Current Studies
Depression Evaluations for Medication and Brain Imaging Studies
This study screens for various inpatient and outpatient studies that investigate the brain and experimental medications (such as ketamine) to quickly lift severe and hard-to-treat depressive symptoms.
Participation may include telehealth, outpatient visits and/or inpatient stays lasting 1 to 20 weeks at the NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD. Procedures may include: tapering off current psychiatric medications, a medication-free period, oral or intravenous medication versus placebo, and brain scans. You may also qualify for other studies that have different requirements and lengths of stay.
Participants must be ages 18-70 and free of serious medical conditions. There is no cost to participate, and compensation is provided. These studies may enroll eligible participants from across the USA. Travel arrangements are provided, and costs are covered by NIMH (arrangements vary by distance). After completing the study, participants receive short-term follow-up care at the NIH while transitioning back to a provider.
Depression, Hydroxynorketamine (HNK) vs. Placebo
The purpose of this study is to see if (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK) will improve symptoms of depression in people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It will evaluate the effect of HNK on these symptoms compared to a placebo. We believe HNK will lessen their severity.
We are enrolling eligible adults, ages 18 to 70 with major depressive disorder, and free of serious medical conditions. The entire study will last up to 12-14 weeks inpatient, with some durations that can be completed outpatient. The study procedures include a medication taper and drug-free period, 4 infusions of HNK and placebo, brain scans, blood draws, and psychological evaluations.
The study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. There is no cost to participate, and compensation is provided. This study enrolls eligible participants from across the USA. Travel arrangements are provided, and costs are covered by the NIMH (arrangements vary by distance). After completing the study, participants receive short-term follow-up care at the NIH while transitioning back to a provider.
Depression, Repeated Doses of Ketamine, and Neuroimaging
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the rapid and sustained antidepressant effects of repeated doses of ketamine in the brain. We want to learn how ketamine affects areas of the brain important in regulating mood and if there are unique signatures that could help predict who may respond to the drug. Also, we want to see if repeated doses of ketamine are safe and effective in treating the symptoms of depression.
We are enrolling eligible adults, ages 18 to 65 with major depressive disorder, and free of serious medical conditions. The study procedures include, a medication taper and drug-free period, taking repeated doses of the research drug, two infusions of placebo, multiple brain imaging scans, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and psychological testing.
Participation will include an inpatient stay and may also include outpatient visits and/or telehealth services. The entire study will last 14-20 weeks. The study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. There is no cost to participate, and compensation is provided. This study enrolls eligible participants from across the USA. Travel arrangements are provided, and costs are covered by the NIMH (arrangements vary by distance). After completing the study, participants receive short-term follow-up care at the NIH while transitioning back to a provider.
Healthy volunteers also take part in this study to help us understand the differences between individuals with and without mood disorders.
Suicide and the Brain
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) researchers seek adults 18 to 70, who have a history of attempted suicide but are not currently suicidal, for a study of suicide and brain function. Participation includes up to seven days as an inpatient and/or outpatient at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Procedures include blood tests, medical evaluations, brain imaging, sleep studies and psychiatric interviews. Some participants may be offered optional ketamine infusions. Participants do not need to stop their current medications. Pregnant women and individuals with serious medical conditions are not eligible.
The study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. There is no cost to participate, and compensation is provided. This study enrolls eligible participants from across the USA. Travel arrangements are provided, and costs are covered by the NIMH (arrangements vary by distance). After completing the study, participants receive short-term follow-up care at the NIH while transitioning back to a provider.
Healthy volunteers also take part in this study to help us understand the differences between individuals with and without mood disorders.
If you are in a crisis situation, contact your doctor's office, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911 for emergency services. You can also call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Your call will be connected to the crisis center nearest you. Trained staff can help talk you through your crisis.
Depression, Ketamine & Perampanel vs. Placebo
This research study is trying to better understand how ketamine (an FDA-approved anesthetic) works to provide rapid antidepressant effects. Researchers want to see if the antidepressant response of ketamine is linked to a specific protein in the brain, called AMPA receptors, and if taking perampanel (an FDA-approved epilepsy medication) with ketamine weakens or eliminates its antidepressant response.
We are enrolling eligible adults, ages 18 to 70 with major depressive disorder, and free of serious medical conditions. The study procedures include a medication taper and drug-free period, brain scans, blood draws, psychological evaluations.
Participation will include an inpatient stay and may also include outpatient visits and/or telehealth services. The entire study will last 5 weeks. The study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. There is no cost to participate, and compensation is provided. This study enrolls eligible participants from across the USA. Travel arrangements are provided, and costs are covered by the NIMH (arrangements vary by distance). After completing the study, participants receive short-term follow-up care at the NIH while transitioning back to a provider.
If you are interested and would like to find out if you qualify, email the study team (moodresearch@mail.nih.gov) or call 1-877-646-3644 (1-877-MIND-NIH) [TTY: 711].