Clinical Research Directory

SER Familia: A Family-Based Intervention Addressing Syndemic Conditions Among Latino Immigrant Families

This study aims to prevent syndemic health conditions by decreasing acculturative stress and promoting resilience via SER Familia (Salud, Estrés y Resilencia en Familias/ Health, Stress, and Resilience in Families), a family-based intervention. SER Familia is a six-session intervention co-developed and delivered by community health workers (CHWs) that uses strategies to reduce acculturative stress, promote resilience, improve parent-child and family level health, while simultaneously helping families maintain strong social networks and better navigate community resources to address social determinants of health (SDOH). More specifically, investigators aim to: 1) Examine the efficacy of SER Familia to prevent or reduce the syndemic comprised of substance abuse, IPV, HIV risk, depression, and anxiety among Parents and Youth; and 2) Identify how individual, family, and community mechanisms of change related to acculturative stress and resilience mediates the effect of SER Familia.

Resources, Inspiration, Support and Empowerment (RISE) for Black Pregnant Women

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) encompass a range of mental health disorders that occur during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. Approximately 13% of women experience PMADs. This rate doubles for those with adverse perinatal outcomes (APO) and triples in Black women. Recent research points to racism as one significant source of these health disparities. Cultural adaptations to improve communication with providers decrease rates of depression in minority patients as well as improve adherence to treatment, insight and alliance. Discrimination stress and worries about experiencing medical consequences are thought to increase systemic inflammation, a mechanism known to drive mental and physical symptoms. Inflammation has been implicated in both PMADs and APO, suggesting a shared underlying etiology. Evidence from our work suggests that inflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of PMADs. The proposed pilot randomized control trial will allow the investigators to build on promising preliminary results and identify whether our culturally relevant mobile Health (mHealth) intervention is effective in improving outcomes among Black pregnant women randomized to the intervention compared to a control group. The culturally relevant modules include building communication and self-advocacy skills and provide a support network. The primary objective of this research is to provide guidance for clinical care of Black women during the perinatal period, with the goal to improve mental health and physical health outcomes. A secondary goal is to examine novel inflammatory signatures that change as a function of the intervention to reduce PMADs in this population. As inflammation may be diagnostic of PMADs, identification of its role may shed light of potential intervention targets and provide critical knowledge to improve women's long-term health. PMAD symptoms will be assessed prospectively in 150 Black pregnant women, half of whom will be randomized to receive the culturally relevant mHealth intervention. The investigators hypothesize that women in the intervention group will have reduced rates of PMADs and APOs, an increase in adherence to mental health treatment and will report increased self-advocacy skills, increased communication with providers, and reduced levels of discrimination related stress. Participants will also have improved biological risk indicators including lower circulating C-reactive protein and a transcription profile of differentially expressed inflammatory genes, marked by a decreased activity of inflammatory transcription factors from blood spots. Given the high burden of both PMADs and APOs among Black mothers and the numerous consequences on maternal and child outcomes, it is imperative that investigators develop and implement effective interventions, and test the biological mechanisms that might drive these effects. This work is interdisciplinary, building on a network of community advocates to implement a novel mHealth intervention informed by real world experiences designed to enhance self-advocacy, reduce stress and prevent adverse outcomes

The Assessment of Preoperative Anxiety in Cancer Patients: Validation, Observational, Descriptive Study.

The study stems from the need to have available effective tools for detecting the anxiety of the cancer patient who has to undergo surgery. The period leading up to surgery, is characterized by strong emotions that create an upheaval in the work, family and social life of the patient as well as concern about the unknown. It would be crucial to ensure a personalized nursing care by having scales of assessment specific to the clinical-surgical oncology setting in order to collect the patient's emotions, concerns and fears. Despite the numerous scales available, many of them have limitations concerning the issues they go to investigate but also concerning the timeframes for compilation, which are often long and laborious so they are difficult to apply. The study aims to validate in the Italian context the Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire (SAQ) questionnaire, already translated and validated in multiple languages, to detect which factors are the most influential in increasing preoperative anxiety, with the aim of implementing education of the patient and implement strategies and interventions that can reduce anxiety.

