Clinical Research Directory

Aurora: AI-Based Narrative Intervention to Support Emotional Well-Being in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations

Aurora is an interdisciplinary project evaluating a chatbot-mediated supportive care intervention designed to promote emotional expression, autobiographical meaning-making, identity processes, and emotional well-being through guided narrative reconstruction. The Aurora system provides a structured, person-centered storytelling process supported by generative AI and human facilitation. Under the supervision of a trained facilitator (licensed mental health professional), participants engage in guided reminiscence and storytelling sessions to co-create a personalized "life book." The chatbot is not a diagnostic or treatment tool; rather, it is intended to support emotional expression, narrative reconstruction, and recovery-oriented processes. The study includes three non-randomized arms implemented sequentially: (1) a single-session arm of healthy adults focused on acceptability, usability, and emotional safety; (2) a four-hour intervention arm of adults with DSM-5 diagnosed mental disorders in residential care; and (3) a four-hour intervention arm of healthy older adults aged 65 years and older. Quantitative outcomes assess affect, mental well-being, and recovery-related constructs. Additional measures include usability, satisfaction, and qualitative feedback. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is conducted in Arms 2 and 3.

A Study of Moral Distress, Moral Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress for Nurses

The goal of this descriptive study is to examine levels of moral distress (MD), moral injury (MI), \& post-traumatic stress (PTS) levels among nursing staff at Mayo Clinic. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Determine the levels of MD, MI, and PTS symptoms experienced by nurses who participate in the study. 2. Evaluate differences in MD, MI, and PTS symptoms by setting, specialties, and geographic locations. 3. Examine demographic and professional characteristics that are associated with high levels of MD, MI and PTS.

Berberine Supplementation, Sprint Interval Training, and Immune Function Study

The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of a 2-week intervention involving berberine supplementation or sprint training in isolation as well as berberine combined with sprint training on well-being, anaerobic power, and monocyte number and function in individuals experiencing mild mental health challenges. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does short-term berberine use or sprint training improve measures of mental health, psychological wellbeing, fatigue, and sleep quality? * Does short-term berberine use or sprint training improve measures of anaerobic power generation? * Does short-term berberine use or sprint training improve circulating biomarkers of inflammation? * Does short-term berberine use or sprint training improve monocyte number, function, and cytokine production?

Capturing Parental Wellbeing in Everyday Life Through a Mobile Diary App

This observational study investigates the wellbeing of parents in German-speaking Switzerland in everyday contexts using smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). Family caregiving can be both rewarding and burdensome, yet little is known about how parental wellbeing fluctuates in daily life and across caregiving situations. The study aims to examine momentary subjective wellbeing, caregiving activities, and contextual factors in natural settings. Participants complete repeated real-time assessments via a digital diary application five times a day over a 14-day study period. The study seeks to characterize within-person variability in parental wellbeing and identify contextual factors associated with positive and negative daily experiences.

TAG TEAM - Trans Adolescent Group Therapy

This project will study the effect of the TAG TEAM group CBT program on the mental health of trans and gender diverse adolescents. TAG TEAM was co-designed by researchers and clinicians with a group of trans and gender diverse young people to help trans and gender diverse adolescents understand and cope with minority stress. Minority stress includes experiences like discrimination and rejection. TAG TEAM focuses on learning and practicing skills to support mental health and wellbeing. It also includes group discussions and activities with other trans and gender diverse young people. TAG TEAM groups are run by a psychologist and a trans peer facilitator. A trans peer facilitator is a trans and gender diverse person who is there to share their experience of being trans and to support participants in the group sessions.

Health and Wellness Coaching to Improve Thoracic Transplant Caregiver Self-Efficacy

This is a pilot study examining the effects of telephonic health and wellness coaching on self-efficacy and caregiving burden for caregivers of patients awaiting heart or lung transplant.

Probiotics for Women

Investigation into the effect of probiotic supplementation on the wellbeing of women with a history of vaginal discomfort and/or irritation, along with any microbiome changes.

Change in Social Media Use and Well-being Among College Students Receiving a Two-week Exercise or Mindfulness Intervention

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).

Culturally Adapted i-CBT for Farsi/Dari Speaking Migrants

The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to investigate the effectiveness of a culturally adapted internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (i-CBT) intervention in reducing symptoms of common mental health issues among Farsi/Dari-speaking youth migrants and refugees. Investigator hypothesizes that there will be a significant decrease in psychological symptoms after participants receive the intervention compared to a control group.

The Student Wellness and Emotional Growth Resiliency (SWAG-R) Program

The purpose of this research study is to provide a free 6-week, online psychological coaching program to NSU undergraduate students to help with anxiety, depression, and stress, while improving quality of life and healthy coping skills.

