Clinical trials
Treatment Resistant Depression clinical trials
Below are recruiting treatment resistant depression clinical trials, each written for real people, not researchers. We’re tracking 126 recruiting studies, each written for real people, not researchers, below.
Recruiting studies
- NCT05952674Recruiting
Vagus nerve stimulation for long-term depression symptoms
This trial studies whether a device that stimulates the vagus nerve (VNS) can help people with treatment-resistant depression or related mood disorders that have not improved despite multiple therapies. It may help by targeting mood symptoms when other treatments haven’t worked well.
Angers, FranceAges 18 years+ - NCT04080778Recruiting
Magnetic seizure treatment for severe bipolar or hard-to-treat depression
This trial studies whether a seizure-like therapy using magnet stimulation can quickly reduce severe depressive symptoms in people with bipolar depression or treatment-resistant depression. It may help when depression is intense and hasn’t improved enough with at least two antidepressant medicines.
Houston, TexasAges 22–85 - NCT05773755Recruiting
Brain stimulation surgery for treatment-resistant depression
This trial studies whether deep brain stimulation (DBS)—a surgically placed brain device—can reduce severe, long-lasting depression that hasn’t responded to many treatments. It may help people whose depression has persisted despite trying multiple antidepressant and other evidence-based therapies.
New York, New YorkAges 25–70 - NCT05680220Recruiting
40 Hz light therapy for adults with depression
This trial studies whether daily 40 Hz light stimulation can reduce symptoms of major depression. You’d use a light device for about an hour each day for 6 weeks, while researchers track changes in depression severity.
Copenhagen, DenmarkAges 18–75 - NCT05660642RecruitingPhase 2
Safety and tolerability study for BPL-003 in hard-to-treat depression
This Phase 2 study tests BPL-003 in people with treatment-resistant depression to learn about its safety and how it affects the body and brain. Because it is open-label, everyone knows they are getting the study treatment, and you’ll also need to stop your current antidepressant during the study.
LiverpoolAges 18–75 - NCT05641623RecruitingPhase 2
Add-on treatment for depression not improved by standard medication
This trial tests whether adding the study drug OSU6162 to your current antidepressant can help when standard medications haven't worked well enough. It aims to reduce depression symptoms over several weeks.
Lund, Skåne CountyAges 25–75 - NCT05570344Recruiting
Texting support plus brain stimulation for hard-to-treat depression
This study tests whether adding supportive text messages to brain stimulation (repetitive TMS) helps people with depression that has not improved after at least two antidepressant tries. It may help some people by combining a brain-based treatment with ongoing daily encouragement and support.
Edmonton, AlbertaAges 18 years+ - NCT05577247Recruiting
Study of new thinking skills in hard-to-treat depression
This trial looks at how people with treatment-resistant major depression respond when starting a new depression medicine that affects glutamate signaling. It also involves brain scans and thinking/learning tasks, aiming to understand what helps people improve when standard treatments haven’t worked.
ParisAges 18–70 - NCT04956016Recruiting
Compare two rTMS treatments for moderate to severe depression
This study tests whether a classic type of brain stimulation (rTMS) works better or the same as a deeper version for depression that keeps coming back or is ongoing. You may be offered one of the two stimulation options to see which helps reduce depressive symptoms.
PoitiersAges 18 years+ - NCT04996433Recruiting
Compare two talk therapy programs for treatment-resistant depression
This study compares two psychotherapy programs to help people who have ongoing, difficult-to-treat depression while in inpatient care. If you qualify, you’ll receive one of the therapy programs and be followed to see which approach helps depression symptoms more.
Berlin, State of BerlinAges 18–75 - NCT04480918Recruiting
Registry for people with depression or bipolar to receive psychiatry care
This is a patient registry that enrolls people being evaluated for treatment options from an Interventional Psychiatry Service. It helps track patients with depression, bipolar disorder, or treatment-resistant OCD who are suitable for these psychiatry treatments.
Iowa City, IowaAges 18–99 - NCT04124341Recruiting
Brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression
This study tests a new brain stimulation treatment for people with severe depression that hasn't improved with standard treatments. You must have tried at least four different depression treatments without success, and either had or refused electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). You’ll need to be under a psychiatrist’s care and be enrolled in Medicare. The study involves brain scans and EEG sessions to tailor the treatment to you.
Minneapolis, MinnesotaAges 22–70 - NCT04041479RecruitingPhase 3
Brain-scan guided rTMS for treatment-resistant depression
This trial tests whether using brain-related “biomarkers” from your scans to guide rTMS can improve depression that hasn’t responded to at least one antidepressant. It may help by targeting brain circuits linked to depression more precisely.