Deaf CBT-TS to Reduce Suicide Risk

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a short, Zoom-based intervention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment-Seeking for Deaf Individuals (Deaf CBT-TS) can change beliefs about mental health treatment and increase treatment-seeking behaviors in Deaf adults with untreated mental health or alcohol use problems. It will also see if Deaf CBT-TS may reduce suicide risk and explore factors that may increase the effectiveness of Deaf CBT-TS. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does Deaf CBT-TS increase positive beliefs about treatment and increase treatment-seeking behaviors? * Does Deaf CBT-TS increase hope and reduce mental health symptoms, suicide ideation, and alcohol use? * Is Deaf CBT-TS more effective for individuals with less cultural stress compared to those with high levels of cultural stress? * Is Deaf CBT-TS more effective for Deaf individuals in residential areas with more Deaf resources than those with less Deaf resources? Researchers will compare individuals who complete Deaf CBT-TS to those on a waitlist to see if Deaf CBT-TS works to increase positive beliefs about treatment and treatment-seeking behaviors. Participants will: * Complete a baseline assessment including demographic information, measures of hope, general mental health and functioning, alcohol use, suicide ideation, cultural stress, and beliefs about treatment. * Receive Deaf CBT-TS (2 sessions) or be placed on a waitlist with the option of receiving Deaf CBT-Ts after 4 months * Complete two follow-up assessments in 2 and 4 months.

The Effect of a Stress Ball Applied Before Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery on Anxiety, Surgical Fear, and Hemodynamic Parameters

This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of a stress ball applied before retrograde intrarenal surgery on patients' anxiety levels, surgical fear, and hemodynamic parameters.

Brief Trial of ACT-i for Adults With Chronic Insomnia

This is a prospective, randomized-controlled trial that assesses the efficacy of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT-i), compared to an attentional control group, in adults with chronic insomnia. The interventions will be evaluated for their impact on insomnia severity, cognitive function, depression, anxiety, psychological flexibility, and sleep beliefs - measured before treatment, two weeks after and at a three-month follow-up.

Pilot Study of Sensor-Informed Smartphone-based Mental Health Interventions for Mood in Early Psychosis

The aim of this trial is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of using passive smartphone sensors to detect moments of heightened negative mood and inform the timing of brief mental health interventions, such as mindfulness exercises and psychoeducation, in adults with early psychosis.

Immersive Virtual Reality for the Management of Anxiety Among Nurses

The nursing profession is recognized as one of the most demanding in the healthcare sector. Constant exposure to illness, suffering, and death, combined with an increasing workload, leads to fatigue, stress, and especially persistent anxiety. This anxiety affects not only the psychological and physical health of nurses but also the quality of care provided. From an organizational perspective, anxiety promotes absenteeism, demotivation, and turnover, creating a vicious cycle of collective exhaustion. To relieve their anxiety, an increasing number of healthcare providers are turning to complementary medicine, particularly immersive virtual reality (VR) interventions. Immersive VR hypnosis has been used for several years as a non-pharmacological approach to anxiety management. It constitutes a relational experience engaging both physiological and psychological mechanisms, allowing the user to improve their experience and reduce or even eliminate anxiety. Randomized clinical trials conducted in recent years have evaluated the efficacy of immersive VR hypnosis. Some results indicate that it reduces anxiety more significantly than pharmacological treatments in control groups and is at least as effective as other complementary therapies (relaxation, massage, acupuncture, yoga, etc.). However, the strength of these conclusions remains limited due to a substantial risk of methodological bias. Rigorous new studies, with strict control conditions, are required, particularly regarding the efficacy of hypnosis applied to nurses. Since 2024, the investigators have offered hypnotic VR sessions to nurses at the Clinique du Pont de Chaume to better manage their anxiety. Despite the high satisfaction rate reported in our questionnaires, the investigators now aim to statistically evaluate the efficacy of this intervention. Ultimately, these results could justify a broader investment in this type of equipment, making it available to a larger number of healthcare professionals but only if this complementary intervention demonstrates scientific efficacy.

