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Major Depressive Disorder clinical trials
Every US clinical trial registered for Major Depressive Disorder — phase mix, recruiting status, and the sponsors running them, straight from the NIH ClinicalTrials.gov registry.
283 US clinical trials · 109 currently recruiting
The research picture
Major Depressive Disorder has 283 registered US clinical trials, 109 of them open to new participants right now — about 39% of the total.
- 109
- recruiting participants now
- 39%
- of trials open to enrollment
- 74
- in Phase 3–4 (later-stage)
- 19
- top sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
Counts reflect the public ClinicalTrials.gov registry as last mirrored by PlainTrial. Status and phase are reported by each study's sponsor. This is reference information, not medical advice.
Active & Recent Trials
RIVER At Home Ketamine Protocols
RIVER Foundation
NCT06070766
Study of Neuro-Cognitive Correlates of Pediatric Anxiety Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NCT00018057
Study to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of NMRA-335140-501
Neumora Therapeutics
NCT06029439
University of Iowa Interventional Psychiatry Service Patient Registry
Mark Niciu
NCT04480918
Defining Neurobiological Links Between Substance Use and Mental Illness
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
NCT05538910
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Neuromodulation of Executive Function Across Neuropsychiatric Populations
Massachusetts General Hospital
NCT04296604
Long-Term Study to Assess the Safety and Tolerability of NBI-1065845 as an Adjunctive Treatment in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Neurocrine Biosciences
NCT06966401
A Study to Evaluate the Maintenance Effect of NBI-1065845 as an Adjunctive Treatment in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Neurocrine Biosciences
NCT07196501
Study of Lumateperone as Adjunctive Therapy in the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
Intra-Cellular Therapies
NCT05850689
A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of SP-624 in the Treatment of Adults With Major Depressive Disorder
Sirtsei Pharmaceuticals
NCT06254612
MicroRNA Correlates of Childhood Maltreatment and Suicidality
University of Alabama at Birmingham
NCT04923685
A Randomized Study of Azetukalner Versus Placebo in Major Depressive Disorder
Xenon Pharmaceuticals
NCT06775379
A Randomized Study of Azetukalner Versus Placebo in Major Depressive Disorder (X-NOVA3)
Xenon Pharmaceuticals
NCT07076407
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of AXS-05 Compared to Bupropion in Preventing the Relapse of Depressive Symptoms
Axsome Therapeutics
NCT06223880
Biomarker-guided rTMS for Treatment Resistant Depression
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
NCT04041479
Study to Assess the Effects of Oral NMRA-335140 Versus Placebo in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder
Neumora Therapeutics
NCT06058013
Study to Assess the Effects of Oral NMRA-335140 in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder
Neumora Therapeutics
NCT06058039
Study of ALTO-300 in MDD
Alto Neuroscience
NCT05922878
Taking Action for College Students
Temple University
NCT06700902
Regulation of Affect and Physiology in Depression
University of Southern California
NCT06345859
Sensory Synchronized Imaging and Neuromodulation
VA Office of Research and Development
NCT06548113
Neural-Derived Plasma Exosomal MicroRNAs As Promising Novel Biomarkers for Suicidality and Treatment Outcome in Adolescents
University of Alabama at Birmingham
NCT05437588
Study of ABX-002 for the Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (AMPLIFY)
Autobahn Therapeutics
NCT06633016
Beyond Monoamines: The Role of the Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Receptor in Major Depression
Mclean Hospital
NCT05630963
Clinical Validation of Samsung Smartwatch
Massachusetts General Hospital
NCT05767593
"A Study of a Deuterated Psilocin Analog (CYB003) in Humans With Major Depressive Disorder"
Cybin IRL Limited
NCT06564818
Combination of Novel Therapies for CKD Comorbid Depression
Stony Brook University
NCT04422652
Amygdala Neurofeedback for Depression - Large Scale Clinical Trial
Kymberly Young
NCT05703256
Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of NBI-1065845 as an Adjunctive Treatment in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Neurocrine Biosciences
NCT06786624
RESISTance Exercise for Depression Trial
University of Wisconsin, Madison
NCT06110897
NBI-1065845-MDD3025: Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of NBI-1065845 as an Adjunctive Treatment in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Neurocrine Biosciences
NCT06911112
NBI-1065845-MDD3026: Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of NBI-1065845 as an Adjunctive Treatment in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Neurocrine Biosciences
NCT06963021
IPT for Major Depression Following Perinatal Loss: Healing After Loss (HeAL)
Michigan State University
NCT04629599
Identifying Cerebral Hemodynamic Patterns in Mood Disorders and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study
Mayo Clinic
NCT06897670
A Study to Assess Change in Disease Activity and Adverse Events of Oral Icalcaprant in Adult Participants With Major Depressive Disorder
AbbVie
NCT07276997
Mechanisms of Rumination Change in Adolescent Depression
Ohio State University
NCT03859297
Neural Response to Inflammatory Challenge in Major Depressive Disorder
Laureate Institute for Brain Research
NCT04751331
