NCT07779707Recruiting
The Medically Tailored Groceries and Mental Health Study
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 22 Sept 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
This randomized controlled trial will test whether providing medically tailored groceries for 6 months can improve depressive symptoms among adults with depression and food insecurity. The intervention under study is a 6-month, medically tailored grocery program provided by the Boston-based non-profit organization, Community Servings. Food boxes are mailed to participants' homes every two weeks and are designed by a registered dietitian nutritionists to support an individuals' health needs. Participants may also attend optional nutritional counseling sessions. In this randomized clinical trial, 300 adults with depression and food insecurity will be assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive medically tailored grocery boxes delivered to their home every two weeks for six months (13 boxes total), along with nutritional counseling support. The comparison group will receive usual medical care plus a $30 monthly grocery gift card for six months to be used to purchase any products of their choice. Participants will be recruited from UMass Memorial Health and health centers associated with Community Care Cooperative (C3) in the greater Worcester area in Massachusetts.The main goal of the study is to determine whether the grocery program reduces symptoms of depression. The study will also examine effects on anxiety, food insecurity, diet quality, and healthcare use.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 300 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 14 Aug 2026
- Start date
- 29 Aug 2026
- Primary completion date
- 31 Aug 2029
- Lead sponsor
- University of Massachusetts, Worcester
- Diseases
- Depression
- NCT number
- NCT07779707
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 300
- From 29 Aug 2026 to the primary completion date, 31 Aug 2029
- 3 sites in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Has bipolar depression or bipolar disorder
Other
- Pregnant women and women who are within one year postpartum at baseline. Women who become pregnant during trial will be allowed to finish their food programming and study participation.
- New depression diagnosis within the past 3 months
- Expresses suicide ideation in baseline depression screening defined as responding "nearly everyday" to question #9 in the Patient Health Questionnaire: "Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems - Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself?"
Who the study is looking for
- A depression diagnosis with active symptoms, defined as having a recent Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) screening of 5+, or no depression diagnosis but a recent PHQ-9 screening of 10+
- Experiencing food insecurity (could be either low or very low food security)
- Lives in Central Massachusetts in Worcester County
- Receives care at UMass Memorial Health, or receives care at clinics affiliated with Community Care Cooperative (C3)
- Can prepare and cook meals independently, or has a family member or caregiver able to prepare food
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (3)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Care Cooperative (C3) Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Worcester | United States | Recruiting |
| UMass Chan Medical School Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Worcester | United States | Not yet recruiting |
| UMASS Memorial Health Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Worcester | United States | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.