P3b Short-term Study of CTN in Patients With ADHD and Comorbid Anxiety

Primary: To evaluate the efficacy of CTN in adults ages with ADHD and comorbid anxiety (AISRS) Key Secondary: To assess the efficacy of CTN in adults ages with ADHD and comorbid anxiety

CommunityRx-Dementia + Peer Navigation (CRxDpeer)

The CRxDpeer intervention, delivered by a trained peer navigator, in practice called a "peer mentor", includes three evidence-based components: (a) focused education about common social (e.g., food and housing insecurity) and caregiving (e.g., respite and end of life care) needs, (b) activation of personalized community resource information for social and caregiving needs through delivery of a resource list (HealtheRx) at the baseline encounter and coaching on how to communicate with service providers, coordinate services and manage social support (e.g., connect with their peer navigator, reach out to friends or relatives for support, identify support groups, etc.) and (c) ongoing navigation-focused support meant to boost the baseline intervention, including a series of proactive text messages over 12 months. During this time, the subject can respond to and communicate with the peer navigator for ongoing support.

Evaluating the Impact of Psychotherapeutic Advertising Claims on Cannabis Purchasing

In the U.S., legal cannabis is frequently advertised as an effective treatment for mental health problems such as anxiety and depression-particularly online. States that have legalized cannabis have not implemented regulations to address this type of advertising. This project aims to investigate the influence of psychotherapeutic advertising claims (PAC) and mental health warning labels (WL) on online cannabis purchasing behaviors among light-to-moderate cannabis users with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. The specific aims are to determine whether PAC increases cannabis purchasing intentions and whether a mental health WL can mitigate this effect. A realistic online cannabis shopping experience will be simulated using the digital Platform for Online Evaluation of Marijuana Marketing and Sales (POEMMS). The study will employ a between-subjects experimental design by randomizing 2,000 participants to one of four online stores that vary in PAC and WL content: (1) a control claims (CC)-only store, (2) a PAC store, (3) a WL store, and (4) a PAC + WL store. Participants will browse and select items as if making real purchases. Analyses will examine three primary outcomes to determine the influence of PAC and WL on purchasing behaviors: (1) total milligrams of THC purchased, (2) average potency (%THC) of products, and (3) overall number of products purchased. The long-term objective is to inform evidence-based cannabis policy and regulatory strategies by understanding the impact of cannabis marketing on vulnerable populations. This research is relevant to public health by addressing the potential risks associated with misleading cannabis marketing, which may lead to increased use and exacerbation of mental health symptoms among individuals with depression and anxiety. The project leverages a multidisciplinary team with expertise in addiction, mental health, epidemiology, and digital health technology. The findings have the potential to inform the development of targeted interventions and policies to reduce harms associated with cannabis advertising-ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and more effective regulation.

Media Orientation to Improve Childhood Vaccine Uptake and Address Parent and Caregivers Vaccine-related Anxiety: A Pilot Study

Vaccine hesitancy-defined as delayed acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability-remains a significant barrier to childhood immunisation uptake in Nigeria, a country with high zero-dose unvaccinated children. Several factors limit vaccine uptake, including poor awareness, misinformation, fear, anxiety and a perceived sense of conspiracy. Yet, a gap exists to address this urgent problem. The proposed study seeks to pilot the feasibility and acceptability of a novel co-produced media campaign intervention called ASSURed awareness campaign to encourage childhood vaccine uptakE (ASSURE) with parent-caregivers who are not or partially up to date with their child's vaccination. The ASSURE intervention is designed to encourage vaccine uptake and access, reduce vaccine hesitancy whilst addressing vaccine-related anxiety. The ASSURE intervention is low-intensity, lasting approximately 3-5-minute designed to raise awareness of the need for vaccination uptake and its implications for children, including their development and well-being whist addressing vaccine related anxiety and fears. The proposed study is also to pilot and test the instrument to determine effectiveness and cost effectiveness including the mechanism on why the intervention might potentially work.

