Clinical Research Directory

Applying Mixed Methods to Identify Links Between PTSD Symptoms, Cannabis Use, and Functional Behaviors With Personalized Feedback Intervention Development

Many Veterans live with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and use cannabis to manage distress, despite limited supportive evidence. Veterans with PTSD who use cannabis often struggle with sleep, physical activity, and social connection, which are factors critical to health and well-being. This project will use smartphones and wearable devices to track symptoms and daily behaviors in real time and provide personalized feedback to help Veterans understand and manage the impact of PTSD and cannabis use in their lives. The study will develop a motivational interviewing-based personalized feedback approach that uses real-time data to help Veterans make data-informed decisions about their mental health, cannabis use, and functional behaviors. Findings will support development of scalable, Veteran-centered tools to promote healthier coping, functional recovery, and quality of life, even if they are not currently in treatment. The goal is to develop supportive, real-time strategies that meet Veterans where they are and promote better outcomes across the VA healthcare system.

Neuroimaging of Adolescent Cannabis Use Treatment

This study is testing whether brain activity related to learning can help predict how well teens respond to a treatment program designed to reduce cannabis use. Teens ages 14-17 will complete a brain scan and then take part in 10 weekly virtual sessions where they report cannabis use and complete drug tests at home. Participants can earn prizes for staying cannabis-free.

Cohort Study on Medical Students' Mental Health

The main objective of this study is to identify risk factors for depression among medical students by comparing them to students who completed their first year but did not enter the medical program (students not accepted into the second year of medical school). Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) will be assessed using a validated tool: the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form (CIDI-SF). This a prospective, longitudinal, cohort study. The plan is to inform each new cohort of students at the Orléans University Hospital medical school for 10 years. It is estimated that 5,000 to 10,000 students will be able to participate in the study. A link to access the study questionnaire will be sent to students by email via the registrar's office, with one email per week for four weeks. The email will contain a link to a web page where the questionnaire can be completed. The questionnaire will be available online on computers or smartphones for six weeks: from mid-October to the end of November. The questionnaire will be completed each year for the duration of the study or until the student completes their studies. Duration of the inclusion period: 10 years Duration of participation for each participant: maximum 12 years Total duration of the study: 22 years As the cohort progresses, longitudinal analyses may be conducted to study the evolution of various disorders over time, adjusting for known confounding factors. Following the initial analyses of this study, a new interventional study will be set up to identify students at risk and offer them appropriate care.