Depression Trials / Trials in North Carolina
29 Recruiting Trials

Clinical Trials
for Depression in North Carolina

29 clinical trials for Depression are currently recruiting participants at study sites in North Carolina. Study-related care is provided at no cost.

29
Recruiting trials
45
Study sites
24
Cities
7
Industry-sponsored
4
Phase 2
4
Phase 3

Depression clinical trials in North Carolina: what to expect

Depression trials cover new medicines, brain stimulation, talk therapy and digital programs. The busiest area is treatment-resistant depression: studies for people whose current antidepressant has not helped enough, testing rapid-acting medicines, add-on treatments and devices such as transcranial magnetic stimulation. Others compare types of therapy, test app-based programs, or study depression alongside another condition such as chronic pain or heart disease.

In North Carolina, recruiting depression studies are concentrated in Chapel Hill, Durham, Winston-Salem and Charlotte, with sites in 20 other cities. 7 of the 29 are run by a drug or device company, which usually means a larger study with travel reimbursement; the rest are academic or hospital-led.

Who depression trials usually look for

Most adult trials require a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, a current episode with symptoms above a threshold on a standard questionnaire, and ages 18 to 65. Treatment-resistant trials ask that one or two antidepressants at a proper dose have not worked in the current episode. Common exclusions are bipolar disorder, psychosis, a substance use disorder in the last year and, for safety, a high current suicide risk. Many trials let you continue stable talk therapy.

Some medicine trials add the study drug to the antidepressant you take; others require a supervised taper first. The listing says which.

What taking part involves

Screening is a structured interview with a clinician plus blood work. Medicine trials usually run six to twelve weeks with weekly or fortnightly visits and mood questionnaires, and many include a placebo arm, with close safety monitoring either way; an open-label extension often follows so everyone can receive the active drug. Therapy and app trials run eight to sixteen weeks and compare against usual care. Treatment, visits and tests are free, and most trials pay for time.

Questions worth asking the study team

Whether you would taper your current medicine and how that is supervised; the chance of placebo and whether there is an open-label extension; what happens if you feel worse during the study; and whether your own doctor is kept informed. Research records are kept separate from your medical record unless you ask otherwise.

Showing 20 of 29 recruiting Depression trials in North Carolina

Identifying and Treating Depression in the Orthopaedic Trauma Population
PHASE4 Winston-Salem, North Carolina NCT05976347
This trial is looking for patients who had surgery for a broken arm or leg and might be experiencing depression. Participants will be screened for depression and may receive medication to help with their symptoms.
Recruiting
Neuroscience of Psychotherapy for Depression
NA Chapel Hill, North Carolina NCT06696001
This trial is looking for young adults with mild to moderate depression. Participants will attend a session where they will receive therapy or information about coping with depression, and their brain activity will be measured during the session.
Recruiting
Brexanolone Lifting Outcomes Of Moms
PHASE3 Tucson, Arizona +4 sites NCT07822321
This trial is looking for women aged 15 to 45 who are experiencing severe postpartum depression. Participants will take the study drug LPCN 1154A to see if it helps reduce their depressive symptoms and to learn about any side effects.
Recruiting
A New Intervention to Improve Function in Veterans With Anxiety and Depression
PHASE2 Durham, North Carolina NCT06188923
This trial is looking for veterans who experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. Participants will take a medication called pregnenolone to see if it helps improve their symptoms and overall functioning.
Recruiting
Allopregnanolone (Zuranolone) in Post-stroke Depression
PHASE2 Durham, North Carolina NCT06759558
This trial is looking for stroke survivors aged 21-65 who have moderate to severe depression after their stroke. Participants will take a medication called zuranolone for 14 days and complete some questionnaires.
Recruiting
ALTO-207 in Adults With Treatment-resistant Depression (TRD)
PHASE2 Birmingham, Alabama +4 sites NCT07553637
This trial is looking for adults aged 18 to 75 who have moderate to severe depression that hasn't improved with other treatments. Participants will compare the effects of ALTO-207 with a placebo.
Recruiting
Serotonin-norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor in Prophylaxis of Depression Following Fragility Fractures
PHASE4 Winston-Salem, North Carolina NCT05851898
Recruiting
Enhancing Slow Wave Sleep in Depression
NA Winston-Salem, North Carolina NCT07143838
This trial is looking for adults with moderate depression who want to improve their deep sleep. Participants will wear a device that records brain activity and provides electrical stimulation during sleep, while also completing sleep and mood questionnaires.
Recruiting
A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression
NA Birmingham, Alabama +4 sites NCT03887715
This trial is looking for adults with treatment-resistant depression. Participants will receive either active VNS therapy or a control without stimulation to see how it affects their depression over 12 months.
Recruiting
A Study to Assess Change in Disease Activity and Adverse Events (AEs) With Cariprazine in the Treatment of Depressive Episodes in Pediatric Participants Participants (10 to 17 Years of Age) With Bipolar I Disorder.
PHASE3 Bentonville, Arkansas +4 sites NCT04777357
This trial is looking for young people aged 10 to 17 who have bipolar I disorder and are experiencing depressive episodes. Participants will receive either a study drug called cariprazine or a placebo to see how it affects their mood.
Recruiting
Examining the Effects of Estradiol on Neural and Molecular Response to Reward
PHASE4 Chapel Hill, North Carolina NCT05282277
This trial is looking for women aged 44-55 who are experiencing depression and have missed menstrual cycles. Participants will take estradiol and undergo brain scans during the study.
Recruiting
Adaptive Coping Skills Training to Improve Psychological Distress Among Cardiorespiratory Failure Survivors
NA Durham, North Carolina NCT06538246
This trial is looking for adults who have recently been in an ICU for serious breathing or heart problems. Participants will use a mobile app to help manage symptoms like depression and anxiety over six months.
Recruiting
Optimizing the AYA Survivors' Coping and Emotional Needs Toolkit
NA Greenville, North Carolina +1 sites NCT07173205
This trial is looking for young adults and adolescents who have survived cancer and are dealing with symptoms of depression. Participants will use a digital tool designed to help manage their mental health.
Recruiting
Closed-Loop Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
NA Durham, North Carolina NCT07282678
Recruiting
Adolescent Mood During Puberty and Testosterone
NA Chapel Hill, North Carolina NCT06072677
This trial is looking for young people aged 11 to 14 who have experienced stress or moderate depression in the last year. Participants will use specific apps on their mobile devices to help collect information about their mood during puberty.
Recruiting
Telehealth Music Therapy for Adults With Endocrine Disorder and Depression
NA Boone, North Carolina NCT07413874
This trial is looking for adults with depression and an autoimmune endocrine disease. Participants will attend 8 online music therapy sessions over 8 weeks and answer some questions about their experience.
Recruiting
Depression, Aging, Stress and Heart Health Study
NA Chapel Hill, North Carolina NCT05570721
This trial is looking for women aged 44 to 55 who are in the late perimenopause phase. Participants will help researchers understand how depression and stress may affect heart health during this time.
Recruiting
A Randomized Study of Azetukalner Versus Placebo in Depressive Episodes Associated With Bipolar I or II Disorder (Bipolar Depression)
PHASE3 Tucson, Arizona +4 sites NCT07172516
This trial is looking for adults aged 18 to 74 who are currently experiencing a depressive episode connected to bipolar disorder. Participants will receive either azetukalner or a placebo to see how well it works and its safety.
Recruiting
Combining rTMS & Aerobic Exercise to Treat Depression and Improve Post-Stroke Walking
NA Durham, North Carolina +1 sites NCT07050355
This trial is looking for adults who have experienced a stroke and are dealing with depression. Participants will combine aerobic exercise with a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment to see if it helps improve their mood and walking ability.
Recruiting
ALTO-100 in Bipolar Disorder With Depression (BD-D)
PHASE2 Birmingham, Alabama +4 sites NCT06656416
This trial is looking for adults who have bipolar disorder along with a current major depressive episode and are already taking a mood stabilizer. It’s important that they haven't changed their medication in the last two weeks and are not pregnant or breastfeeding. They can't have other serious health issues, be currently using certain medications, or have a history of severe substance use problems.
Recruiting
See all 29 Depression trials in North Carolina

