The Claim

Creatine monohydrate (5g/day) as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in adults aged 18–45 with moderate to severe symptoms is a feasible and acceptable intervention in under-resourced settings, with no evidence of increased adverse events or dropout rates.

Source: Efficacy and safety profile of oral creatine monohydrate in add-on to cognitive-behavioural therapy in depression: An 8-week pilot, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled feasibility and exploratory trial in an under-resourced area.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
63score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Description
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Adding 5 grams of creatine monohydrate daily to cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in adults aged 18–45 with moderate to severe symptoms is feasible and acceptable in under-resourced settings, and does not increase adverse events or dropout rates.

See the scientific wording

Creatine monohydrate (5g/day) as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in adults aged 18–45 with moderate to severe symptoms is a feasible and acceptable intervention in under-resourced settings, with no evidence of increased adverse events or dropout rates.

Why this might work

Creatine helps brain cells store and use energy more efficiently, which supports stable mood and mental effort during therapy, making it easier to stick with treatment without side effects.

Suggested mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Efficacy and safety profile of oral creatine monohydrate in add-on to cognitive-behavioural therapy in depression: An 8-week pilot, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled feasibility and exploratory trial in an under-resourced area.

    In a small study, people with depression who took creatine along with therapy didn’t quit treatment or have more side effects than those who took a fake pill — meaning creatine is safe and practical to use even in places with few mental health resources.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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