Depression

New York, NY

150 Depression Trials near New York, NY

Power is an online platform that helps thousands of 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.

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No Placebo
Highly Paid
Stay on Current Meds
Pivotal Trials (Near Approval)
Breakthrough Medication
This trial tests if light therapy can reduce daytime sleepiness in children with Prader-Willi Syndrome by helping them feel more awake during the day and sleep better at night. Light therapy has been explored for daytime sleepiness and insomnia in various conditions, including Parkinson's disease and dementia.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:6 - 88

30 Participants Needed

This is a double blind active placebo controlled clinical trial for individuals within an inpatient setting with moderate to severe depression. The purpose of this study is to assess if nebulized ketamine can reduce depressive symptoms.
No Placebo Group
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3

40 Participants Needed

The goal of this study is to improve the mental health of home health aides, a workforce that provides care for adults at home but whose own health has been historically poor. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Will a health program called Living Healthy, which provides health education and support with positive thinking, be used by home health aides and do they like it? * Does Living Healthy actually improve home health aides' mood compared to what they usually do to take care of themselves? Participants in the study will get an 8-week health program called Living Healthy over 3 months. Some of the participants will also have a 'peer coach' who is another home health aide who's been trained to help them with the program and learn some ways to feel better. The study will compare the experiences of home health aides who get Living Healthy plus a peer coach with those who only get the Living Healthy program.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

100 Participants Needed

Aticaprant for Depression

New York, New York
This trial is testing if aticaprant can help adults with major depressive disorder who haven't responded well to current antidepressants. The medication works by targeting brain chemicals to improve mood and pleasure.
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Age:18 - 64

350 Participants Needed

This is a two-arm randomized controlled trial to compare telephone-based depression self-management (UPLIFT) to telephone-based support groups (BOOST). A sample of 120 English- and Spanish-speaking people with epilepsy (PWE) with elevated depressive symptoms will be enrolled. Both interventions are 8-week programs delivered in one-hour weekly sessions to groups of about 6 participants. Changes in depressive symptoms, quality of life and seizures will be assessed over 12 months. The trial will also examine mediators and moderators of treatment effects.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

120 Participants Needed

This trial tests if using VR headsets can help reduce pain for adult burn patients by distracting them with virtual experiences. Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to reduce pain in various medical procedures, including burn wound care.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:8+

50 Participants Needed

This trial tests a new medication in people with major depression who haven't improved with at least two other treatments. The drug works by changing brain chemicals to improve mood quickly. It has been approved for adults with difficult-to-treat depression and has been tested in various forms.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Age:18 - 65

90 Participants Needed

This trial is testing a new medication called COMP360 to help people with severe depression that hasn't improved with other treatments. The study involves adults aged 18 and older. Researchers want to see if a single dose of COMP360 can reduce depression symptoms when given with psychological support.
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3

255 Participants Needed

The overall goal of this study is to respond to the urgent need for an effective suicide prevention strategy for Black youth by examining the effectiveness of a systems-level strategy to recognize and respond to suicide risk among Black adolescents who present to emergency departments (EDs). The proposed strategy, WeCare, combines combines three components: (1) universal screening using the Computerized Adaptive Screen for Suicidal Youth (CASSY), (2) a brief intervention designed for Black youth with elevated suicide risk in for ED settings, Connections for Safety (CFS), that combines safety planning and strategies to support linkage to outpatient mental health services, and (3) supportive text messages to youth and parent/caregivers for six weeks following the youth's ED visit. Study objectives are (1) to integrate input from multiple stakeholders to inform and facilitate WeCare implementation, and (2) to use a hybrid one effectiveness-implementation design to evaluate its effectiveness.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:12 - 19

