Can peer coaches help beat depression and addiction?

NCT ID NCT07219394

Symptom relief Sponsor: Wayne State University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether peer recovery specialists—people who have themselves recovered from mental health or substance use problems—can effectively deliver a therapy called behavioral activation to reduce depression and substance use. The trial will enroll 250 low-income adults with depression and substance use disorder, comparing the peer-delivered therapy to standard peer support. Participants will be followed for 12 months to see if their depression symptoms improve.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Peer Activate (behavioral activation therapy delivered by peer recovery specialists)
What this could lead to: If effective, this could provide a scalable, low-cost way to treat depression in people with substance use disorder, especially in underserved communities.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage effectiveness trial with no blinding, so results may be influenced by participant expectations. The intervention is behavioral, not a drug, so effects may be modest.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 250 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

May 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Jan 2029

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years old or older * Report clinically-significant symptoms of depression, as indexed by a score of 8+ on the PHQ-9. Exclusion Criteria: * Active, under treated psychotic symptoms or mania that would interfere with participation in study procedures * Inability to provide informed consent and/or complete procedures in English

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Major depressive disorder are added.

Vår säkerhetsrekommendation!

Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

major depressive disorder substance-related disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Major depressive disorder Substance use disorders

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
The official record

ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

Open the record ↗
A doctor treating you

A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Can peer coaches help beat depression and addiction?

What the study statuses mean