Probiotic capsules added to antidepressants for major depression
Tests probiotic capsules added to antidepressants in adults with major depression.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Effect of Psychobiotics With Standard Antiddepressants in Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Key facts
- Where
- Lahore, PakistanSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults aged 18 to 60 with major depressive disorder who already take a stable dose of an SSRI antidepressant. It tests adding a probiotic capsule or a placebo capsule.
- Age
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All genders can join.
- Disease stage
- Major depressive disorder (DSM-5 diagnosis) with a score above 24 on the 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale.
- Earlier treatment
- Must have been on a stable dose of an oral selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for at least two weeks before joining.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Severe psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or substance use
- Weakened immune system (for example chemotherapy, transplant, HIV/AIDS)
- Long-term medicine use, especially anti-inflammatory drugs, or antibiotics in the last 2 weeks
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Current use of probiotics or prebiotics
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 60 years old?
Source: NCT07691749, who can take part
Where in Pakistan
- Allama Iqbal Medical College, Jinnah Hospital LahoreLahore, PakistanTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Dr Sadia yasir
- Trial code
- NCT07691749
- Record updated
- 30 September 2026
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether adding psychobiotics (a combination of Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum) to standard antidepressant treatment works better than antidepressants alone for adults with major depressive disorder. The study will also learn about the safety of taking these psychobiotics with antidepressants.Read full original descriptionShow less
Effect of Psychobiotics (Combined Lactobacillus Helveticus and Bifidobacterium Longus) With Standard Antidepressants in Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether adding psychobiotics (a combination of Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum) to standard antidepressant treatment works better than antidepressants alone for adults with major depressive disorder. The study will also learn about the safety of taking these psychobiotics with antidepressants.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does adding psychobiotics lower depression symptoms more than a placebo (a look-alike capsule with no active ingredients)? 2. Is it safe and well tolerated when taken with standard antidepressant treatment?
Researchers will compare psychobiotic capsules with placebo capsules to see whether psychobiotics improve depression symptoms when used together with standard antidepressants.
Participants will:
1. Continue taking their prescribed antidepressant medicine. Be randomly assigned to receive either a psychobiotic capsule or a placebo capsule once daily for 6 weeks. 2. Complete depression assessments at the start of the study and again at 3 and 6 weeks. 3. Attend regular follow-up visits so researchers can monitor symptoms, side effects, and overall progress
Inclusion: Patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (According to Diagnostic \& Statistical Manual-5 criteria (as per operational definition); Age 18 to 60 years; Both genders; Patients who are able to speak and understand Urdu/ English language; Patients who are on stable doses of oral selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for at least two weeks prior to enrollment in the study; Patients with cut off score of > 24 as assessed by 17 item clinician administered Hamilton depression rating scale.
Exclusion: Severe psychiatric comorbidities (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, co morbid substance use); Individuals with weakened immune systems: This includes patients undergoing chemotherapy, transplant recipients, and people with conditions like HIV/AIDS; Individuals on chronic medication: People on chronic pharmacological therapy, especially with anti-inflammatory drugs or who have recently used antibiotics in last 2 weeks; Pregnant or lactating women; Current use of probiotics or prebiotics.