Before medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or before certain therapy methods are widely accepted as effective, they are tested on people who volunteer to participate in a clinical trial.

Organizations across the country are looking for people like you to take part in their research studies. The list of studies below have been selected from ClinicalTrials.gov based on their inclusion of one or more of the following terms: anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, and bipolar disorder.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is supportive of research that is conducted through clinical trials. Participating in research can potentially help change the mental health outcomes for you and others who suffer anxiety, depression, and related disorders. You may learn about new interventions/treatments that are being considered.

Read this ADAA blog about things to know and questions to ask before committing to a clinical trial.

This website page is brought to you in partnership with ResearchMatch.


872 matching studies

Sponsor Condition of Interest
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Depression Using Directional Current Steering and Individualized N1
Baylor College of Medicine Major Depressive Disorder
The goal of the study is to address the unmet need of TRD patients by identifying brain networks critical for treating depression and to use next generation precision DBS with steering capability to engage these targeted networks. The study's goal will be achieved through 3 specific aims: 1. Dem1 expand

The goal of the study is to address the unmet need of TRD patients by identifying brain networks critical for treating depression and to use next generation precision DBS with steering capability to engage these targeted networks. The study's goal will be achieved through 3 specific aims: 1. Demonstrate device capability to selectively and predictably engage distinct brain networks 2. Delineate depression-relevant networks and demonstrate behavioral changes with network-targeted stimulation 3. Demonstrate that chronic DBS using steered, individualized targeting is feasible and safe for reducing depressive symptoms

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2019

open study

Personal Relevance of Psychotherapy for Asian Americans
IRIS Media Inc Behavior Stress Anxiety
Using a three-armed design the investigators will test whether participants in the Mindboba online application experience significantly greater improvements as compared to participants in the active control (online app based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and participants in the business-as-usual1 expand

Using a three-armed design the investigators will test whether participants in the Mindboba online application experience significantly greater improvements as compared to participants in the active control (online app based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and participants in the business-as-usual control. The outcome measures are self-reported social problem-solving, self-efficacy, stress, depression, anxiety, attitudes towards seeking mental health, and knowledge.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2024

open study

Relaxing Environment to Lower Anxiety During Onabotulinum Toxin Chemodenervation of the Bladder
Wake Forest University Health Sciences Anxiety Pain Burnout, Professional
Chemodenervation of the bladder with onabotulinum toxin A is an effective treatment option for patients with refractory urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). It is often performed as an office-based procedure under local anesthesia. Alternatively, it can be performed in the operating room under gener1 expand

Chemodenervation of the bladder with onabotulinum toxin A is an effective treatment option for patients with refractory urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). It is often performed as an office-based procedure under local anesthesia. Alternatively, it can be performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. The ability to receive intra-detrusor chemodenervation in the office allows patients to avoid the risks associated with general anesthesia and is significantly more cost effective. The procedure, however, is painful and can be anxiety provoking for patients; especially given that patients typically return every six to nine months for repeat injections. Relaxation and distraction techniques are one way to ease patients' anxiety before an office-based procedure. While we do not know exactly how anxiety provoking office bladder chemodenervation is for patients, we do know that anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in women with overactive bladder as a population. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether women with Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) who receive office intra-detrusor chemodenervation injections performed in a relaxing environment of lavender aromatherapy, calming music, dim lighting, and modest positioning (Relaxing Environment Package) will have decreased anxiety and pain as well as increased post-procedure satisfaction compared to patients who receive chemodenervation in a typical office environment. Also investigate whether exposure to the relaxing environment impacts the well-being of staff involved in these procedures. This study design is a randomized control trial. Women scheduled for office intra-detrusor chemodenervation at Atrium Health women's Care Urogynecology & Pelvic Surgery - Mercy clinic will be invited to participate. Participants will be randomized to the relaxing environment package or the placebo group after informed consent is obtained and immediately before undergoing intra-detrusor chemodenervation. The participants will complete the pre-procedure visual analog scale (VAS) for anxiety and a VAS for pain at baseline.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2024

open study

Effects of Acute Exercise and Ibuprofen on Symptoms, Immunity, and Neural Circuits in Bipolar Depre1
Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc. Bipolar Depression
This is a 2x2, within-subjects, cross-over trial to test the anti-depressant effects of acute exercise in 20 participants with bipolar depression. Participants will complete four experimental sessions, two with an exercise challenge and two with a resting control condition in a counterbalanced orde1 expand

This is a 2x2, within-subjects, cross-over trial to test the anti-depressant effects of acute exercise in 20 participants with bipolar depression. Participants will complete four experimental sessions, two with an exercise challenge and two with a resting control condition in a counterbalanced order. Participants will receive either 800mg of ibuprofen or placebo before exercise or rest in order to test whether blocking the inflammatory response to exercise interferes with the neural and psychological effects of exercise.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

Adapting BA for Minimally Verbal Autistic Adults
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Autism Depression Autism Spectrum Disorder With Impaired Functional Language Autism Spectrum Disorder
The present study aims to adapt and evaluate the feasibility of the BeatIt-2 behavioral activation intervention for people with intellectual disabilities and low mood to be implemented with minimally verbal autistic individuals. expand

The present study aims to adapt and evaluate the feasibility of the BeatIt-2 behavioral activation intervention for people with intellectual disabilities and low mood to be implemented with minimally verbal autistic individuals.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2023

open study

A Mixed Methods Pilot Trial of the STEP Home Workshop to Improve Reintegration and Reduce Suicide R1
VA Office of Research and Development TBI Suicide Prevention Veterans PTSD Transdiagnostic
Risk of Veteran suicide is elevated during the first year of transition from military service to civilian life. Most Veteran suicides occur among Veterans who are not connected to VA healthcare. Suicide prevention and connection to care are therefore critical for recently transitioning Veterans. Tr1 expand

Risk of Veteran suicide is elevated during the first year of transition from military service to civilian life. Most Veteran suicides occur among Veterans who are not connected to VA healthcare. Suicide prevention and connection to care are therefore critical for recently transitioning Veterans. Transitioning Veterans require services to provide them with suicide prevention education, skills to manage their transition effectively, and support in their access to VA healthcare. Convenient, accessible, palatable, patient-centered care options that are cost-effective, easy to implement nationwide, and target domains known to mitigate suicide risk are needed during this critical transition period. This proposal would bridge this important healthcare gap using STEP-Home-SP, a transdiagnostic, non-stigmatizing, skills-based workshop. STEP-Home-SP will provide Veterans with suicide prevention education, skills to improve transition, support to access VA care, and a platform to decrease social isolation early in their military to civilian transition, thereby reducing suicide risk downstream.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

Expressive Writing on Minority Stressors Among Sexual Minority Veterans
VA Office of Research and Development Depressive Symptoms Anxiety
Sexual minority stressors (e.g., sexual minority identity-based discrimination) contribute to greater risk for and severity of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide among sexual minority Veterans. However, no brief, scalable, one-on-one interventions targeting sexual minority str1 expand

Sexual minority stressors (e.g., sexual minority identity-based discrimination) contribute to greater risk for and severity of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide among sexual minority Veterans. However, no brief, scalable, one-on-one interventions targeting sexual minority stressor-related distress are available in Veterans Affairs (VA) for sexual minority Veterans. The proposed research will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief, 3-session expressive writing intervention to target distress related to sexual minority stressor exposure among sexual minority Veterans. The results of this work will advance knowledge about a promising brief and easy to implement intervention focused on reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among sexual minority Veterans. This proposal aligns with VA's and CSR&D's commitment to providing equitable services to sexual minority Veterans and the aim of reducing health disparities among underserved Veteran groups.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

Cognitive and Affective Processes Online
University of Minnesota Depression
This study will provide data for evaluating the psychometric characteristics of the tests assessing cognitive flexibility, including their (1) internal consistency, (2) feasibility and tolerability, their (3) convergent and discriminant validity of cognitive and affective constructs such as those i1 expand

This study will provide data for evaluating the psychometric characteristics of the tests assessing cognitive flexibility, including their (1) internal consistency, (2) feasibility and tolerability, their (3) convergent and discriminant validity of cognitive and affective constructs such as those introduced to understand mental disorders, and (4) sensitivity (and correspondence) to individual differences. For these tests to be useful in studying clinical conditions, they must show adequate reliability, validity, and sensitivity in large samples of convenience.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2023

open study

Preventing Childbirth-Related PTSD With Expressive Writing
Massachusetts General Hospital PTSD (Childbirth-Related)
The goal of this clinical trial is to test a brief psychological intervention given to individuals in the first days following childbirth who have experienced a potentially stressful childbirth. The treatment is aimed at preventing post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth and promoting m1 expand

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a brief psychological intervention given to individuals in the first days following childbirth who have experienced a potentially stressful childbirth. The treatment is aimed at preventing post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth and promoting maternal-infant bonding. In the days following childbirth, participants will be asked to write about their childbirth experience or a neutral event for three consecutive days, for around 15 minutes each day. Additionally, they will complete a short survey before and after the intervention about their birth experience and mental health. Around 2 months postpartum, participants will take part in mental health and physiological assessments, and in a brief play session with their infant.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2023

open study

Behavioral Exposure for Introceptive Tolerance RCT
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Exercise Sensitivity Introceptive Exposure Anxiety Cardiac Rehabilitation
Behavioral Exposure for Interoceptive Tolerance (BE-FIT) is a mechanism-informed behavioral intervention to target exercise anxiety. The three primary components of BE-FIT include: (1) exposure to feared bodily sensations and exercise; (2) prevention of safety behavior use before/during/after exerc1 expand

Behavioral Exposure for Interoceptive Tolerance (BE-FIT) is a mechanism-informed behavioral intervention to target exercise anxiety. The three primary components of BE-FIT include: (1) exposure to feared bodily sensations and exercise; (2) prevention of safety behavior use before/during/after exercise, and (3) use of a wrist-worn activity monitor for physical activity (PA) feedback and activity goal setting. Evidence from the investigators' Stage I trial indicated that BE-FIT is feasible, acceptable, and safe and produced reductions in exercise anxiety and increased exercise outcomes (short-term moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity and steps/day). The investigators' present aim is to conduct a Stage II randomized-controlled trial to further evaluate the efficacy of BE-FIT in decreasing exercise anxiety in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients and examine whether changes in this target yield successive changes in exercise adherence outcomes.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2022

open study

Personalized Therapeutic Neuromodulation for Anhedonic Depression
Stanford University Treatment Resistant Depression
This study will investigate the anti-anhedonic efficacy of a novel neurostimulation strategy termed accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS) in participants with treatment resistant depression (TRD). expand

This study will investigate the anti-anhedonic efficacy of a novel neurostimulation strategy termed accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS) in participants with treatment resistant depression (TRD).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2022

open study

Characterizing Inflammatory Profiles and Suicidal Behavior in Adolescents
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Suicide and Depression
Despite increasing suicide rates in adolescents, there remains a paucity of approaches to use to prevent re-attempts. Any hope for breaking the code to prevent youth suicide lies in understanding biological factors that play a role. Evidence suggests that inflammation and immune system dysfunction1 expand

Despite increasing suicide rates in adolescents, there remains a paucity of approaches to use to prevent re-attempts. Any hope for breaking the code to prevent youth suicide lies in understanding biological factors that play a role. Evidence suggests that inflammation and immune system dysfunction may be linked to suicide. The investigators will develop immune profiles for adolescents with suicidal behavior and those at risk in order to develop tools that can be implemented for prevention efforts. This study involves blood draws, answering questions, and completing questionnaires - no treatment or intervention is provided as part of this study. Participants will be screened to see if they qualify for this study using questionnaires. Participants will be teens (ages 12-18 years) with recent suicidal behavior, teens at-risk for developing depression, and healthy control teens. Participants complete all study-related tasks four times over a period of 12 months. Electronic surveys will be sent to participants to complete monthly. Both the adolescent and if applicable, their parent (or legally authorized representatives, LARs), will answer questions regarding depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 2021

open study

Neural Response to Inflammatory Challenge in Major Depressive Disorder
Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc. Major Depressive Disorder
This is a parallel group, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Participants with MDD (n=90) and HC (n=90) will be randomly assigned (2:1) to receive either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0.8ng/kg of body weight) or placebo (same volume of 0.9% saline) administered as an intravenous bolus. This will1 expand

This is a parallel group, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Participants with MDD (n=90) and HC (n=90) will be randomly assigned (2:1) to receive either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0.8ng/kg of body weight) or placebo (same volume of 0.9% saline) administered as an intravenous bolus. This will yield the following groups: MDD-LPS (n=60), MDD-Placebo (n=30), HC-LPS (n=60), HC-placebo (n=30). There are three main aims: to identify immune pathways and neural circuits that respond differently to LPS in MDD vs. HC subjects; (2) to test whether the strength of inflammatory changes induced by LPS is associated with degree of change in anhedonic symptoms and neural circuits in the MDD group, and (3) to identify a biotype of MDD that shows a differential immunological and neurophysiological response to LPS. The main outcome variables are symptoms of anhedonia measured with the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), cytokines (Il-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF), and BOLD signal change in the neural circuitry mediating interoceptive processing, i.e. the insula and cingulate cortex. The exploratory aim is to determine whether the acute inflammatory response to LPS can predict the clinical course of depression over a period of six months. The main outcome of this component of the study is self-reported depressive symptoms assessed with the QIDS-SR.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2021

open study

Cardiac Markers in Depressed Patients With Coronary Heart Disease - R01HL147862
Washington University School of Medicine Coronary Heart Disease Depression
Depression doubles the risk of death in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), but so far, there is insufficient evidence that we can reduce the risk of death by treating depression. This study will investigate the cardiac risk markers that are associated with depression symptoms that remain d1 expand

Depression doubles the risk of death in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), but so far, there is insufficient evidence that we can reduce the risk of death by treating depression. This study will investigate the cardiac risk markers that are associated with depression symptoms that remain despite treatment, and identify potential targets for their treatment. The results of the study will inform the development of more effective interventions to improve both depression and survival in patients with CHD.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Dec 2020

open study

The Role of Virtual Reality During Regional Anesthesia
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Anxiety Pain
In this study, we will analyze the role of virtual reality in acute pain and anxiety management for regional anesthesia in pre-operative patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. expand

In this study, we will analyze the role of virtual reality in acute pain and anxiety management for regional anesthesia in pre-operative patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2020

open study

Mechanism of Action of Electroconvulsive Therapy
Massachusetts General Hospital Unipolar Depression Bipolar Depression
This is an observational neuroimaging study assessing the effects of ECT on the brains of patients with unipolar and bipolar depression. expand

This is an observational neuroimaging study assessing the effects of ECT on the brains of patients with unipolar and bipolar depression.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2019

open study

Optimizing Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
University of California, Los Angeles Social Anxiety Disorder Panic Disorder
The study will compare the effects that two different approaches of exposure therapy have on reducing fear and anxiety in individuals with social anxiety disorder or panic disorder. expand

The study will compare the effects that two different approaches of exposure therapy have on reducing fear and anxiety in individuals with social anxiety disorder or panic disorder.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2015

open study

Sublingual Cannabidiol for Anxiety
Staci Gruber, Ph.D. Anxiety
This is an open-label to double-blind study evaluating the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of anxiety in adults. Participants will use a sublingual (under-the-tongue) solution of whole plant-derived CBD or placebo three times daily for four weeks in addition to their normal treatment1 expand

This is an open-label to double-blind study evaluating the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of anxiety in adults. Participants will use a sublingual (under-the-tongue) solution of whole plant-derived CBD or placebo three times daily for four weeks in addition to their normal treatment regimen. Participants' clinical state will be assessed weekly during the treatment period. In addition, cognitive function and measures of quality of life, sleep, and general health will be assessed at baseline and the post-treatment final visit.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2018

open study

Evaluation of a Keto-Like Supplement on Brain Responses to Emotional Stimuli in Depression
Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc. Depression
This study aims to determine whether a keto-like supplement relative to placebo results in functional brain changes during fMRI tasks evaluating positive and negative valence in individuals with moderate to severe depression. In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, 75 individuals1 expand

This study aims to determine whether a keto-like supplement relative to placebo results in functional brain changes during fMRI tasks evaluating positive and negative valence in individuals with moderate to severe depression. In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, 75 individuals with a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale score ≥ 10 (MDD) will be enrolled to participate in an 8-week treatment study to obtain 60 completers. Participants will be randomized with a 1-1 ratio to receive the keto-like supplement (n= 30 completers) or placebo (n=30 completers) taken orally three times per day for 8 weeks. Participants will undergo a 10.5-hour screening/baseline evaluation visit split over 2 days at week 0 including questionnaires, neuroimaging before and after supplement or placebo administration and blood draws, office visits at week 2 (1.5 hours), week 4 (3 hours), week 6 (0.5 hours), week 8 (6 hours), a follow-up visit at week 10 (1.5 hours) and two phone calls between visits (weeks 1 and 3) during which a brief clinical assessment will be obtained (10 minutes each). The total time involved in the study is approximately 23.5 hours.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2024

open study

Improving Adult Protective Services Client Outcomes: A Stepped-Care Social and Mental Health Engage1
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Depression in Old Age
The purpose of this study is to ascertain the feasibility and effectiveness of an 8-week social engagement program aimed at reducing depression and increasing social engagement among seniors who are transitioning out of Adult Protective Services (APS) for either elder abuse or self-neglect. expand