Search for Novel Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Targets for Mental Illness
Brigham and Women's Hospital
NCT06376734
Antidepressant Effects of Nitrous Oxide
University of Chicago
NCT05357040
A Phase 2 Study of Zelquistinel or Placebo for the Reduction of Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder
Syndeio Biosciences
NCT07115329
Zelquistinel or Placebo for the Reduction of Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder
Syndeio Biosciences
NCT06547489
Neuropharmacologic Imaging and Biomarker Assessments of Response to Acute and Repeated-Dosed Ketamine Infusions in Major Depressive Disorder
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NCT03065335
Reward Processing and Depressive Subtypes: Identifying Neural Biotypes
San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
NCT06080646
Stress Dynamics and Familial Risk for Depression in Female Adolescents
Mclean Hospital
NCT06816329
Exercise Training for Managing Major Depressive Disorder in Multiple Sclerosis
University of Illinois at Chicago
NCT05051618
Optimizing Brain Excitability in Depression
Stanford University
NCT07242105
Evaluating tDCS Brain-stimulation in Depression Using MRI
University of California, Los Angeles
NCT05598034
Glutamatergic Adaptation to Stress as a Mechanism for Anhedonia and Treatment Response With Ketamine
Emory University
NCT05327699
Positive Processes and Transition to Health (PATH)
Case Western Reserve University
NCT06093906
Imaging SV2A in Mood Disorders
Yale University
NCT02734602
Brain Changes During Social Reward Psychotherapy for Mid- and Late-Life Suicidality
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
NCT05925322
Neuroactive Steroid to Treat Depressed Mood: A Trial for People With HIV
Massachusetts General Hospital
NCT05570812
Imaging Depression in Parkinson's Disease
Yale University
NCT06402955
Neural Circuit Effects of Ketamine in Depression
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
NCT06213324
Transcranial Near Infrared Radiation and Cerebral Blood Flow in Depression - R33
NYU Langone Health
NCT05573074
5-HTP and Creatine for Depression R33 Phase
University of Utah
NCT05895747
Psilocybin rTMS for Treatment Resistant Depression
University of Texas at Austin
NCT06132178
Exercise-priming of CBT for Depression: the CBT+ Trial
University of Wisconsin, Madison
NCT07221929
JAK Signaling in Depression
Emory University
NCT07003997
Long-Term Maintenance With Ketamine and Esketamine for Reduction of Suicide in High-Risk Patients With Depression
Massachusetts General Hospital
NCT05450432
Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for Assessment of Depression
University of California, San Francis
NCT04061148
Targeting Network Dysfunction in Apathy of Late-life Depression Using Digital Therapeutics
AdventHealth
NCT05877885
Neural Correlates of Stress and Perceived Control in Adolescent Depression
Mclean Hospital
NCT04788524
Mindful Self-compassion for Anxiety and Depression: Impact of Delivery Method
Georgetown University
NCT07028216
Targeting Specific Brain Networks to Treat Specific Symptoms in Depression
Massachusetts General Hospital
NCT05523817
Network Neurofeedback Using 7-Tesla MRI to Reduce Rumination Levels in Depression
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
NCT05933148
Sequential Bilateral Accelerated Theta Burst Stimulation in Adolescents With Suicidal Ideation
Mayo Clinic
NCT04502758
Maintenance rTMS for Depression (Maitr-De)
University of California, San Diego
NCT06938841
Ovarian Hormone Withdrawal, Anhedonia, and Reward Sensitivity in Women With Premenstrual Exacerbations of Depression
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
NCT06610305
Causal Role of Delta-beta Coupling for Goal-directed Behavior in Anhedonic Depression
Florida State University
NCT06132581
Targeting Large-scale Networks in Depression With Real-time Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Neurofeedback
University of Michigan
NCT06050070
Mechanism of Action Underlying Ketamine's Antidepressant Effects: The AMPA Throughput Theory in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Major Depression
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NCT03973268
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Compared to Ketamine Alone for the Treatment of Depression
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
NCT06559826
Mindfulness Engaged Neurostimulation for Depression
University of California, San Diego
NCT06399406
Psilocybin With Pimavanserin Compared to Psilocybin Alone for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
NCT06592833
Aβ Dynamics in LLMD
NYU Langone Health
NCT05004987
Two Doses of Psilocybin for the Treatment of MDD in Adults With Cancer
Sunstone Medical
NCT05947383
Pain and Major Depressive Disorder
University of California, Los Angeles
NCT04556890
Closed-loop Optimized rTMS for Depression
Stanford University
NCT04142320
Getting Out of the House: Using Behavioral Activation to Increase Community Participation
Temple University
NCT06336616
A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Valbenazine in Adult Participants With Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Who Remain Symptomatic While Receiving or After Stopping a Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2) Inhibitor
Neurocrine Biosciences
NCT07105111
Establishing Multimodal Brain Biomarkers for Treatment Selection in Depression
University of Texas at Austin
NCT05892744
Accelerated TMS for MDD
Neuronetics
NCT07147218
Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Repetitive Brain Stimulation With Invasive and Noninvasive Electrophysiology in Humans
Stanford University
NCT05996900
