Clinical Research Directory

Does Psychotherapy Change the Gut Microbiome in Women of Child-bearing Age?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if group therapy for six weeks changes the gut microbiome in women. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is chronic stress associated with the gut microbiome? Will six weeks of therapy change the gut microbiota? Participants will: Answer questionnaires about chronic stress Mail a stool sample before and after the intervention. Participate in a 1-hour group therapy session over the course of six weeks.

The Role of Stress in Cardiac Arrest (Cortizol CPR)

The aim of this study is to assess long-term stress in patients after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. To do this, we will measure levels of the stress hormone cortisol in hair samples. Cortisol is produced in larger amounts during periods of ongoing stress and builds up in the hair as it grows. Because hair grows about 1 cm per month, a 3 cm hair sample can show your average stress level over the past three months. The results will be compared with anonymized information from your medical records and the care you received before and during your hospital stay.

Game Intervention for Resilience

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a game-based intervention can enhance psychological resilience and promote positive affectivity in adults who have experienced major life stress. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the game-based intervention improve positive affectivity and mental health compared to a waitlist control group immediately after the intervention and at 3-month follow-up? * Are the mental health benefits of the game-based intervention mediated by improvements in positive affectivity over time? Researchers will compare the game-based intervention to a waitlist control group to see if the game leads to better emotional and mental health outcomes. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either the game-based intervention group or the waitlist control group * Engage with the assigned program for 10 days within two weeks * Complete psychological assessments before and after the intervention, and again at 3-month follow-up

Improving Minority Health Through Biofeedback and Stress Reduction

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a four-week heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback intervention to improve physiological stress response, emotion regulation, and anxiety-related symptoms in young ethnic minority adults with a family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group, where they will engage in guided paced breathing exercises, or a control group, which will follow standard conditions without the intervention. The study consists of five sessions, including an initial assessment, three weekly check-in sessions, and a final post-intervention assessment. Participants will practice paced breathing at home and attend brief in-lab sessions to track progress. Physiological and psychological measures, such as HRV, GSR, BP, anxiety levels, and responses to the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test (SECPT), will be used to assess outcomes. Findings from this study may provide insights into accessible, non-invasive stress management interventions to mitigate CVD risk in high-risk populations.

Assessing the Feasibility of Multi-modal Biosensing for Monitoring Mobility and Cognition in Older Adults

Current health devices often overlook older users, who may face both health challenges and technology barriers. We are investigating the feasibility of wearable sensors to track posture, heart rate, and breathing, alongside a microneedle patch that collect body fluids to measure stress and inflammation markers. By combining this data, we aim to create an easy to use system that supports personalized, at home health monitoring for older adults.

Can You Breathe Your Way To Better Health?

The purpose of this clinical trial is to explore the effects of either a 2-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or breath training intervention on measures of overall health, circulating biomarkers of stress, and immune function. Specific aims include: - Does a 2-week HIIT or breath training intervention improve measurements of overall health, including heart rate variability, physical activity, sleep quality, and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress? -Does a 2-week HIIT or breath training intervention improve circulating concentrations of stress-related biomarkers? Does a 2-week HIIT or breath training intervention improve immune function? Researchers will compare HIIT and breath training to see if equivalent immune improvements are observed. Participants will: -Undergo 2 weeks of HIIT or breath training interventions at a frequency of 3 times per week for 30 minutes or 5 times per week for 5 minutes if placed into an intervention group. -Undergo testing measures at the two pre- and post-intervention time points, if placed in the intervention groups or the healthy control group.

Confirmatory Efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills Program

The goal of this clinical trial is to the efficacy of the Building a Strong Identity and Coping Skills intervention within a sample of low-income and minoritized youth aged 11-14 who are seeking mental health treatment and have been placed on a waitlist to receive services. The aims of this study are to: (1) confirm the efficacy of BaSICS by replicating previous findings, (2) Examine the changes of coping mechanisms and symptom change over the course of the BaSICS intervention, and (3) test models of physiologic stress reactivity and regulation to capture biological "risk" and recalibration. Cohorts of 20 participants will randomly be enrolled in either the intervention (10) or control (10) groups. Participants enrolled in the intervention group will complete the BaSICS program and participants enrolled in the no intervention group will not be enrolled in the intervention program. The BaSICS program is designed to help treat anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms and disorders and have direct effects on physiologic stress response systems (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis). Researchers will compare the intervention and no intervention groups to see if there is a difference in the reduction of markers for anxiety, depression, and suicide scores, changes in coping mechanism, and HPA reactivity profiles