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Depression is common and can be disabling.
The right treatment can make a difference.
Many types of treatment exist to treat depression, and no one treatment works for everyone. People looking for help often have to try several treatments before finding one that works for them, which can be a frustrating process that delays recovery.
The Depression Clinical Research Program at Nova Scotia Health is recruiting participants for studies designed to answer important questions about which treatments for depression work best for whom.
Some projects at the DCRP provide treatment, while others are observational. Participants found to be eligible for a treatment study receive best-practice care for depression at no cost.
The data we collect is used to answer key questions about depression and the effectiveness of different treatments for different individuals.
Our goal is to learn more about factors that can be used to predict treatment outcomes and help people affected by depression get the treatment they need by personalizing treatment choice.
There are several research projects currently recruiting in Nova Scotia. Click here to view projects that are enrolling to find out if you might be eligible. For more information, please contact the research team. There is no commitment to join once you reach out, and you are free to withdraw at any time.
The Depression Clinical Research Program (DCRP) is a research clinic operated by Nova Scotia Health.
All DCRP studies are operated under the supervision of a Nova Scotia Health staff psychiatrist and have been reviewed and approved by the Nova Scotia Health Research Ethics Board.
Select one of our studies to find out more, or sort by project type using the menu options above.
Optimized Predictive Treatment In Medications for Unipolar Major Depression
Treatment Interrupts Depression Early
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Anti-depressants in the Treatment of MDD and PDD
Predictors of Intravenous Ketamine Response in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Predictors of Outcomes in Mood Disorders with a Focus on Anxiety
Improving Outcomes of Depression Through Person-Centered Measurement-Based Care
Enabling Neuroscience Research Approaches for Brain, Feelings and Emotions
The Vocal Mind Project
ABOUT US
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The DCRP is made up of a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, researchers and staff who specialize in depression. We collaborate with other researchers and labs at Dalhousie and other institutions to answer questions related to depression in the field of mental health research.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
If you are interested in participating in one of our studies, we first need to find out if you are likely to be eligible. Eligibility criteria vary by study. If you already know which study or studies you are interested in, you can submit an eligibility survey here. If you would like to hear more about our projects before sharing information about your potential eligibility, you can submit a contact form here.
The next step is a pre-screening conversation, typically done over the phone with a DCRP team member. During the call, we will collect more detailed information about your health history and symptoms to determine whether any of our studies are likely to be a good fit.
If you are found likely to be eligible for any of our studies after the pre-screening conversation and would like to proceed, you will be asked to come in for an in-person screening visit, which includes some physical assessments to confirm your eligibility. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you will then be enrolled as a study participant.
You have the right to all information that can help you make an informed decision about whether or not you want to participate. There is never any obligation to join, and study participants are free to withdraw at any time. Details on what participation looks like following the screening visit vary by study and will be shared with you in full before enrollment so you know what to expect if you choose to participate.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Our list of projects will continue to change as new studies open at the DCRP. If none currently on offer are a good fit for you, a new study may open in the future that you would be eligible for. You can sign up to receive updates on new studies at Nova Studies Connect, an online database for clinical trials in the province, or check this site periodically to see what's new at the DCRP.
If clinical research isn't the right fit for you at the moment, there are also other resources available for people that are struggling with their mental health. Click here for guidance on which resource might work best to you and links to helpful sites for Nova Scotians.
OUR SPONSORS AND COLLABORATORS
The DCRP works with researchers at institutions across Canada at the forefront of mental health research. You can read more about some of our collaborators and sponsors and the work they do by clicking on the logos below.
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