Actively Recruiting

Phase 2
Age: 18Years - 60Years
All Genders
NCT06408246

ACE-D Aim 3 Clinical Cognitive Trial to Enhance Translation in Depression

Led by Stanford University · Updated on 2026-03-05

162

Participants Needed

2

Research Sites

152 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

The purpose of this study is to understand how a psychotropic medication called guanfacine affects brain network functioning in humans, and how this function interacts with cognitive impairments in people experiencing depressive symptoms.

CONDITIONS

Official Title

ACE-D Aim 3 Clinical Cognitive Trial to Enhance Translation in Depression

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years - 60Years
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Signed and dated informed consent form provided
  • Willingness to comply with all study procedures and available for the entire study
  • Male or female
  • Age between 18 and 60 years
  • Fluent and literate in English
  • Diagnosis of major depressive episode (MDE) and current or recurrent nonpsychotic major depressive disorder (MDD) based on MINI Plus
  • PHQ-8 score of 10 or higher at screening, including anhedonia or persistent negative mood symptoms
  • Meets criteria for cognitive dysfunction (C+ subgroup) or absence of cognitive dysfunction (C- subgroup) based on cognitive testing and fMRI
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychosis, moderate to severe alcohol or substance use disorder, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, or eating disorders
  • Active suicidal plan
  • Severe vision, hearing, or hand movement impairment
  • Medical illness or brain injury interfering with assessments
  • Pregnant, breastfeeding, or unwilling/unable to use birth control (for females of childbearing potential)
  • Contraindications to 3.0T MRI scanning (e.g., metal in body, claustrophobia)
  • Participation in other intervention studies
  • Current use of psychotropic medications contraindicated with guanfacine or sertraline
  • Medical conditions deemed unsafe for study participation, including specific cardiac, renal, hepatic, and thyroid abnormalities
  • Use of substances unsafe with guanfacine
  • Use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers that cannot be safely stopped
  • Unwillingness to verify biotype classification via fMRI
  • Unwillingness or inability to use or access a computer for assessments

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

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Trial Site Locations

Total: 2 locations

1

Stanford Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department

Palo Alto, California, United States, 94305

Actively Recruiting

2

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60607

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

L

Leyla Boyar, BA

CONTACT

I

Isabelle Wydler Clinical Research Coordinator, BA

CONTACT

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

TRIPLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

2

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