What the trial was testing
The SUMMIT enrolled 1,230 patients with depression. The study was sponsored by Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
80% lower odds of suicidal thoughts at 3 months after brief behavioral therapy.
JAMA Psychiatry · 2025 · NCT04153864
These findings — that of endorsing suicide thoughts at 3 months after brief behavioral activation therapy — were published in the JAMA Psychiatry and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 1,230 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with depression, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Behavioral activation therapy is widely available through trained therapists and can often be delivered by non-specialist providers. Many insurance plans cover psychotherapy. Postpartum mental health is a medical emergency — call 988 if in crisis. Ask your obstetrician or primary care doctor for a referral.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open depression trials
Low Frequency Right Dorsolateral Pre Frontal Cortical Repetitive TMS for Bipolar Depression
The purpose of this trial is to conduct an adequately powered clinical trial of once daily LFR for individuals diagnosed with treatment-resistant BD-DE who have not responded to iTBS or sham treatment applied to the left DLPFC. This work will develop the evidence supporting the use of LFR rTMS for individuals with treatment-resistant BD-DE who currently have limited treatment options to alleviate their suffering. Participants will come for 30 days of LFR, with a 6-week follow-up period. Symptoms of depression (for determining treatment efficacy) and mania (for determining treatment safety) will be assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) every five treatments during the treatment course, and at 1 week and 6 week after treatment completion.
IMPACT (IMproving Proactive Approaches for Cancer Survivors' Mental Health Treatment)
The purpose of this research study is to evaluate a mobile application (app) for depression treatment called "Moodivate" among cancer survivors. Moodivate was developed by our research team to assist with the treatment of depressed mood. Participants will be randomly assigned to either download the mobile app, "Moodivate", or not. Approximately 2/3 of participants enrolled will receive the mobile app and the remaining 1/3 will not. All participants will complete electronic questionnaire measures throughout the study period. Questionnaires will assess symptoms of depression, as well as your experiences using Moodivate and participating in this trial. Participation in this study will take about 12 weeks, beginning today. Participation in this study may help in the treatment of future cancer survivors. The greatest risks of this study include frustration, worsening of emotional distress, data breach, and/or loss of confidentiality. Alternative treatments include contacting your primary care provider or your oncology care team to discuss other available treatments for depressed mood.