2200 Participants Needed

This study will conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a culturally tailored version of the NYU Caregiver Intervention (NYUCI) plus enhanced support (ES) through online chat groups (the NYUCI plus WeChat/Kakaotalk/other social media apps \[popular social media apps for individuals of Chinese or Korean descents\] peer support which we call the NYUCI-ES in reducing health risks for cardiometabolic disease among older Chinese and Korean American adults caring for relatives with ADRD. In collaboration with community organizations across the New York and northern New Jersey metropolitan area, we will enroll 300 caregivers of people with ADRD (150 Chinese and 150 Korean) in this study. Aim 1: Develop culturally adapted informational and educational materials about dementia and caregiving issues for social service providers of the intervention and for family caregivers. Aim 2: Test the hypothesis, H1: A counseling and support intervention (the NYUCI-ES) will significantly improve psychosocial factors such as depression, stress self-rated health and chronic disease management among Chinese and Korean-American ADRD caregivers and these changes will be mediated by improvement in social support. H1a: By the first (6- month) follow-up, the mediators (increases in social support, stress reaction) will improve significantly in the intervention group compared to baseline values and the control group. H1b: These improvements will be maintained, and lead to reduction in depressive symptoms, and improvement in self-reported health and chronic disease self-management by the 12-month follow-up compared to the control group. Aim 3: Test the hypothesis, H2: the NYUCI-ES will reduce biologic risk factors, including metabolic health (glycosylated hemoglobin, BMI) and inflammation (hsCRP, lipid metabolism, etc.) within 6 months of enrollment compared to baseline and a control group; these changes will be mediated through increases in social support and decreases in depressive symptoms and will be maintained at the 12-month follow-up. The public health significance of these findings will likely have an impact on health care policy for CGs from diverse underserved ethnic and cultural backgrounds, potentially reducing morbidity, and improving their quality of life.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:50+

300 Participants Needed

This trial tests a natural THC-based medicine called IGC-AD1, given in small doses regularly. It targets people aged 60 and above with Alzheimer's-related dementia who have been experiencing agitation. The THC in the medicine helps reduce agitation by interacting with brain signals. The most recent trial reported significant improvement in agitation using nabilone.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:60+

164 Participants Needed

The purpose of this study is to determine if treatment with a single dose of RE104 for Injection reduces depressive symptoms or depressive symptoms mixed with anxiety symptoms in participants with Adjustment Disorder due to cancer or other illnesses such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's Disease (PD) or Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) as compared to active-placebo.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2

100 Participants Needed

Pain is common in children presenting to the emergency department but is frequently undertreated, leading to both short- and long-term consequences. Morphine is the standard treatment for children with moderate to severe acute pain, but its use is associated with serious side effects and caregiver and clinician concerns related to opioid administration. The investigators aim to determine if sub-dissociative ketamine is non-inferior to morphine for treating acute pain and a preferable alternative for treating acute pain in children because of its more favorable side effect profile and potential long-term benefits related to pain-related function, analgesic use/misuse, and mental and behavioral health outcomes.
No Placebo Group
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Not Yet Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3
Age:6 - 17

1010 Participants Needed

The purpose of this study is to examine whether psychoeducation counseling for older cancer patients undergoing treatment is feasible and worthwhile. The investigators will test this in a group or individual phone counseling format. Many cancer patients seek counseling to help with the emotional burden of their illnesses. Counseling often helps them cope with cancer by giving them a place to express their feelings. This geriatric-specific psychoeducation is intended to help older cancer patients cope with the burden of cancer and aging. The purpose of this study is to see if this type of counseling helps reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety, perception of loneliness and isolation. In addition this counseling aims to improve coping and quality of life (QOL). Individuals who choose not to take part in the intervention study will be asked if they are willing to participate in a brief refusal sub study. The purpose of the refusal substudy is to compare levels of distress in patients that choose to participate and those that decline. This will yield valuable data that will help us distinguish between patients that decline due to lack of interest in research and those that decline due to high levels of distress. Participation in the refusal sub study consists of completion of 2 brief questionnaires.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Age:70+

107 Participants Needed

The purpose of this study is to see if a Single Counseling Session for Cancer can help reduce psychosocial distress and improve quality of life in people with breast cancer who are waiting to receive ongoing counseling services (outpatient psychotherapy services). The Single Counseling Session for Cancer-which I will refer to as the "study counseling" during this call-is a one-session, 60-minute counseling program designed to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in people with cancer who are waiting to receive outpatient psychotherapy services. The researchers will look at whether the study counseling is effective in participants and practical (feasible) for them to complete.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Sex:Female

