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Home › Conditions › Major Depressive Episode

Major Depressive Episode

1 published article · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for Major Depressive Episode

8 trials tracked for Major Depressive Episode: 3 in phase 3 or 4 and 2 with published results. The most-cited published study has 275 citations.

8Trials tracked
3Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
2With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 4 1 Phase 3 2 Phase 2 3 Phase 1 1 Other / NA 1
  1. Phase 3 ELEKT-D: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) vs. Ketamine in Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) Completed · 275 cited
  2. Phase 3 Light Therapy for Bipolar Disorder. Efficacy of Light Therapy for Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial Completed · 180 cited
  3. Phase 4 Open-Label Study of Geodon in Non-Rapid Cycling Bipolar II Patients With Major Depression Completed
  4. Phase 2 A Study to Evaluate SAGE-217 in Participants With Bipolar I/II Disorder With a Current Major Depressive Episode Completed
  5. Phase 2 Study Comparing Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for Depression in Older Adults Completed
  6. Phase 2 Ketamine for Suicidality in Bipolar Depression Completed
Show 2 more trials
  1. Phase 1 Ketamine as an Adjunctive Therapy for Major Depression Completed
  2. N/A Universal vs. Targeted School Screening for Adolescent Major Depressive Disorder Completed

Showing the 8 most-cited and recently-updated of 8 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found For clinicians

Major Depressive Episode: what the trials found

Pharmacological interventions for Major Depressive Episode include Ziprasidone, which demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in HAM-D Total Scores from 23.1 to 10.57 (p<0.0001) over 8 weeks 1. Additionally, Ketamine has been evaluated in multiple trials, showing significant treatment responses on the QIDS-SR-16 scale 2 and establishing efficacy in multiple phases [6, 7].

Non-pharmacological interventions include 7000lux broad-spectrum light, which resulted in a significant reduction in SIGH-ADS Depression Scores (10.3 to 17.3, p=0.005) and a significant improvement in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores (73.9 to 65.2, p=0.004) 3.

Recent results — preliminary, needs further review

  • SAGE-217 showed a reduction in HAM-D scores at Day 15, but results regarding suicidal ideation and behavior are not yet corroborated 4.
  • Universal screening programs for MDD in adolescents showed significantly higher rates of MDD identification and engagement with services compared to standard triage 8.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • Ziprasidone is associated with significant improvements in HAM-D scores and clinical global improvement in patients with Major Depressive Episode 1.
  • Ketamine has demonstrated significant treatment responses in multiple clinical trials [2, 6, 7].
  • Broad-spectrum light therapy (7000lux) is associated with significant improvements in both depression scores and global functioning 3.

AI synthesis of 5 cited trials, updated Oct 4, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.
Intravenous ketamine reduces suicidal and depressive symptoms in acute Major Depressive Episode
Psychiatry Meta-analysis
Intravenous ketamine reduces suicidal and depressive symptoms in acute Major Depressive Episode Ketamine infusions reduce suicidal and depressive symptoms in some patients
This meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials indicates that intravenous ketamine, administered as single or repeated infusions, signific…
New data shows that intravenous ketamine can quickly lower both depression and suicidal thoughts for people facing a major depressive episod…
Jul 2, 2026