Stanford, CaliforniaAges 22–65 - NCT03973268RecruitingPhase 1
Ketamine study to understand treatment response in hard-to-treat depression
This early-stage study tests ketamine and looks at what brain changes may explain why it helps people with major depression that hasn’t improved with usual treatments. You may be asked to stay in the hospital and complete detailed interviews, mood rating scales, and brain imaging.
Bethesda, MarylandAges 18–70 - NCT03887715Recruiting
VNS device for long-term depression that hasn’t improved
This trial studies whether a vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device can reduce symptoms of treatment-resistant depression. Participants either receive the VNS treatment or a no-stimulation control, to compare safety and effectiveness.
Birmingham, AlabamaAges 18 years+ - NCT03952962Recruiting
Brain stimulation trial for depression that hasn’t improved
This trial tests a targeted deep brain stimulation procedure to reduce symptoms in people with long-lasting, treatment-resistant depression. It may help by improving mood symptoms using stimulation guided by detailed brain imaging.
Dallas, TexasAges 21–70 - NCT03537794Recruiting
Brain scan study in treatment-resistant depression
This study compares brain synaptic density in people with treatment-resistant depression, people with depression that responds to treatment, and healthy controls. It uses a PET scan to measure synaptic density and aims to understand the biological differences.
Toronto, OntarioAges 25–65 - NCT03320304Recruiting
VNS for long-term depression that hasn’t improved with treatment
This trial studies how well and how efficiently VNS therapy works for people with long-lasting or repeated major depression that hasn’t responded to enough antidepressant treatments. It may help patients who are already receiving depression treatment but are still struggling.
ViennaAges 18 years+ - NCT02122562RecruitingPhase 2
Ketamine treatment for depression that hasn’t responded to care
This Phase 2 study tests ketamine for people with major depression that hasn’t improved after at least one antidepressant. It aims to see whether ketamine can reduce depression symptoms during a current depressive episode.
Iowa City, IowaAges 18–55 - NCT07748091Recruiting
Brain wave and inflammation markers in shock therapy for depression
This study looks at brain wave patterns and markers of inflammation in people with depression that hasn't improved with other treatments and who are receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT, also known as shock therapy). The goal is to understand how these markers might relate to how well ECT works.
Istanbul, BakırköyAges 18–60 - NCT06370988Recruiting
Theta-burst stimulation for bipolar depression
This study tests a type of brain stimulation (theta-burst TMS) to see if it helps improve depression in people with bipolar disorder. It might be a good option if you have tried medication but still feel depressed.
Toronto, OntarioAges 18–65 - NCT07184619RecruitingPhase 3
Evenamide for hard-to-treat schizophrenia (add-on study)
This trial tests a new medication, evenamide, added to your current antipsychotic treatment. It looks to see if it can help people whose schizophrenia has not responded well to standard therapies.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06943573RecruitingPhase 2
Psilocybin therapy for bipolar ii depression
This study tests whether a psychedelic drug called psilocybin (the active ingredient in 'magic' mushrooms), combined with therapy, can help relieve depression in people with bipolar II disorder who haven't gotten better with other treatments. You'll receive the drug in a supervised setting and attend follow-up visits to see how it affects your mood.
Vancouver, British ColumbiaAges 19–65 - NCT07284667RecruitingPhase 2
A new medicine for depression that hasn't improved with other treatments
This trial tests a new medicine called ACP-211 in adults with major depression who have not gotten enough relief from at least two previous antidepressants. The goal is to see if it can help when other treatments have not worked well.
Birmingham, AlabamaAges 18–65
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Common questions
- Are there clinical trials for treatment resistant depression?
- Yes. Clin2 currently lists 126 recruiting treatment resistant depression studies from the U.S. registry, each rewritten for real people, not researchers, so you can see what it’s testing and who it’s for.
- How do I know if I qualify for a treatment resistant depression trial?
- Each study lists its eligibility criteria — rules about age, diagnosis, and prior treatments. On every Clin2 trial page we explain these in words written for real people and offer a short, optional pre-screen for a fit read. The study team makes the final decision.
- Does it cost anything to join a treatment resistant depression trial?
- Using Clin2 is always free. Many trials cover the cost of the study treatment and related visits; some reimburse travel. The study team explains exactly what’s covered before you decide.
Related conditions
Clin2 helps you find and understand clinical trials and does not provide medical advice. Study data comes from ClinicalTrials.gov. Talk with your doctor about whether a specific trial is right for you.