Stratified Pharmacological Approaches for Regulating Circuit-Level Effects

This research study aims to understand how people with depression respond to the medication pramipexole and to determine whether clinical response differs depending on the function of specific circuits in the brain. The investigators hope to learn which circuits are involved in depression and how these circuits interact with pramipexole to affect mood, behavior, and cognition. Eligible participants will undergo an 8-week treatment course of pramipexole followed by a 2-week down taper and follow up. The ultimate goal is to offer people experiencing depression a medication that is alternative to ones that may not have worked in the past and to apply the knowledge the investigators gain from investigating the brain circuits involved in depression to help personalize treatment. The investigators invite anyone who has recently experienced symptoms of depression to participate. A prior diagnosis of depression is not required.

NCT Number	NCT07022405
Lead Sponsor	Stanford University Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Conditions	Depression - Major Depressive Disorder
Enrollment	60 participants
Start Date	2026-01-23
Primary Completion	2030-08 (estimated)
Study Completion	2030-08 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-15