Where the Depression studies are in North Carolina

Research sites running the most studies
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill4 trials
  • Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem3 trials
  • Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, Chapel Hill2 trials
  • Annie Penn Memorial Hospital, Reidsville1 trial
  • Appalachian State University, Boone1 trial
  • Atrium Health Cabarrus/LCI-Concord, Concord1 trial
By city

Counts are recruiting studies listing at least one site in North Carolina, from ClinicalTrials.gov, refreshed every two days.

Depression clinical trials in North Carolina: common questions

How many Depression clinical trials are recruiting in North Carolina?
TrialFinder currently lists 29 recruiting Depression clinical trials with study sites in North Carolina. Results are updated regularly from ClinicalTrials.gov, the official U.S. registry of clinical studies.
Where are Depression clinical trials located in North Carolina?
Study sites for the Depression trials listed on this page include Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, Durham, Greenville, Boone. Each trial page lists every participating site with contact details, so you can find the location closest to you.
Do I need insurance to join a Depression clinical trial in North Carolina?
No. Study-related care is covered by the trial sponsor at no cost to participants, including the study treatment, required lab tests and study visits. Many Depression trials in North Carolina also compensate participants for time and travel. Health insurance is not required to search or enroll.
How do I qualify for a Depression clinical trial in North Carolina?
Each study sets its own criteria based on age, Depression diagnosis details, prior treatments, current medications and general health. The fastest way to find out is to contact a research site directly — most will pre-screen you by phone in 10 to 15 minutes at no charge. You can also create a free TrialFinder profile to be matched automatically.
Do I have to stop my antidepressant to join a depression trial?
Not always. Many trials add the study treatment to the antidepressant you already take; others ask for a supervised taper before starting. Each listing states which, and the study doctor manages any change.
Is there a placebo in depression trials?
Most medicine trials include a placebo arm, often with two active participants for every one on placebo, and usually followed by an extension where everyone receives the drug. Therapy, device and app trials generally compare against usual care instead.
Can I join if I am already seeing a therapist?
Usually yes for medicine trials, provided the therapy has been ongoing and stable. Trials of a specific therapy may ask you not to start a second one during the study.
Depression Trials in Other States
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Helpful Reading
Are Clinical Trials Safe? What Patients Should Know
How clinical trial safety works — phases, IRB oversight, informed consent, and your right to withdraw — plus the real risks and questions to ask.
How to Know If You Qualify for a Clinical Trial
Every trial has eligibility criteria based on diagnosis, age, and medical history. Here's how to tell if you qualify — and what to do if you're not sure.
Clinical Trials Without Insurance: What You Need to Know
Clinical trials cover the cost of study-related care, making them one of the few ways to access treatment without health insurance. Here's what's covered.
All guides →

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About Depression Trials

Depression trials investigate antidepressant medications, TMS, ketamine infusions, psychotherapy protocols, and digital mental-health interventions.

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