Grant: Project Grant

Depression is a major public health issue affecting millions of Canadians, including adolescents and adults. It is a leading cause of disability, lost productivity, and death by suicide. Medications used to treat depression primarily work by addressing the deficiency of neurotransmitters in the brain (i.e., serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine). While many medications exist, they don't often work well for everyone. Some people do not respond to these medications, which reflects other biological factors occurring, and different options are urgently needed. This study will explore whether creatine monohydrate (CrM) -a natural compound found in foods like red meat and already tested as being safe in athletes-can help treat depression by boosting the brain's energy and metabolism. We propose a set of three coordinated CrM supplementation pilot trials to investigate their feasibility in the treatment of depressive symptoms in three unique populations: (A) adults with major depression, (B) adolescents with major depression, and (C) adults with bipolar depression. The research team is led by experts in psychiatry and mental health, with input from people with lived experience to ensure the studies are patient-centered and practical. Each trial will test whether participants are willing and able to take CrM daily, how well they tolerate it, and whether the study procedures are feasible. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either CrM or a placebo for a period of 8 weeks. Participants will follow-up with the research team in two-week intervals to evaluate their depressive symptoms, adherence with treatment, side effects, and general medical health. If testing CrM is found to be feasible from the pilot trials, these results could inform progression to larger studies that may lead to a new, accessible treatment option for different people living with depression.