1. Department of Psychiatry
  2. Center for Understanding Biology using Imaging Technology (CUBIT)
  3. Treating depression post COVID-19 using a potential new type of antidepressant

Treating depression post COVID-19 using a potential new type of antidepressant

Feeling depressed post COVID-19 infection?

This message is for you!

The Study

  • Adults above 35 years old who are currently depressed are eligible.
  • Adults who have been diagnosed with/treated for COVID-19.
  • The study provides 8 weeks of free outpatient treatment with a medication that reduces inflammation (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, NSAID). It is FDA approved as an antiinflammatory medication (NOT as an antidepressant).
  • Throughout treatment, free appointments with a clinician are provided.
  • Brain imaging will be performed before and after treatment to learn more about the relationship between depression post COVID-19 infection and brain biology.
  • According to the World Health Organization, depression is a leading cause of disability around the world.
  • Your participation is valuable because it will help us to better understand how to treat depression related to COVID-19 infection.

How to Participate

  • To determine if you are eligible, you will first be asked a series of questions on the phone.
  • Following this, you will be interviewed to understand your physical and mental health, either in person or remotely.
  • If you are interested, please call our study coordinator at (631) 638-HELP (638-4357), email imaging.study@stonybrookmedicine.edu, or text us at 716-4BRIGHT (427-4448).

Your Participation

  • The study involves Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) imaging - before and after 8 weeks of medication.
  • Throughout the study, you will be interviewed about your physical and emotional health.

Benefits and Payment

  • You will be given up to $450 for completing the study
  • You will receive free outpatient medication and a medical and psychological evaluation during the study.

Brain Imaging at Stony Brook University

  • The Department of Psychiatry at Stony Brook University is one of the region's premier providers of psychiatric services and a national leader in neuroimaging research.
  • A team of brain imaging researchers at Stony Brook, led by the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Ramin Parsey MD, PhD, has brought the most advanced techniques for image acquisition and analysis to Long Island.