Effects of Breastfeeding, Virtual Reality, and Stress Ball on Pain, Anxiety, Cortisol Levels, and Comfort During Episiotomy Repair

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of three different interventions-breastfeeding, using a stress ball, or wearing virtual reality (VR) goggles-on pain, anxiety, and stress during episiotomy repair (stitching) after childbirth. It also aims to examine how these methods affect a mother's comfort after the procedure. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does breastfeeding, using a stress ball, or using VR goggles lower the mother's pain and anxiety during the repair? Do these interventions reduce the mother's biological stress levels, measured by saliva cortisol tests? Do these methods lead to higher postpartum comfort levels for the mother in the first 24 hours after birth? Researcher will compare these three intervention groups to a "control group" (mothers receiving standard hospital care) to see which approach is most effective. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to one of four groups: Breastfeeding, VR Goggles, Stress Ball, or Standard Care. Use their assigned intervention throughout the entire episiotomy repair process. Provide saliva samples before and after the procedure to measure stress hormones (cortisol). Rate their pain and anxiety levels using clinical scales twice: once before the procedure begins and once immediately after it is finished. Complete a survey about their comfort levels between 6 and 24 hours after the delivery.

Enhancing Brain And Mental Health Through Breathing Practice

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a structured breathing intervention in rural and non-rural adolescents diagnosed with anxiety and depression, recruited from outpatient pediatric and child/adolescent psychiatry clinics.

Implementation of a Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention for Adolescent Anxiety

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate a smartphone based just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) tool to deliver somatic behavioral recommendations for anxiety management among youth. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the JITAI tool acceptable among the adolescent study population? * Is the JITAI tool feasible to deliver to the adolescent study population? * Does the study support preliminary efficacy of the JITAI tool among the adolescent study population? The tool will be pilot-tested among a sample of 50 rural adolescents experiencing elevated anxiety levels who will be randomly assigned to the JITAI tool or a waitlist control, for a treatment period of 3 months. Participants will be asked to: * Use the smartphone based JITAI tool which will deliver somatic behavioral recommendations intended to manage anxiety levels for a treatment period of 3 months * Respond to the tool's prompts on a daily basis and follow the delivered behavioral recommendations * Complete anxiety and interoception assessments at study start, study end (3 months), and one-month follow-up * Complete usability and user experience instruments at study end (3 months)

Efficacy of a Personalized, Response-based Transdiagnostic Intervention for Emotional Disorders Delivered Via the Internet: A Protocol for an Adaptive Trial

This adaptive randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of a transdiagnostic, internet-delivered psychological intervention for emotional disorders, tailored to patient´s early clinical response. 366 adults with clinically significant symptoms of depression and/or anxiety will begin a 12 module self-applied program. Based on sympron reduction after the first three modules, participants will be classified as early or late responders and randomized into different experimental arms. The main hypothesis is that a hybrid format (self-applied modules plus synchronous sessions with a therapist) will yield better outcomes for late responders. Outcomes include symptom reduction, emotional regulation and internet based therapheutic alliance.

Development and Multicenter Validation of an AI-Based Remote Photoplethysmography (rPPG) Facial Scan for Multimodal Health Assessment

The goal of this observational study is to learn if a non-contact facial scan using artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to check health status in adults living in urban areas such as Jakarta. The facial scan uses a method called remote photoplethysmography (rPPG), which measures small changes in blood flow from the face using a camera. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. How close are the results from the facial scan to standard medical measurements, such as heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels? 2. Can the facial scan estimate other health indicators, such as blood sugar, lipid profile, HbA1c, and hemoglobin levels? 3. Is there a relationship between the facial scan results and mental health, such as stress, anxiety, and depression? Participants will take part in several simple and mostly non-invasive procedures: 1. Answer questionnaires about their mental health and daily habits 2. Have basic health checks, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and body measurements 3. Provide a blood sample for laboratory testing 4. Complete a facial scan using a camera for about 1 to 3 minutes Researchers will compare the results from the facial scan with standard clinical and laboratory tests to see how well the technology works. This study may help develop a simple and accessible screening tool that can be used for early detection of health risks. It may also support the use of digital health and telemedicine in community and clinical settings.

