PAX-D

PAX-D looks at whether a medicine called pramipexole helps people who have treatment-resistant depression.

Clinical depression is a common disorder that is usually treated with psychological therapies and antidepressant medication. However, many people do not improve with the first or second treatment that they use.

There is evidence that pramipexole may be an effective treatment when other drugs haven’t worked. The medicine acts like a brain chemical called dopamine, which can influence people’s motivation to pursue goals. Lack of motivation is a key symptom of depression, so any antidepressant effects of pramipexole may be linked to increased motivation.

Half of the people who take part in the study will be given pramipexole, and the other half will be given a placebo. At the end of the study, we will compare the information collected from the people in the two groups.

You may be able to take part in the PAX-D study if you have treatment-resistant depression. We are hoping to enrol around 178 people in the study over a period of three years.

When you sign up to Research+Me, you may not be contacted immediately. By signing up to the registry, you will find out about any current or future studies that you may be able to take part in.