Mood Effects of Serotonin Agonists: Depression
University of Chicago
NCT07017478
Using Electrophysiology to Index Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Effects on Reward System Functioning in Depression
San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
NCT05194098
Accelerated Intermittent Theta Burst in Treatment-Naive Adolescents
University of Texas at Austin
NCT06523439
Using TMS to Understand Neural Processes of Social Motivation
Auburn University
NCT06274112
Feasibility of Home-Based Intermittent 60Hz Light Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
NYU Langone Health
NCT07111390
Mindful Self-Compassion for Anxiety Disorders and Depression
Georgetown University
NCT05671419
Decoding and Modulating Affective Brain States
University of Pennsylvania
NCT05437705
A Study to Explore the Effect of SP-624 on Brain Network Analytics in Healthy Adults and Adults With Major Depression
Sirtsei Pharmaceuticals
NCT06570369
The Impact of AMPA Receptor Blockade on Ketamine's Anti-Suicidal Effects
Yale University
NCT05786066
Low Amplitude Pulse Seizure Therapy Versus Standard Ultra-Brief Right Unilateral Electroconvulsive Therapy
Michigan State University
NCT06529029
In-patient SCC TMS
University of California, Los Angeles
NCT05645575
Accelerated TMS for Perinatal Depression
Brigham and Women's Hospital
NCT06968390
ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN DEPRESSION
Laureate Institute for Brain Research
NCT04724447
Xenon Inhalation Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder
Massachusetts General Hospital
NCT03748446
The Effects of Psilocybin on Self-Focus and Self-Related Processing in Major Depressive Disorder
Sharmin Ghaznavi
NCT06247839
Linking Affective Dynamics in Response to Daily Stress to Peripheral Vascular Function in Working Age Adults
University of Delaware
NCT06860724
Phase Distribution
| Phase | Trial count |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 24 |
| Phase 2 | 57 |
| Phase 3 | 45 |
| Phase 4 | 29 |
Top Sponsors
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, National Library of Medicine. Data is informational only.
Reading the Major Depressive Disorder Trial Landscape
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 283 US studies indexed under Major Depressive Disorder, and 109 of those are currently open to recruitment — roughly 39% of the total volume on the registry. That ratio is a useful proxy for activity level: a high share of recruiting studies often signals that research interest is current and that new enrollment opportunities are appearing, while a low share typically means the field is dominated by completed or follow-up work where most participant spots have already been filled. These counts reflect the public registry only and include studies at every stage of design, so they should be read as an index of research attention rather than as a measure of treatment availability.
The phase distribution for Major Depressive Disorder shows 74 late-stage studies (Phase 3 and Phase 4 combined) alongside 81 earlier-phase entries (Phase 1 through Phase 2). Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies focus on early safety signals, dosing, and preliminary effect, while Phase 3 studies are typically the larger efficacy and safety trials submitted toward regulatory review, and Phase 4 studies follow approved interventions in real-world use. A condition weighted toward later phases often reflects a mature research pipeline with several interventions already close to or past approval, whereas a heavier early-phase tilt suggests the field is still exploring new mechanisms and candidate approaches.
Top sponsor activity for Major Depressive Disorder is led by Massachusetts General Hospital with 19 indexed trials, alongside 9 other organizations in the top contributor list. The list on this page surfaces up to 100 of the most relevant recent and active entries, ordered with recruiting studies first so practical options are visible. All figures are derived from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset maintained by the National Library of Medicine and are reproduced here for reference. Inclusion of a trial, sponsor, or intervention on this page is neither an endorsement nor a recommendation — eligibility, protocol changes, and site-level status can shift frequently, so always verify current details on ClinicalTrials.gov and consult a qualified healthcare provider before acting on anything you see here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many clinical trials are there for Major Depressive Disorder?
PlainTrial tracks 283 US clinical trials for Major Depressive Disorder, of which 109 are currently recruiting participants. Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
How do I find a recruiting trial for Major Depressive Disorder?
Use the trial list above filtered by "Recruiting" status, or visit our trial finder at /recruiting to search by condition and state. Always discuss trial participation with your healthcare provider before enrolling.
Is this data current?
Data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and reflects our most recent data pull. Trial status may have changed since then. Always verify current information at ClinicalTrials.gov before making decisions about participation.
Related
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (National Library of Medicine). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH/NLM) ClinicalTrials.gov AACT registry · 2026 Trial counts and statuses sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Sponsor counts include both industry and federal/academic sponsors.