Anxiety & Depression Association of America

This is a study to find out if a device that temporarily alters brain activity (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS) might be used to change how people with anxiety or related concerns cope with feared or anxiety-producing situations. The study is recruiting people who recently started treatment for anxiety or a related concern. The study involves 3 visits to the Medical University of South Carolina. At the first visit, participants do interviews and surveys asking about anxiety and related concerns, and they also do tasks where they see and react to emotional pictures while their brain activation is measured. At the next two visits, participants receive rTMS, which works by rapidly turning a focused magnetic field on and off repeatedly over the head in a way that passes directly through the hair, scalp, and skull and onto the brain and can temporarily increase brain activity under the magnetic field. After rTMS, participants do two tasks where they see and react to emotional situations while wearing sensors on their hand, arms, face, and head. Each visit in this study is expected to last between 2 - 4 hours. This is not a treatment study, but the study is being conducted with the hope that it will help improve treatment in the future.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2021

open study

The unhide® Project is a non-interventional, longitudinal research study designed to establish a secure data repository of demographic, health, and lifestyle information from individuals with brain inflammation and related neuroinflammatory conditions. Participants in the United States aged 2 years and older will provide self-reported health data, biometrics, and symptom diaries through the MyDataHelps™ app (branded as unhide® for this study). The goal is to create comprehensive longitudinal profiles to facilitate research into disease subtypes, causes, diagnostics, and potential treatments, as well as to identify potential participants for future optional studies. "Healthy" individuals without brain inflammation are also eligible to participate. The digital health research platform used in this study was originally developed and designed by Solve M.E and was called SolveTogether. The Brain Inflammation Collaborative (BIC) expanded upon Solve M.E.'s work to include related diagnoses, pediatric participants, enhance symptom tracking, and more. BIC and Solve M.E. combined Solve Together and unhide®, to create The unhide® Solve Together Unified Platform in 2025.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Jul 2023

open study

The purpose of this study is to test the drug CORT108297, which blocks the hormone cortisol, for treatment of PTSD in Veterans, and establish a safety profile that will inform the design of future studies.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 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 is exploring the efficacy of a digital therapeutic app in reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2025

open study

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in a wearable brain stimulation device that delivers a low intensity, pulsed, alternating current via scalp electrodes. Prior sham-controlled clinical trials have shown the therapeutic effects and safety of tACS for the treatment of anxiety and depression. In addition, tACS is rapid acting and well tolerated. After the device is issued to the patient during an in-office orientation and training session, the tACS device can be safely used by the patient at the convenience of their own home. Up to 40 Veterans under that age of 70 who have clinically significant anxiety will be enrolled in an 8-week open-label trial of Model FW-200 tACS to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, adherence and impact on anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep and neurocognitive measures. Participants may have a concurrent diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and/or PTSD.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2025

open study

X-CEED is a Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of azetukalner in adult participants diagnosed with bipolar I or II disorder who are currently in a depressive episode (bipolar depression).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

This study tests the efficacy of a new psychotherapeutic strategy for reducing negative attention bias (and therefore depression severity) in participants with MDD. This real-time fMRI neurofeedback therapy uses cloud-based pattern classification to decode a patient's attentional state and dynamically modulate task stimuli (in a closed loop) based on this state.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2025

open study

The investigators will be randomizing 300 college student participants with high levels of social media use into either a 1) control condition (no intervention), a 2) mindfulness meditation cognitive intervention, or 3) a social media reduction + exercise replacement intervention. Participants complete intervention activities daily for two weeks. The investigators will collect self-report and behavioral measures of social media use and related psychological constructs at three time points: baseline, immediately after the intervention period, and one-week after the intervention period (three weeks from baseline).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