Brief, High-dose rTMS for Depression

High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to be safe, feasible, and acceptable. Conventionally, rTMS investigations have relied on rational decision trees for dosage determination. The purpose of this study is to systematically examine an accelerated protocol of intermittent theta burst (iTBS). Study 1 aims to provide a quantifiable dose-response curve for iTBS and depressive symptom reduction in major depression. Study 2 aims to determine the role of individual variations of their functional networks compared to the site of stimulation and clinical outcomes.

Impact of Sound Shower Music Diffusion on Family Anxiety in Intensive Care Unit Waiting Room

Hospitalization in intensive care is a source of intense stress for both patients and their family. Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) may affect both patients and their family. Outside the acute care in intensive care unit, non-drug therapies are gradually proving effective in reducing stress and pain. The investigators would like to know whether the beneficial effects of music therapy can be transferred to their intensive care patients. The aim of the project is to evaluate an innovative and personalized music diffusion system using a sound shower on the family anxiety in the intensive care waiting room. In this study, the investigators will compare the family anxiety in the intensive care waiting room, with or without music played through the sound shower.

Effects of Feel Free® Classic Tonic on Stress and Pharmacokinetics in Healthy Adults

This study is being conducted to assess the effects of the Feel Free® Classic Tonic on stress in healthy adults. The goal is to see whether the tonic can help reduce self-perceived and physiological stress and provide information on how its ingredients are processed in the body.

REstoring Mental Health Through COmmUnity-based Psychological Services in New York City

The goal is to improve mental health. The study will evaluate the impact of community-based mental health services. Successful completion of this study will contribute to the National Institute of Mental Health Strategic Plan employing implementation science to maximize the public health impact of research for effectiveness and reach of mental health services in the United States.

Group-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Versus Active Control in University Students With Emotional Symptoms

This study evaluates the efficacy of a group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocol compared to a non-directive group therapy used as an active control condition in university students presenting moderate to moderate/high levels of emotional symptomatology. Emotional difficulties such as depressive and anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among university students and may negatively affect academic performance, well-being, and long-term functioning. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychological intervention that aims to improve mental health by increasing psychological flexibility, the ability to act in accordance with personal values while remaining open to difficult internal experiences. Participants will be randomly assigned to either (1) a structured ACT group intervention or (2) a non-directive supportive group intervention that controls for therapeutic attention and group support factors. The primary hypothesis is that participants receiving ACT will show greater reductions in emotional symptoms and greater improvements in psychological flexibility compared to the active control group. Outcomes will include depressive and anxiety symptoms, psychological flexibility, repetitive negative thinking, and meaning in life. The study uses a multimethod assessment strategy combining traditional self-report questionnaires administered at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up; Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) with daily and weekly measures during the intervention period; and qualitative interviews to explore participants' experiences.

Esketamine Nasal Spray in Real-World Settings in Treatment-Resistant Depression

This observational study investigates the use of Esketamine Intranasal Spray in patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression in Real-World Settings. The study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes, including efficacy and safety, of esketamine treatment. It also explores predictors of treatment response, focusing on biological pathways such as genetics, neuroimaging, and psychophysical measures. Additionally, the study examines how esketamine impacts patients' life functioning, including social and occupational aspects. The goal is to better understand who benefits most from esketamine and how it affects daily life, to improve personalized care for patients with difficult-to-treat depression.

Effect of Neurofast® Supplementation on Anxiety and Cardiovascular Outcomes in the Psycho-Cardio Phenotype Adults

This study aims to evaluate anxiety and cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with the psycho-cardio phenotype, characterized by clinically relevant anxiety symptoms with or without established cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study will be conducted as a prospective, real-world interventional study over 12 weeks. Participants will be allocated to either a group receiving Neurofast® supplementation (2 tablets per day) or a control group receiving no additional treatment. Psychological assessments will include the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ). Cardiovascular parameters, including heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiographic (ECG) measures, will also be evaluated. The primary objective is to assess changes in anxiety symptoms and heart rate over 12 weeks. Secondary objectives include evaluation of depressive symptoms, cardiovascular parameters, and treatment adherence in a real-world clinical setting.