Houston, TXNCT05487911Now EnrollingIRB Ready

Major Depressive Disorder Clinical Trial in Houston, TX

Access cutting-edge major depressive disorder treatment through this clinical trial at a research site in Houston. Study-provided care at no cost to qualified participants.

Sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine

Quick Self-Assessment

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Expert Care in Houston

Access major depressive disorder specialists at no cost

IRB Approved

This study follows strict safety protocols and ethical guidelines

No-Cost Care

All study-related major depressive disorder treatment provided free

Apply for This Houston Location

Check if you qualify for this major depressive disorder clinical trial in Houston, TX

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Your information is protected and will only be shared with the research team.

Why Participate?

  • No-Cost Study Care

  • Local to Houston

    Convenient for TX residents

  • Cutting-Edge Treatment

    Access to innovative therapies

  • Expert Medical Care

    Close monitoring by specialists

  • Possible Compensation*

    For time and travel

*Compensation varies by study. Confirm details with coordinator.

Simple Process

  1. 1Submit this form
  2. 2Phone screening
  3. 3Visit Houston site if eligible
  4. 4Begin participation

About This Major Depressive Disorder Study in Houston

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide with a 19% lifetime prevalence in the United States. Dysfunctional reward processing is one of the core features of depression. Common treatments of depression include psychological therapies (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), medication (e.g., bupropion, sertraline) and psychological therapies and medication combined, but they may not address the function of the reward circuit in depression. These treatments often o not improve depressive symptoms in patients with depression who are classified as having treatment-resistant depression, and they may be unlikely to respond to further medication trials. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation that enables us to selectively excite or inhibit neural activity. Multiple TMS pulses given consecutively are known as repetitive TMS (rTMS), and the primary clinical location for applying rTMS is the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for treatment of depressive symptoms. Many of these studies have shown that rTMS to the DLPFC may result in decreased depressive symptoms, but is only partially effective (response and remission rates of 41.2 and 35.3%, respectively). This evidence supports the importance of evaluating the efficacy of rTMS in other brain regions, such as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), in the treatment of depressive symptoms rather than in the DLPFC.

Sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine

Who Can Participate

Inclusion Criteria

Be male or female aged 18-64 years old.
Has depressive symptoms according to the PHQ-9 or MADRS or HDRS or SHAPS
Be able to verbalize understanding of consent form, able to provide written informed consent, and verbalize willingness to complete study procedures
Female subjects must be non-nursing and not pregnant at the times of fMRI experiments and TMS treatment
Has no contraindications to MRI (pacemaker, cochlear implants, metal in eyes, other metal implants, etc.); Meets the pre-screening MRI questions provided by the Center for Advanced MR Imaging (CAMRI)
Has no contraindications to TMS (any types of non-removable metal in their head except the mouth, or within 12 inches of the coil, etc.); Meets the pre-screening TMS safety questionnaire (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Adult Safety Screen - TASS)
stabilized with medication treatments (e.g., methadone or buprenorphine) or abstinent from opioids if patients are seeking transition to naltrexone
urine toxicity test is negative for specific drugs (e.g., opioids)

Exclusion Criteria

In the opinion of the clinician and/or the research team, be expected to fail to complete the study protocol due to not tolerable to receive TMS
Unable to understand the design and requirements of the study;
Unable to sign informed consent for any reason
Has an unstable medical condition, including AIDS, acute hepatitis, active TB, unstable cardiac disease, unstable diabetes, hepatic or renal insufficiency
Female subjects who are pregnant or nursing
Contraindications to MRI (pacemaker, cochlear implants, metal in the eye, other metal implants, etc.): Do not meet the pre-screening MRI questions provided by the CAMRI at BCM
Contraindications to TMS (any types of non-removable metal in their head except the mouth, or within 12 inches of the coil, etc.): Do not meet the pre-screening TMS safety questionnaire (TASS). Additional exclusion criteria for the TMS experiments are based on the recommendations described by the international consensus panel on brain stimulation
Non-English speaking subjects (we do not have the staff and/or resources to include other languages);
Unstable with medication treatments (e.g., methadone or buprenorphine)
urine toxicity test is positive for specific drugs (e.g., opioids)
currently on seizure medications (e.g., Depakote)

Not sure if you qualify? Submit your interest and a study coordinator will help determine your eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Is this study available in Houston?

Yes, this clinical trial (NCT05487911) has an active research site in Houston, TX that is currently enrolling participants.

Q:Is it safe to participate?

Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. This study has been reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals. You can withdraw at any time.

Q:Will I be compensated?

Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time and travel expenses. Specific compensation details will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is provided at no cost.

Q:Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?

Absolutely. Participation is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty.

Still have questions? Our study coordinators are here to help.

Major Depressive Disorder Treatment Options in Houston, TX

If you're searching for major depressive disorder treatment options in Houston, TX, this clinical trial (NCT05487911) may be an excellent opportunity. Clinical trials provide access to cutting-edge treatments that aren't yet available to the general public, often at no cost to participants.

Our Houston research site is actively enrolling participants for this clinical trial. You'll receive care from experienced major depressive disorder specialists who are at the forefront of medical research. All study-related care, including examinations, treatments, and monitoring, is provided at no cost to qualified participants.

Looking for more options? Browse all major depressive disorder clinical trials near you to find additional studies recruiting in your area.

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