Depression Treatments Fail in Kidney Disease Trial

The study found that common therapies did not provide sustained relief for adults with chronic kidney disease and depression.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Mental Health

Depression Treatments Fail in Kidney Disease Trial

Live Poll

Would you prefer behavioral therapy over medication to manage depression if you had chronic kidney disease?

The CONCORD trial found that neither behavioral activation therapy nor the antidepressant bupropion provided sustained relief for depression in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. While behavioral therapy showed some initial promise at eight weeks, all treatments failed to show a significant benefit over the control group by the end of the 16-week study.

Why it matters

Depression affects approximately 1 in 5 people with chronic kidney disease, yet effective treatment remains elusive as common options like sertraline have previously failed to show benefits in this population. Finding safe, effective therapies is a critical challenge for clinicians managing patients with kidney decline.

In a randomized trial of 202 patients with stage G3b to G5D chronic kidney disease, researchers observed that neither behavioral activation therapy nor bupropion offered sustained depression relief at 16 weeks versus the control group.

The players

ASN Kidney Week

An annual scientific meeting hosted by the American Society of Nephrology focused on advancements in kidney health.

Stony Brook University

A public research university where the lead investigators for the CONCORD trial are affiliated.

The details

The study utilized behavioral activation therapy, which focuses on increasing engagement in positive activities, and bupropion, an antidepressant that affects dopamine and norepinephrine levels. Researchers aimed to avoid the gastrointestinal issues often caused by other common antidepressants like sertraline in these patients. However, the bupropion arm was linked to higher rates of insomnia at 13% and confusion at 7% compared to the behavioral therapy group.

A 2013 systematic review identified that 1 in 5 patients with chronic kidney disease experience depression.
A 2017 trial found that sertraline provided no significant benefit for this patient group.
At week 8, behavioral activation therapy showed improved remission rates compared to control.
By week 16, no treatment strategy proved superior to the control.
Trial results were presented October 21-25, 2026, at ASN Kidney Week in Denver.

Health Landscape

This study follows the precedent set by the 2017 CAST trial, which also failed to identify a significant depression treatment for those with chronic kidney disease. These results underscore the ongoing challenge of finding effective, well-tolerated psychiatric interventions for this population.

If you are managing chronic kidney disease and struggling with symptoms of depression, these results highlight why it is essential to discuss personalized care strategies with your nephrologist. As no single standard therapy has proven successful in clinical trials, ongoing mental health support should be a central part of your routine kidney care.

The takeaway

While common antidepressants and behavioral therapies have not shown long-term success in clinical trials for this population, depression remains a significant, treatable health issue. Continue to monitor your mental health and talk with your physician about supportive care options that prioritize your specific kidney health needs.