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Phase I

OARS 12 Research Study For Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

  • Study HIC#:2000034147
  • Last Updated:02/29/2024
  • Too many adolescents continue to struggle with depression, despite treatment. This study is evaluating the safety and effects of an investigational medication for adolescents who have been diagnosed with MDD and have not responded well to their current antidepressant. The investigational medication has been studied in more than 1,000 adult patients and healthy volunteers, but it has not been studied in adolescents. The investigational medication is not approved to treat MDD, and it is only available to adolescents with MDD in research studies like this one.
  • In this study, the investigational medication will be compared to placebo, which looks like the investigational medication but contains no active ingredients. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned (by chance) to 1 of 2 study groups. One group will receive the investigational medication, and the other group will receive placebo. There is a 75% chance of receiving the investigational medication and a 25% chance of receiving placebo. All patients in this study will take their study medication (investigational or placebo) once a day before bedtime for about 6 weeks. Additionally, patients will continue taking their current antidepressant medication throughout the study.
  • Total participation in this study will last approximately 12 weeks (3 months), which includes up to 7 study clinic visits for health exams and tests, as well as 2 phone calls from the study doctor/staff. Patients may also be required to attend two additional study clinic visits. The study doctor/staff will talk with you more about this.
  • All study-required visits, tests, and study medication will be provided at no cost. In addition, reimbursement for study-required travel may be available. To learn more about this study, contact Brooke Rivera, Clinical Coordinator, Yale Pediatric Depression Lab at (203) 974-2241 or email PediDepression@yale.edu.
  • Age12 years - 17 years
  • GenderBoth

Contact Us

For more information about this study, including how to volunteer, contact:

Brooke Rivera

Help Us Discover!

You can help our team find trials you might be eligible for by creating a volunteer profile in MyChart. To get started, create a volunteer profile, or contact helpusdiscover@yale.edu, or call +18779788343 for more information.

Trial Purpose and Description

  • Too many adolescents continue to struggle with depression, despite treatment. This study is evaluating the safety and effects of an investigational medication for adolescents who have been diagnosed with MDD and have not responded well to their current antidepressant. The investigational medication has been studied in more than 1,000 adult patients and healthy volunteers, but it has not been studied in adolescents. The investigational medication is not approved to treat MDD, and it is only available to adolescents with MDD in research studies like this one.
  • In this study, the investigational medication will be compared to placebo, which looks like the investigational medication but contains no active ingredients. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned (by chance) to 1 of 2 study groups. One group will receive the investigational medication, and the other group will receive placebo. There is a 75% chance of receiving the investigational medication and a 25% chance of receiving placebo. All patients in this study will take their study medication (investigational or placebo) once a day before bedtime for about 6 weeks. Additionally, patients will continue taking their current antidepressant medication throughout the study.
  • Total participation in this study will last approximately 12 weeks (3 months), which includes up to 7 study clinic visits for health exams and tests, as well as 2 phone calls from the study doctor/staff. Patients may also be required to attend two additional study clinic visits. The study doctor/staff will talk with you more about this.
  • All study-required visits, tests, and study medication will be provided at no cost. In addition, reimbursement for study-required travel may be available. To learn more about this study, contact Brooke Rivera, Clinical Coordinator, Yale Pediatric Depression Lab at (203) 974-2241 or email PediDepression@yale.edu.

Eligibility Criteria

To pre-qualify for this study, your child must:

  • Be 12 to 17 years of age
  • Have been diagnosed with MDD
  • Have not responded well to at least 1 but no more than 2 antidepressant treatments during the current depressive episode
  • Have had at least 6 sessions of psychotherapy in the current depressive episode
    • Principal Investigator

      For more information about this study, including how to volunteer, contact: