Anxiety & Depression Association of America

This is a pilot, two-arm, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial to study the safety and effect of 14 days of kava on anxiety and physiologic stress in survivors of cancer and its treatment. Participants will be randomized to take either kava first or placebo first. Kava 75 mg or placebo will be taken three time daily (TID) for 14 days (Period 1), followed by a washout period of 14-28 days. Thereafter, the participant will take either placebo or kava TID for 14 days (Period 2), whichever he/she did not take in Period 1.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2024

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to test if a culturally sensitive mobile health application (Relax, Reflect, Empower-RRE) is feasible and effective in promoting psychological wellbeing and reducing depressive symptoms among Chinese American adolescents (CAA). We will conduct a pilot study of a community sample of 110 CAAs, ages 14-18. We will use adaptive randomization to assign 55 participants to the RRE intervention for 5 days/week for 3 months and 55 to the control group who will receive a wellness check-in text message 5 days/week for 3 months. The main aims/research questions are, 1) To evaluate feasibility and acceptability of RRE. Assessments include both subjective (CAAs' perceptions of feasibility and acceptability of RRE through Mobile Application Rating Scale and open-ended questions) and objective (CAAs' frequency and duration of RRE access automatically recorded) measures. Our hypothesis is that participants in the RRE group will find RRE feasible and acceptable. 2) To investigate CAAs' changes in depressive symptoms, coping self-efficacy, and psychological wellbeing. We will compare if these changes differ in the RRE group and control group. Participants in both RRE and control groups will complete measures of outcomes (depression, coping self-efficacy, psychological wellbeing) and influencing factors (acculturative stress, experiences of discrimination, life events) at three time points: baseline, the end of the preventive intervention (the12th week), and one-month after the intervention (the16th week). Our hypothesis is that CAAs in the RRE group will exhibit lower levels of depressive symptoms and higher levels of coping self-efficacy and psychological well-being in Weeks 12 and 16 than the baseline. Additionally, CAAs in the RRE group will exhibit greater improvement than the control group in the outcome measures from baseline to Weeks 12 and 16.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

The Reach Out, Stand Strong, Essentials for New Mothers (ROSE) program is an evidence-based intervention that prevents half of cases of postpartum depression and was one of two interventions recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force in 2019. All effectiveness trials of ROSE and of the other recommended PPD prevention intervention included only low-income women a single risk factor that doubles incidence of PPD. Thus, the existing evidence base for PPD prevention consists primarily of women at increased risk for PPD. Based on data from the PIs' current implementation study of ROSE, many healthcare and community agencies in this implementation trial (78%) find it is more feasible for them to provide or offer ROSE to every woman as part of their standard workflow, than it is to create a screening and referral process for at risk women. In addition to being more feasible for agencies, universal prevention may also be advantageous because the cost of a screening false negative (resulting in a preventable case of PPD; $32,000) far exceeds the cost of ROSE delivery ($50-$300/woman). Effectiveness of ROSE among low-income women at risk for PPD is known (ROSE prevents ~50% of PPD cases). To inform a recommendation about using ROSE as universal vs. selective or indicated prevention, we need to determine the effectiveness of ROSE among general populations of women, including women screening negative for PPD risk. Thus, this project will assess ROSE effectiveness across PPD risk levels and across prevention approaches in a sample of 2,320 women from a large regional health system (based in Detroit, MI). Each proposed aim gathers a piece of information missing that is needed to guide decision-making about ROSE as universal prevention. We will assess ROSE as universal, selective, and indicated prevention in terms of: (1) ROSE effectiveness relative to a control for each prevention approach in preventing PPD and improving functioning; (2) cost outcome, (3) equity and (4) scalability of each prevention approach; and (5) mechanisms of ROSE effects across PPD risk levels. We will integrate results to advise about ROSE as universal prevention. This definitive PPD prevention trial will show how best to get an evidence-based program to those who need it in settings where they receive perinatal care by addressing a pragmatic and novel question (should ROSE be universal prevention?) and by examining equity and cost-outcome of universal vs. other prevention approaches.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2023

open study

The goal of this research study is to train psychotherapists to administer individualized evidence-based psychotherapies in a cancer care setting to participants with elevated levels of distress due to their illness and/or treatment. The intervention will mirror clinical care in psycho-oncology in which the therapist, collaboratively with their supervisor, will choose specific components of the following evidence-based treatments to administer based on the clinical presentation of the patient and referring problem. - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) - Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) - Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) - CBT for other cancer-related physical symptoms like pain, fatigue, and nausea. Participation in this research study is expected to last about 26 weeks. It is expected that about 100 people and 15 therapists will take part in this research study.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

