DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, MAJOR

This study looked at the long-term safety of esketamine nasal spray (a fast-acting antidepressant) when used together with standard antidepressants in 183 people with treatment-resistant depression. Participants had already completed 32 weeks of esketamine treatment and continued…

This study tested whether a new oral medicine, BI 1569912, can help adults aged 18 to 65 with major depressive disorder. 225 participants were randomly assigned to one of three doses of the drug or a placebo, taken daily for 6 weeks. Researchers measured changes in depression sym…

This study tested whether adding seltorexant, a sleep-related drug, to standard antidepressants helps improve depression symptoms in adults with major depression and insomnia. About 588 participants who hadn't responded well enough to their current antidepressant took either selt…

This study tested whether computerized brain-training activities could improve thinking skills and depression symptoms in older adults who were already taking antidepressants. Thirty-eight participants completed the program, and researchers measured changes in mental flexibility,…

This study tested whether a single dose of the experimental drug zelquistinel (AGN-241751) can quickly improve depression symptoms compared to a placebo. 251 adults with major depressive disorder took either the drug or a dummy pill, and researchers measured mood changes using a …

This study tested whether a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, could reduce depression symptoms better than a placebo (niacin). 347 adults with major depressive disorder received either psilocybin or niacin in a double-blind setup. The main…

This study tested a new, non-invasive treatment for major depression called transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), which uses near-infrared light on the scalp. Fifty adults with depression received either real light therapy or a sham treatment three times a week for six weeks. T…

This study tested an experimental drug called BI 1569912 in 243 adults aged 18–65 with major depression that didn't improve with previous treatments. Participants took either a low, medium, or high dose of the drug or a placebo once daily for 6 weeks, while continuing their usual…

This study tested whether adding aticaprant to a standard antidepressant helps adults with major depression who still feel little pleasure or interest (anhedonia). About 444 people took either aticaprant or a placebo pill for 6 weeks. The main goal was to see if depressive sympto…

This small pilot study tested whether cannabis oil (with different ratios of CBD to THC) could help with insomnia in people who also have major depression. Fourteen adults took either a high-CBD oil, a low-CBD oil, or a placebo for a short time. The main goal was to see if a larg…

This study tested whether daily smell training over 12 weeks can improve mood and smell perception in 150 people with mild depressive symptoms or major depression. Participants practiced smelling different odors each day. Researchers measured changes in smell ability and emotiona…

This study tested a drug called aticaprant in 513 adults with major depression who still had symptoms—especially loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia)—even after taking standard antidepressants. Participants took either aticaprant or a placebo pill alongside their usual antide…

This completed study used fMRI brain scans to understand how people with major depression can disengage from negative thinking. Researchers analyzed brain activity patterns during different thinking states in 89 participants. The goal was to identify the neural circuits involved …

This study looked at 545 people with major depressive disorder who also have anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure) and whose current antidepressants weren't working well enough. Researchers tracked their symptoms, treatments, and outcomes to better understand the disease and h…

This study looked at nearly 10,000 patients to see if combining information from clinical trials and electronic health records can help predict which depression medication works best for each person. Researchers analyzed data from people prescribed duloxetine or vortioxetine. The…