Conditions treated in intensive care units (ICUs) such as the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), congestive heart failure, COVID pneumonia, and sepsis are common. These can lead to high rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD that worsen quality of life. Yet there are few effective strategies able to overcome barriers of limited access to mental health care. Even less is known about the experiences of patients from racially and ethnically minoritized populations because of they haven't been included well in past research. To address this problem, the investigators developed Blueprint, a mobile app that coaches people to use adaptive coping skills to self-manage their symptoms. The investigators found that it reduced depression symptoms and improved quality of life compared to placebo. To confirm these promising findings, the investigators are doing a formal test of Blueprint. The investigators will enroll 400 people who received ICU care from 4 hospitals (Duke, UCLA, Colorado, and Oregon). These patients will be randomized to receive either the Blueprint mobile app or a special Education Program mobile app the investigators developed. -both delivered through similar mobile app platforms. Our specific aims are to see which program improves symptoms better across 6 months of follow up. This project addresses national research priorities and could advance the field with a personalizable yet population-focused therapy that could be scaled broadly and efficiently to enhance mental health equity.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2024

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to identify the circuit activations by very brief exposure (VBE) among youth with social anxiety disorder (SAD) in order to develop a novel intervention for those with SAD. The secondary objectives of this study are to measure the effect of VBE on subjective fear ratings, and participants' awareness and tolerance of the exposure stimuli. - The primary outcome of this study is the mean activation of frontostriatal and prefrontal brain regions to facial stimuli, as measured by Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) response, in 4 regions of interest during the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). - Another primary outcome of the study is to identify networks of regions subserving emotion regulation and attention, as measured by BOLD response of corresponding brain regions. Secondary Outcomes -The secondary outcome of this study is the fear induced by exposure to facial expression stimuli as measured by a 4-point fear scale during the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) after each block of 10 facial expression stimuli trials. Participants will participate in an interview where they will answer questions both inside and outside of the MRI scan. Participants will be asked to rate on a scale the imagines they see while undergoing MRI scan.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2024

open study

This is a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of ketamine infusions followed by a brief behavioral intervention in Veterans with chronic low back pain and depression.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2025

open study

The goal of this research study is to train psychotherapists to administer individualized evidence-based psychotherapies in a cancer care setting to patients and caregivers with elevated levels of distress. 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 or caregiver 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 75 patients, 25 caregivers, and 15 therapists will take part in this research study.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of interventional/procedural therapies for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These treatments include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), racemic ketamine infusion and intranasal esketamine insufflation. The investigators will obtain various indicators, or biomarkers, of a depressed individuals' state before, during, and/or after these treatments. Such biomarkers include neurobehavioral testing, neuroimaging, electroencephalography, cognitive testing, vocal recordings, epi/genetic testing, and autonomic nervous system measures (i.e. "fight-or-flight" response). The results obtained from this study may provide novel antidepressant treatment response biomarkers, with the future goal of targeting a given treatment to an individual patient ("personalized medicine").

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Nov 2020

open study

An open-label, multi-center, prospective study to evaluate feasibility and efficacy of accelerated TMS for patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if GATE-251 works to treat depression in adults. It will also learn about the safety of GATE-251. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does GATE-251 reduce depression scores in participants compared to participants who take a placebo (a look-alike tablet that contains no GATE-251)? What medical problems are observed in participants who take GATE-251? Participants will take one tablet of GATE-251 or placebo every week for 6 weeks. Participants will visit the clinic every week of the 6 week period to have the severity of their depression evaluated.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2025

open study

This study aims to identify novel markers of psychosis using electroencephalography (EEG).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2025

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if ketamine, given during surgery, can help improve recovery for adults with serious orthopedic trauma. The study will test whether ketamine reduces pain, lowers the need for opioids, and improves mental health outcomes like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ketamine reduce pain after surgery compared to standard anesthesia? Does ketamine reduce the amount of opioids patients need for pain control? Does ketamine improve symptoms of depression and PTSD after orthopedic trauma? Researchers will compare patients who receive ketamine during surgery with those who receive standard anesthesia without ketamine to see if ketamine helps improve both physical and psychological recovery. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to receive either a single dose of ketamine or standard anesthesia during surgery. Report their pain using a simple pain scale (Visual Analog Scale, VAS). Complete short surveys about mood and mental health (PHQ-9 for depression and PCL-5 for PTSD) at several time points after surgery. Allow the research team to review their electronic medical records to measure opioid prescriptions during recovery. Attend follow-up visits in clinic or by secure telehealth (e.g., Zoom) at 1-7 days, 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2025

open study

This study will test a therapy intervention, HOPE, for individuals with opioid use disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Interested individuals will need to be taking medications for opioid use disorder (e.g., suboxone, naltrexone, methadone). Interested participants will complete a 10-12 week therapy, and be asked to complete surveys.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