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the feasibility and effectiveness of an 8-week social engagement program aimed at reducing depression and increasing social engagement among seniors who are transitioning out of Adult Protective Services (APS) for either elder abuse or self-neglect.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2023

open study

Enhanced Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis
Mclean Hospital Psychosis Schizophrenia Schizoaffective Disorder Psychosis Nos/Other Bipolar Disorder
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare engagement in treatment in coordinated specialty care (CSC) to five extra care elements (CSC 2.0) in first-episode psychosis. The main question it aims to answer is: • Does the addition of certain elements of care increase the number of visits in treat1 expand

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare engagement in treatment in coordinated specialty care (CSC) to five extra care elements (CSC 2.0) in first-episode psychosis. The main question it aims to answer is: • Does the addition of certain elements of care increase the number of visits in treatment for first-episode psychosis? Participants will either: - Receive care as usual (CSC) or - Receive care as usual (CSC) plus five additional care elements (CSC 2.0): 1. Individual peer support 2. Digital outreach 3. Care coordination 4. Multi-family group therapy 5. Cognitive remediation Researchers will compare the standard of care (CSC) to CSC 2.0 to see if participants receiving CSC 2.0 have more visits to their clinic in their first year.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2024

open study

A Closed Loop, Doctor to Patient, Mobile Application for Depression in People With Multiple Scleros1
University of California, San Francisco Multiple Sclerosis MS Depression
The researchers want to find out if an electronic application called MS CATCH can enhance patients' and doctors' experiences during and in between clinical visits. MS CATCH is a smartphone-based tool which allows patients to enter their mood related symptoms at regular intervals, which is then avai1 expand

The researchers want to find out if an electronic application called MS CATCH can enhance patients' and doctors' experiences during and in between clinical visits. MS CATCH is a smartphone-based tool which allows patients to enter their mood related symptoms at regular intervals, which is then available to their Neurologist in their electronic medical record. The neurologist is also able to view additional information from their medical record, and receives alerts for changes reported by the patient that raise concern for the patient's mental health.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2023

open study

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor (SGLT2) in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
NYU Langone Health Major Depressive Disorder
The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether empagliflozin, a medication in a class known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2) inhibitors, may reduce symptoms of depression. Since this medication helps the body make metabolites known as ketone bodies which can serve as1 expand

The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether empagliflozin, a medication in a class known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2) inhibitors, may reduce symptoms of depression. Since this medication helps the body make metabolites known as ketone bodies which can serve as an alternate energy source for the brain, the investigators can also test whether ketone bodies help with depressed mood.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2023

open study

Mechanisms of Behavioral Activation (BA)
Emory University Depression
The investigators will be comparing brain (neural) activation of depressed adolescent patients before, during and after a course of Behavioral Activation (BA) therapy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In particular, the project seeks to determine whether BA targets different neura1 expand

The investigators will be comparing brain (neural) activation of depressed adolescent patients before, during and after a course of Behavioral Activation (BA) therapy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In particular, the project seeks to determine whether BA targets different neural mechanisms for behavioral avoidance associated with low motivation as compared to threat avoidance. A group of healthy controls will also be scanned as a comparator group for behavioral and imaging measures.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

Mindful Waiting Room
University of Utah Anxiety State Depressive State Pain Nausea Fatigue
This will be a single-site, five-arm, parallel group randomized control trial involving patients seeking integrative healthcare. Four different styles of 5-minute, audio-recoded mindfulness practices delivered in the clinic waiting room will be compared with a 5-minute audio-recording about integra1 expand

This will be a single-site, five-arm, parallel group randomized control trial involving patients seeking integrative healthcare. Four different styles of 5-minute, audio-recoded mindfulness practices delivered in the clinic waiting room will be compared with a 5-minute audio-recording about integrative healthcare. A secondary sub-analysis will investigate the most effective mindfulness practice style for patients presenting at the clinic with elevated anxiety, depression, or pain.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study