DC; Bethesda, MD; Fairfax, VA.
- Evaluation of the Genetics of Bipolar Disorder.
Evaluation study. This study looks to identify genes that may affect a person's chances of developing bipolar disorder (BP) and related conditions. Ages 18 and over. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- Study of Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoria.
Evaluation study. The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Ages 18-50. Location in Bethesda, MD.
- The Role of Hormones in Postpartum Mood Disorders.
Evaluation study. Determine whether postpartum depression is triggered by the abrupt withdrawal of estrogen and progesterone. Ages 18-50. Location in Bethesda, MD.
Search ClinicalTrials.gov for other NIH studies on Depression.
Related Information
- Learn more about Depression
Depression is a serious medical illness; it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling “down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days. It’s feeling “down” and “low” and “hopeless” for weeks at a time.
Clinical Research at NIMH
- For opportunities to participate in NIMH research on the NIH campus, visit the patient recruitment Website. Travel and lodging assistance available.