The objective of this research is to assess the effects of engaging in coloring activities on patients' self-reported pain and anxiety scores while they wait to be seen by a physician in an emergency department (ED). The current literature on patient visits in the ED highlights the significance of anxiety, stress, and frustration in patient experiences, especially when accounting for long wait times before the physician-patient encounter. The study will address this common problem by looking at the potential impact of nature-themed or geometric shape coloring activities on the ED patient experience as it relates to self-reported anxiety and pain scores. Given that long wait times are increasingly being reported across the country, this study may offer a possible meaningful low-budget, low-resource intervention which could be offered to patients.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2023

open study

Preliminary data have suggested that cannabidiol (CBD) may have a number of clinical benefits, including anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. This study is a pilot open-label clinical trial assessing a custom-formulated high-CBD product over the course of 4 weeks in patients with bipolar disorder who experience anxiety.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2023

open study

This study will investigate whether cannabidiol (CBD), the primary centrally and peripherally active non-intoxicating compound in the cannabis plant, exerts anti-neuroinflammatory effects in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) with or without mild-to-moderate depression.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2022

open study

PTSD is a chronic mental health condition that drastically reduces an individual's quality of life Dextrose injection with a small needle has been used for chronic pain patients and observational results have shown it to be effective in reducing anxiety, brain fog, and depression in patients with PTSD. This randomized trial will compare dextrose injection with a delayed/usual treatment control.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2023

open study

This study examines the association of variability in glucose values over a 10-day period with cognitive function and functional status among individuals with prediabetes, aged 50 or older.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2022

open study

Develop a NIRSIT testing protocol that can be administered in the diagnostic setting and reliably distinguishes the symptoms and severity of depression, with the help of repeated measure (up to five visits per subject) comparison of patients being treated for Major Depressive Disorder with control, non-depressed subjects.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2019

open study

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a treatment for depression. The investigators are continuing to learn how to optimize outcomes from rTMS treatment. The purpose of this research project is to use brain network connectivity patterns as measured by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to confirm a way to optimize the use of rTMS to treat depression. In addition, the study aims to gain a better understanding of how rTMS influences brain networks.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2021

open study

This project will examine changes in depression and anxiety following a 10-week intervention promoting nature-based physical activity in mental health settings. We will recruit ten licensed therapists whose caseload includes adults with depression and anxiety. Following a training by our team, each participating therapist will recruit six clients, who will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. Clients in the intervention condition will engage in walk-and-talk therapy outdoors during weekly sessions and discuss strategies for being active outdoors on their own. We will assess changes in depression, anxiety, and nature-based physical activity in both groups.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2025

open study

The goal of this study is to examine attentional biases for facial displays of emotion as a mechanism of risk in infants of mothers with postpartum major depression, and the potential role of infant arousal in the development of these attentional biases.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2024

open study

The study examines the efficacy of a mindfulness-based neurofeedback protocol designed to improve academic performance and reduce performance anxiety in racial and ethnic minority college students. Using NeuroSky and BrainTrain technology, the intervention incorporates mindfulness principles to enhance participants' self-regulation skills. Continuous heart rate variability (HRV) data is collected to assess stress levels, sleep, and exercise. The research aims to explore the acceptability and feasibility of this approach, with the goal of addressing academic performance and anxiety in this population.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn more about mood, sleep, and activity during menopause. The main question it aims to answer is: can mood and sleep dysfunction in menopause be improved by resetting misaligned circadian rhythm through one night of strategic sleep timing adjustment and two weeks of exposure to bright light at a certain time of day? Researchers will compare sleep timing (earlier vs. later) and bright white light exposure (morning or evening) to investigate the effect of melatonin levels on mood, sleep, and activity. Participants will 1) submit urine samples to measure melatonin levels, 2) be assigned to advance or delay their sleep for one night, 3) sit in front of a light box for 30 minutes per day (morning or evening) for 14 days, 4) complete questionnaires about their mood and sleep, and 5) wear a device that will measure their activity.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