20 Participants Needed

The goal of this pilot study is to determine if a personalized trial testing a Mind-Body Intervention (MBI) can produce a meaningful increase in the average daily sleep duration among women 40-60 years of age working in healthcare. A total of 60 eligible participants will be randomized to one of two possible orders of treatment exposure comprised of three components: mindfulness, yoga, and guided walking, each assigned in 2-week block sequences for a total period of 12 weeks. The study will include a 2-week baseline period during which their baseline sleep duration and adherence to the Fitbit wear and survey submission will be assessed. Following the 2-week run-in period, participants deemed eligible and achieved at least 80% adherence of Fitbit wear and survey submission will be randomized to one of the two intervention arms. Exploratory aims include assessments of sleep quality, physiological factors and their direct and indirect relationships with participants' perceived stress, anxiety, and depression.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Age:40 - 60
Sex:Female

60 Participants Needed

The purpose of this study is to use a stepped-care approach in treating symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The information learned by doing this study may help us to develop some target treatments for PTSD symptoms in survivors of stem cell transplant. Participants in this study will be randomized to a mobile app or usual care. An assessment will be made after 4 weeks and a determination made of adding more intensive treatment. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire 4 times over a period of 6 months, at the time your participation is complete.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

524 Participants Needed

Solriamfetol for Depression

Brooklyn, New York
This trial is testing solriamfetol, a medication that may help improve symptoms of depression. It targets adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) who do not have psychotic features. Solriamfetol works by affecting brain chemicals involved in mood regulation, potentially helping to improve mood and reduce depression symptoms.
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3
Age:18 - 65

300 Participants Needed

This trial is testing the safety and effectiveness of Cariprazine for treating depressive episodes in children and teenagers with bipolar I disorder. The goal is to find out if Cariprazine can help young people with this condition. Cariprazine is an atypical antipsychotic recently approved for the treatment of depressive episodes in adults with bipolar I disorder.
Pivotal Trial (Near Approval)

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 3
Age:10 - 17

380 Participants Needed

Ketamine for Depression

New York, New York
This trial is testing how ketamine affects a specific brain area in people with depression who struggle with feeling pleasure and anxiety. Ketamine is known for its quick antidepressant effects. The study will look at changes in brain activity and symptoms over time. Ketamine's rapid and powerful antidepressant effects were discovered by chance and have led to significant research into its mechanisms.

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 4
Age:18 - 65

120 Participants Needed

Why Other Patients Applied

"My long history of depression has been met with a long list of trial and error drugs. My current medication (generic Pristiq) has been prescribed for two decades (though I tried several other medications during my last serious episode several years ago. When the episode passed I returned to generic Pristiq. I am interested in a clinical trial because I wonder if I can do something different to more effectively avoid a serious depressive episode and lift the general malaise I often feel."

DD
Depression PatientAge: 62

"I’m ready to move on with my life. I did a poor job bouncing back from COVID (dealing with a disability). I'd already had a PTSD diagnosis after my spouse died. These past few years have been tough and I'd like to feel like I'm alive again. I need help getting out of this phase."

FY
Depression PatientAge: 60

"I have struggled my entire life with depression. I feel like it took away half my life because I've been unable to truly feel the good times and people around me, like I'm numb. I would like to take part to see if it might help me, but I would also like to help others by doing this trial if I am accepted. I would love to enjoy life and truly feel the happy experiences that might come my way rather than observe them without feeling."

EW
Depression PatientAge: 45

"I’ve had depression for many years and been on a LOT of different medications. They work for awhile and then they just stop working. It’s very frustrating. I am very open to trying something new and different. Just looking to fight this, head on."

ZX
Depression PatientAge: 55

"I've been struggling with alcoholism and depression on-and-off for about 12 years. I have heard of people have good outcomes for various mental health issues after using psilocybin but would not be willing to try it without a doctor's care. So I'm applying to a trial. "

QJ
Depression PatientAge: 60
This trial is testing ketamine to see if it can quickly improve depression and cognitive functions in people with mild cognitive impairment and depression (MCI-D). The study will also look at how brain changes affect the treatment's effectiveness. The goal is to gather data for a larger study.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Active Not Recruiting
Trial Phase:Phase 2
Age:50 - 90

15 Participants Needed

This trial tests a culturally-responsive mental health program called 'Just Do You' for young adults from minority groups. It includes new parts that use cultural interviews and creative arts to better connect with participants. The goal is to help them stay involved in their treatment and use mental health services more effectively.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:18 - 34

