Herbal hope: can ancient chinese medicine boost antidepressants?
NCT ID NCT07590609
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether adding a traditional Chinese herbal formula (Xingpi Jieyu) to a standard antidepressant helps people with severe major depression. 100 patients received either the herb plus antidepressant or a placebo plus antidepressant for 8 weeks. Researchers also checked blood markers related to cell energy to see if they predict who benefits most.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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150 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2023
- Finished
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Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: ① Outpatient/inpatient, aged 18-60, right-handed ② The diagnosis of Western medicine meets the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 for MDD, as well as the diagnostic criteria for depression and liver depression and spleen deficiency in the 2008 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine issued by the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine HAMD-17 score ≥ 18 points, and HAMD-17 item 3 ≤ 2 points Exclusion criteria: * DSM-5, with the exception of MDD, has any current or past diagnosis of Axis I mental disorders (MINI). Or it does not meet the diagnostic criteria for depression and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome in the "Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Common Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine" issued by the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2008 ② Education years\<5 years or IQ\<90 points ③ Suicide ideation or suicidal behavior (HAMD-17 item 3\>2 points)
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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
Locations
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Peking University Sixth Hospital
Beijing, 100191, China
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Peking University Sixth Hospital
Beijing, China