LHMoms is a novel integrated care intervention that focuses intensively on care continuity and community-to-healthcare linkages for postpartum birthing individuals. The intervention starts prior to discharge in the delivery hospitalization and extends to six months post-partum, thus covering critical windows to prevent long-term physical and mental health sequelae.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorder (SUD) present major threats to public health. PTSD and SUD are major correlates of disability, often resulting in severe social and occupational impairment. Comorbidity between PTSD and SUD (PTSD/SUD) is common and frequently co-occurs with other mental health ailments including depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Comorbidity may be amplified in groups vulnerable to high trauma exposure, such as women with low socioeconomic status including women experiencing homelessness (WEH). Moreover, the reciprocal nature of PTSD/SUD (substances are used to cope with PTSD symptoms; substance use can create high-risk situations for new traumas to occur), can create a cycle of trauma and symptomatology leading to a critical health disparity. PTSD/SUD can be costly and difficult to treat, with treatment completion often low and relapse rates often high. Low-cost, complementary interventions, such as self-compassion (SC) interventions, which target key mechanisms that maintain PTSD/SUD, could improve treatment outcomes. SC interventions include practices that build skills to improve emotional responses, cognitive understanding, and mindfulness. Recent research supports the benefit of SC interventions for reducing PTSD, SUD, and related comorbidities, potentially with large effects. However, sample sizes have generally been small and randomized designs infrequently used. Moreover, while SC interventions may act to improve key mechanisms of treatment response and/or symptom maintenance (e.g., emotion regulation/dysregulation, trauma-related guilt, trauma-related shame, moral injury, and craving), such mediating factors have been underexplored. To address these limitations, the present proposal will implement community-based research principles and use a two phase, mixed-method design to adapt and test a widely used SC intervention (Mindful Self Compassion; MSC) for use with a sample of WEH with PTSD/SUD. The project will be conducted in partnership with a state-funded drug treatment facility that serves women and families experiencing high health disparities. Phase I was completed in 2023 and adapted the standard MSC course for use with trauma-exposed WEH with PTSD/SUD using the ADAPT-ITT model, an eight-stage model that engages community partners to increase feasibility and acceptability of interventions for at-risk populations. Phase II will be an open-label cluster randomized clinical trial (N=202) to test the benefit of the adapted MSC at improving primary (PTSD, substance use) and secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety, hopelessness) among a sample of WEH with PTSD/SUD residing in a residential drug treatment site. MSC (n=101) will be compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU; n=101). WEH in the MSC group will complete a 6-week (six sessions plus a half-day retreat) MSC intervention. The TAU group will engage in weekly check-ins with the research team but will not receive an intervention. WEH will be assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a 4-month follow-up. One-on-one interviews will be conducted with the MSC group to collect qualitative data on experiences. An exploratory aim will be to elucidate mechanism of treatment-response and maintenance or remission of PTSD symptoms. These potential mechanisms will include SC, emotion regulation/dysregulation, trauma-related guilt, trauma-related shame, moral injury, and craving. Results may inform treatment for PTSD/SUD in WEH and other groups experiencing high health disparities and provide valuable insights into mechanisms underlying PTSD/SUD symptoms over time. Findings are relevant to military populations, which experience high rates of PTSD/SUD, and other populations disproportionately exposed to trauma.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2024

open study

This study addresses the critical need for innovative therapeutic interventions in Veterans with serious mental illnesses (SMI) receiving care in VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers (PRRCs). The vast majority of individuals with SMI suffer from cognitive impairments, leading to chronic functional disability, and impaired outcomes, causing a significant strain on support networks and the VA healthcare system. This study aims to introduce an innovative mental health therapy, Targeted Cognitive Training (TCT), to Veterans struggling with serious mental illnesses (SMI). TCT works to improve basic sensory information processing and, ultimately, clinical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning. By using EEG biomarkers to identify Veterans with SMI receiving care within VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers who are most likely to benefit from this treatment, and by understanding how best to implement this therapy, the investigators hope to enhance care and improve life quality for Veterans with SMI.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2025

open study

This feasibility clinical trial aims to assess the feasibility of implementing a 1-month app-based meditation program with officers in the juvenile legal system and other professionals working directly with legal-involved youth.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2024

open study

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute is performing this research to accelerate diverse disease research using cells from the body (such as skin or blood cells) to make stem cells and other types of cells, conduct research on the samples, perform genetic testing, and store the samples for future use. Through this research, researchers hope to identify future treatments or even cures for the major diseases of our time.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study

The purpose of this study is to develop a technique called real time fMRI neurofeedback. This technique uses a regular MRI scanner, except that special software allows the researchers to measure activity in participants brain, using fMRI, and then give information, in the form of a feedback signal, which indicates brain activity in real time, while in the MRI scanner. The larger goal of this study is to develop ways to help people, including those with depression, better regulate brain activity. The researchers think that this may be helpful in managing psychiatric symptoms. This study design has three phases, however, only two phases (phase 2 and 3) are considered to be a clinical trial. Phase 2 (part 2) was registered and is NCT05934604. This is the phase 3 (part 3) for this project and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

The study will examine the role of digital wellness modules (brief mindfulness and light to moderate physical exercise) delivered through a smartphone wellness application and their short-term effects on health behavior motivation and change, and longer-term quality of life and non-pathological affective states.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2024

open study

To evaluate the safety and tolerability of iloperidone in adolescent patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder for up to 52 weeks of treatment.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2023

open study

The investigators are doing this study to learn more about how to prevent type 2 diabetes in teenage girls. The purpose of this study is to find out if taking part in a cognitive-behavioral therapy group, exercise training group, or a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise training groups, decreases stress, improves mood, increases physical activity and physical fitness, and decreases insulin resistance among teenagers at risk for diabetes.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2023

open study

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to understand how a cognitive-behavioral treatment (a form of psychological treatment) for depression changes the gut microbiome (micro-organisms that regulate the health of the gut), immune system, and the brain functioning in people living with HIV.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2022

open study