80 Participants Needed

This trial tests a digital tool that helps heart disease patients with depression work with their doctors to choose the best treatment. The tool also encourages patients to engage in activities that can improve their mood. The goal is to see if this approach reduces depressive symptoms and helps more patients start treatment.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:21+

350 Participants Needed

This trial aims to see if a custom mobile app can help young people with lupus stay engaged in their medical care and manage depression. The study focuses on adolescents and young adults from the Bronx, ages 15-24. The app offers personalized support to help them keep up with health appointments and improve their mood.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Enrolling By Invitation
Trial Phase:Unphased
Age:15 - 25

40 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

This trial tests a new treatment combining cognitive exercises and practical sessions for Veterans with depression and past suicide attempts. The goal is to improve thinking skills to better handle stress and reduce suicidal thoughts.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Age:18 - 60

36 Participants Needed

This trial is testing a new medication called NMRA-335140 to see if it can help adults with Bipolar II disorder who are experiencing major depression. The medication aims to improve mood and reduce feelings of depression.

Trial Details

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

60 Participants Needed

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is defined as depression that occurs after childbirth, with intense symptoms that last longer than "baby blues". PPD differs greatly from "baby blues", a term used to describe the typical sadness, worry and tiredness that women experience after childbirth, which often resolves within a week or two on its own. The symptoms of PPD interfere with many aspects of daily living and can have unhealthy short-term and long-term outcomes, both for the mother and baby. One-third of women in the U.S. with PPD are identified in clinical settings, yet only half of those begin psychotherapy treatment. Unfortunately, mothers whose newborns are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at high risk for developing PPD, necessitating early identification and evidence-based treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) are the two most effective psychotherapy treatments for PPD, yet no randomized controlled clinical trials were found that directly compared the two types of treatment or determined whether combining the two approaches is more helpful for PPD than either approach alone. This clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of a 4-week intervention of either CBT or IPT for PPD in NICU mothers and to determine whether a sequential 8-week intervention (IPT then CBT, or CBT then IPT) is more beneficial.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Sex:Female

72 Participants Needed

This trial is testing a group therapy program called CARE for parents with postpartum depression or anxiety. The program helps parents understand their own and their baby's thoughts and feelings to improve mental health and reduce stress. The study targets parents with infants aged 3 to 12 months who are receiving care at Montefiore Medical Center.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased
Sex:Female

21 Participants Needed

This trial is testing a type of therapy called Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, provided over the phone, through video calls, or as part of regular care with added support. It aims to help people with migraines and depressive symptoms by teaching them to focus on the present moment and understand their thought patterns better. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was developed to prevent relapse in recurrent depression by combining cognitive behavioral therapy and meditative techniques.
No Placebo Group

Trial Details

Trial Status:Recruiting
Trial Phase:Unphased

144 Participants Needed

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Depression clinical trials in New York, NY 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 Depression clinical trials in New York, NY 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 Depression trials in New York, NY 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 in New York, NY for 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 in New York, NY 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 Depression medical study in New York, NY?

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 Depression clinical trials in New York, NY?

Most recently, we added Whole-Body Hyperthermia for Postpartum Depression, Mental Health App + Remote Therapy for Depression and Morphine or Ketamine for Pain 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 Depression trials in New York, NY?

The Depression clinics in New York, NY currently recognized as Power Preferred are: Neurobehavioral Research, Inc in Cedarhurst, New York The Depression clinics in New York, NY currently recognized as SuperSites are: Hapworth Research, INC. in New York, New York Hapworth Research, INC in New York, New York Integrative Clinical Trials in Brooklyn, New York

What are the current treatment options for depression?

Doctors use a stepped-care approach. First, most people try evidence-based talk therapy (such as CBT or interpersonal therapy), an antidepressant medicine (SSRIs are typical), or both, while also improving sleep, exercise and diet. If symptoms persist, the next “step” is to add or switch treatments—e.g., combining two medicines, adding lithium or an antipsychotic, or using brain-stimulation methods like transcranial magnetic stimulation or, for severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy; newer options such as esketamine nasal spray are reserved for treatment-resistant depression. Working with a clinician to review progress every few weeks and adjust the plan is key to finding the right mix.

When is depression considered severe?

