Dopaminergic Therapy for Anhedonia - 2

This study is looking for new ways to treat depression, especially for people who have high inflammation and anhedonia (an inability to feel pleasure). Researchers are testing a medication called Carbidopa Levodopa (also known as L-DOPA), which is already approved for other uses. You would be randomly assigned to receive either Carbidopa Levodopa or a placebo (a sugar pill) for 8 weeks. The study aims to see if Carbidopa Levodopa can improve depressive symptoms, measured by a scale called the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). To join, you need to be between 25 and 55 years old, have a diagnosis of depression, and have a certain score on a depression questionnaire. The study plans to enroll 70 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design: This is an 8-week, double-blind (meaning neither you nor your doctor will know if you're getting the active drug or placebo), placebo-controlled study involving 70 participants.
What's involved: You would complete lab tests, medical and psychiatric assessments, motivation and motor tasks, and MRI scans over approximately 10 to 12 weeks.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Your depressive symptoms will be measured at baseline, and then again at weeks 1-4 and weeks 5-8 after starting the intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

Dopaminergic Therapy for Anhedonia - 2

Recruiting

PHASE4Ages 25–55InterventionalTreatment

Emory University

~70 participants

Updated 2026-01-28 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Carbidopa LevodopaPlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Change in depressive symptom severity measured by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)

Measured over Baseline, weeks 1-4 post-intervention, weeks 5-8 post-intervention

Conditions

Anhedonia

Depression

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Georgia1

Study leadership

Jennifer Felger, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Emory University

Who to contact

Jennifer Felger, PhD

[email protected]

4047273987

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

a. willing and able to give written informed consent

b. men or women, 25-55 years of age

c. a primary diagnosis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), current, as diagnosed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5

d. score of \>10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) or HAM-D score ≥18

e. off all antidepressant or other psychotropic therapy (e.g. mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and sedative hypnotics) for at least 4 weeks prior to baseline visit (8 weeks for fluoxetine)

f. c-reactive protein (CRP) ≥2 mg/L

g. PHQ-9 anhedonia score ≥2

Exclusion

a. history or evidence (clinical or laboratory) of an autoimmune disorder

b. history or evidence (clinical or laboratory) of hepatitis B or C infection or human immunodeficiency virus infection

c. history of any type of cancer requiring treatment with more than minor surgery

d. unstable cardiovascular, endocrinologic, hematologic, hepatic, renal, or neurologic disease (as determined by physical examination, EKG and laboratory testing)

e. history of any (non-mood-related) psychotic disorder; active psychotic symptoms of any type; history or current bipolar disorder; history or current gambling disorder; substance abuse/dependence within 6 months of study entry (as determined by standardized clinician interview)

f. active suicidal plan as determined by a score \>3 on item #3 on the HAM-D

g. an active eating disorder (except for patients with binge eating disorder in whom binging is clearly associated with worsening of mood symptoms)

h. a history of a cognitive disorder or traumatic head injury involving loss of consciousness

i. pregnancy or lactation

j. use of gender affirming hormone therapy

k. chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) (excluding 81mg of aspirin), glucocorticoid containing medications or statins

l. use of NSAIDS, glucocorticoids, or statins at any time during the study

m. urine toxicology screen is positive for drugs of abuse, n. any contraindication for MRI scanning

o. intolerance, sensitivity or contraindication to carbidopa-levodopa (including history of narrow-angle glaucoma, melanoma, gastric and/or duodenal ulcers, bleeding disorders, or frequent migraines)

What this trial measures

Change in depressive symptom severity measured by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)Baseline, weeks 1-4 post-intervention, weeks 5-8 post-intervention
The HAM-D-17 is a 17-item, clinician administered scale, that rates severity of depression. Each item is rated on a scale 0-4 with higher scores indicating greater pathology.

Trialytics