Can a Two-Week pill fix the Brain's reward system in depression?
NCT ID NCT07523048
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a medication called dextromethorphan-bupropion (Auvelity) can change brain activity related to reward and motivation in adults with major depression. Thirty participants will take the pill daily for two weeks and undergo brain scans to see if the drug affects how the brain responds to rewards. The goal is to understand if this treatment can help improve the lack of enjoyment often felt in depression.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
dextromethorphan-bupropion (Auvelity)
What this could lead to
If this works, it could show that Auvelity helps restore enjoyment and motivation in people with depression by changing how the brain processes rewards.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase study with only 30 participants and no placebo group, so results may not apply broadly. The two-week treatment period is very short, and the main outcome is a brain scan change, not a direct measure of mood improvement.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation
RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M5S1M2, Canada
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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