The goal of this single-center, single-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel group, interventional trial is to evaluate antidepressant efficacy of yoga monotherapy of 12-weeks duration in 180 adults meeting diagnostic criteria for mild-to-moderate major depression at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Researchers will compare the yoga interventions to an education control intervention on holistic healthcare.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2024

open study

The primary objective for this project is to test whether affective executive functioning is a mechanism of action of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and Wellness for Wellbeing. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Test the effect of MBCT vs. Wellness for Wellbeing on affective inhibition (i.e., emotionally valenced inhibition as measured via the affective Go/No Go task) using an RCT. 2. Test the effect of MBCT vs. Wellness for Wellbeing on (a) affective updating and (b) affective shifting. Outcomes will be measured with the affective n-Back and the affective Internal Switching Task, respectively. 3a) The investigators will examine whether depression symptom severity co-varies with change in affective executive functioning (i.e., affecting inhibition, shifting, and updating) over time. 3b) The investigators will examine whether compliance with treatment protocol (e.g., number of classes attended, amount of home practice) predicts endpoint executive functioning. Participants will complete surveys, interviews, and computer tasks, and will be randomized to either Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy or Wellness for Wellbeing.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2023

open study

This is a prospective clinical trial to confirm the effectiveness of bilateral accelerated theta burst stimulation (aTBS) on suicidal ideation (SI), while exploring cortical inhibition measures in this treatment paradigm. In this proposed study, the investigators will evaluate the anti-suicidal effects of bilateral aTBS over the DLPFC compared to accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS) over the left DLPFC in participants with TRD and SI. Additionally, the investigators aim to identify neurophysiological targets through which bilateral aTBS induces remission of SI in TRD differentially from aiTBS.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study

The overall goal of the study is to determine if treatment of a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) improves the outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We showed that MDD is present in 25% of CKD patients and independently associated with progression to End-Stage Kidney Disease, hospitalization, and death. Depression is also associated with lower quality of life (QOL), fatigue, poor sleep, and non-adherence to diet and medications. However, evidence for efficacy and tolerability of commonly-used antidepressant medications or nonpharmacologic treatments are limited in CKD patients. Our group was the first to conduct a double-blind randomized controlled trial for MDD treatment in 201 patients with non-dialysis CKD, and showed that sertraline, a commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was no more efficacious than placebo for improving depressive symptoms. It becomes imperative to test novel strategies to treat MDD in CKD. We propose to compare with a control group, the efficacy and tolerability of two novel treatment strategies - (1) Behavioral Activation Teletherapy (BAT) for 16 weeks, with the addition of bupropion, a non-SSRI antidepressant, at 8 weeks for patients whose depression has not remitted (non-remitters); and (2) bupropion for 16 weeks, with the addition of BAT at 8 weeks for non-remitters. In Aim 1, we will investigate the efficacy and tolerability of these 2 strategies vs. control for improvement in a primary endpoint of depressive symptoms in 201 patients (67 per group) with CKD stages 3b-5 and MDD at 2 sites, randomized 1:1:1 to either strategy or a control group of Clinical Management plus placebo. We hypothesize that either approach vs. control will result in a minimal clinically important difference of 2 points improvement in depressive symptoms, as ascertained blindly by the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology. In Aim 2 we will investigate the efficacy and tolerability of 8 weeks of (1) single-blind BAT plus placebo or (2) double-blind bupropion plus Clinical Management vs. control for improvement in depressive symptoms. In Aim 3, we will compare the efficacy of these 2 treatments strategies vs. control for improvement in CKD patient-centered outcomes including a. adherence to medications and healthcare visits; b. fatigue; c. sleep; and d. overall functioning. A clinical trial is urgently needed to address the evidence gap that exists for MDD treatment in CKD patients.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2020

open study

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and side effects magnetic seizure therapy (MST) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Bipolar Depression (MST-BpD) and Treatment Resistant Depression (MST-TRD).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2024

open study

This is a randomized controlled trial of Trauma-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (TFPP) in comparison with TAU (at the VA) in a 2:1 ratio in 75 Veterans with PTSD who have not responded to standard treatment at the VA.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2018

open study