Doctors call a depressive episode “severe” when almost all of the nine core symptoms are present at high intensity, the person’s daily life has largely shut down (can’t work, study, or manage self-care), or there are high-risk features like active suicidal thoughts, a recent attempt, or hallucinations/false beliefs. On common checklists this usually means a PHQ-9 score of 20 or higher, and it signals the need for urgent, comprehensive care—often a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and sometimes hospitalization. If you or someone you know reaches this point, treat it as an emergency and contact a mental-health professional or call/text 988 (USA) or your local crisis line right away.

Is it possible to never be depressed again?

Some people have a single episode of depression and stay well, but the risk of another episode is higher if you stop treatment too soon, have had several episodes before, or still have mild symptoms. You can greatly lower that risk by continuing the treatment that got you better for at least 6–12 months, learning relapse-prevention skills in CBT or mindfulness therapy, keeping regular sleep, exercise, and social routines, and checking in early with a professional if warning signs return. In short, there is no iron-clad guarantee you’ll never be depressed again, but staying on maintenance care and a healthy lifestyle makes long-term wellness much more likely.

What are the top 3 symptoms of depression?

Doctors look first for three core signs: 1) a low or hopeless mood that hangs around most of the day, nearly every day; 2) a marked loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy (called anhedonia); and 3) big changes in body energy—feeling drained, sleeping or eating far more or less than usual. If any of these have lasted two weeks or longer, it’s time to talk with a health professional, because other symptoms can pile on and treatment works best when started early.

Is depression a chemical imbalance?

No—depression can’t be pinned on one missing brain chemical. Research shows it arises from a mix of factors: how your brain circuits and several neurotransmitters work, your genes, long-term stress, and life circumstances all interact. Because causes differ from person to person, the most effective care is usually a combination of approaches—medication when needed, talking therapies, and lifestyle changes—worked out with your clinician.

How many people have untreatable depression?

Doctors call “untreatable” depression “treatment-resistant depression,” meaning the person has not improved after trying at least two suitable antidepressants. Large studies show this applies to roughly one-quarter to one-third of people with major depression—about 2–3 % of adults overall, or roughly 5–8 million U.S. adults in any given year. Importantly, many still respond to other options such as medication combinations, ketamine/esketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or electroconvulsive therapy.

How to get out of deep depression?

Think of recovery as two tracks that run side-by-side. Track 1: get professional help right away—if you ever feel unsafe call 988 (or your local hotline), and with a clinician discuss proven treatments such as CBT, antidepressant medicine, and, when needed, newer options like ketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation or electroconvulsive therapy. Track 2: reinforce the medical plan daily with mood-boosting basics—consistent exercise, regular sleep, balanced meals, limited alcohol or drugs, and time with supportive people—because these habits make the treatments work better and give you small, sustainable lifts while you heal.

Why is depression so hard to treat?

Depression is hard to treat because it isn’t a single disease—each person’s symptoms arise from a unique blend of brain chemistry, genetics, stress, medical issues, and life circumstances—so one-size-fits-all therapies rarely work. Without a blood test to guide choices, clinicians must try treatments sequentially, and roughly one-third of people need several steps or a combination of medication, talk therapy, lifestyle changes, or newer options like ketamine or magnetic stimulation before they feel well. The encouraging news is that persistence with a systematic plan and attention to sleep, exercise, and co-existing conditions allows most patients to eventually reach full recovery.

What are unhealthy coping mechanisms for depression?

Unhealthy coping means doing things that give quick relief but actually deepen depression—common examples include using alcohol or other drugs, overeating or not eating, oversleeping or endless screen-scrolling to avoid feelings, cutting or other self-harm, harsh self-talk and rumination, and withdrawing from friends or lashing out at them. These behaviors worsen mood, relationships, and safety; if you notice yourself relying on them, reach out to a trusted person or mental-health professional (or call your local crisis line) and ask about safer skills such as problem-solving steps, scheduled activity, or therapy.

Is it OK to have clinical depression?

Yes—having clinical depression isn’t a personal failing; it’s a common medical illness, and recognising it is the first step toward feeling better. What isn’t OK is to face it alone, because untreated depression can worsen and raise the risk of other problems, whereas most people improve with timely care such as talk therapy, medication, or a combination. If symptoms last more than two weeks or include thoughts of self-harm, book a visit with a primary-care doctor or mental-health professional and, in crisis, call 988 (U.S.) or your local emergency number—effective help and recovery are the norm when treatment is started.

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