Testing a Novel Attention Based Training Prevention Strategy for First Responders: FirstFocus a Mobile App

First responders are frequently exposed to high-stress and traumatic events, putting them at increased risk for mental health challenges such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. Access to traditional mental health services is often hindered by stigma, time constraints, and a lack of tailored resources. Mobile app-based interventions offer a promising solution due to their accessibility and potential to address mental health proactively and in a time sensitive way. Attention training has emerged as a simple way to prevent distress and the emergence of future mental health concerns. The proposed research will test a mobile app: FirstFocus which will leverage targeted attention training to prevent stress/distress during shifts and enhance the wellbeing of rural first responders. The specific aims are to (1) test the feasibility and acceptability of FirstFocus as an intervention for rural first responders; (2) to test the short-term preventative efficacy of attention training on state stress/distress and its longer-term efficacy for improving professional quality of life and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Impact of Smell Testing on Health Outcomes

Smell dysfunction is frequent yet neglected. The sense of smell plays a crucial role in signaling disease, safety, and overall quality of life. However, the significance of a functional sense of smell in terms of health and well-being is often overlooked until one experiences a loss of smell due to injury or disease. Research demonstrates that individuals are often not self-aware of their smell dysfunction (i.e. they do not spontaneously report smell dysfunction as a symptom), especially if the changes are gradual, as in normal aging. Patients with smell dysfunction experience a marked reduction in quality of life, poor mental health, nutritional health, and brain health as well as increased 5- and 10-year mortality in older adults. This study explores whether or not enabling healthcare providers to offer resources and guidance on coping strategies for smell dysfunction improves health and wellbeing in those who experience it.

Digital Physical Activity Program

The purpose of this study is to create a research repository, composed of data collected during a digital physical activity program delivered by Sword Move to individuals undergoing those programs. Sword Move intends to increase physical activity levels to stimulate the adoption of healthier, more active lifestyles. This will allow investigators to observe the effects of participants' engagement in physical activity on a variety of health and wellness based outcomes.

Virtual Reality Within Palliative Care (VR-SPC)

Literature so far shows VR is largely acceptable and feasible to use in palliative care settings, especially for improving patient wellbeing and mental health. However, limited research exists for understanding the effectiveness of VR, especially if sessions are repeated or offered jointly with patient carers or companions. We aim to investigate the effectiveness of VR for achieving personally meaningful goals (including but not limited to relaxation, bucket-list activities, and improving wellbeing). This study will be offered to patients and their companions receiving palliative care at a hospice in England. Informed consent will be acquired after a participant information sheet has been shared with interested participants. Personal goals of VR use will be established at the start of the study with baseline mental health and wellbeing data collection. Up to 3 VR sessions will be offered. Before and after each session patients will be asked to complete questionnaires to track wellbeing and progression towards intended goals for utilising VR. A change interview will occur between 1 to 4 weeks after the final VR session to discuss their overall experiences of VR and will include repeated follow up questionnaires. Participants that which to engage with a joint-VR intervention with their companion (referred to as participant companions for the purposes of this study), will also require informed consent and completion of questionnaires and interview attendance to be involved with this study. Results will be gathered and analysed by creating anonymous individual rich case records and shared with a panel of independent psychologists to conclude whether or not, from our findings, virtual reality is effective for achieving personally important goals. Findings will be shared with the hospice involved and form a Doctoral Thesis based at the University of Lincoln.

Evaluating the Impacts of a Well-Being Mobile App in Mexico

The researchers will study the impacts of offering access to an emotional well-being phone app to women in psychological distress in Mexico. The primary outcome is participants' psychological well-being and mental health.

Initiative for Chinese Sex Workers to Promote Wellbeing and Improve HIV Prevention by Reducing intersEctional Stigma

During the development phase (Aim 1), investigators will use a community-driven process to further refine a preliminary intervention design that was developed based on previous research. For the intervention phase (Aim 2), investigators will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial of the multi-level intervention. For the individual-level component of the intervention, investigators will recruit 70 Chinese immigrant FSWs who work in MPs in Queens, NYC (n=35 intervention participants and n=35 control participants). To assess the feasibility and acceptability of intervention implementation (Aim 3), investigators will conduct in-depth qualitative interviews with 12 FSW study participants and the 2 peer advocates and focus groups with 4-5 staff from each of the 3 organizations (3 focus groups total and 12-15 focus group participants in total).

Apple Health Study

The Apple Health Study aims to build a diverse and inclusive group of participants to help researchers advance our understanding of how signals and information collected from apps and devices relate to health and may be used to predict, detect, monitor, and manage changes in health. To enroll, US residents who have an iPhone can download the Apple Research app from the App Store and go through the introduction and informed consent for the Apple Health Study. This study is fully remote, and all are invited to enroll if the eligibility criteria are met. Participants will be asked to complete tasks and surveys, using their iPhone and Apple Research app which include: * Selecting the types of data they would like to share with the study such as health and sensor data * Completing tasks and surveys including areas such as personal demographic information, personal medical history, family history, and social determinants of health

Effectiveness of an Online Biopsychosocial Intervention to Improve Well-being and Mental Health During Pregnancy

This study aims to develop and implement a preventive intervention through a mobile application to help pregnant women feel better emotionally and cope with the changes of pregnancy in a more positive way. The idea is to offer practical and accessible tools that allow them to better manage stress, emotions and preparation for motherhood. The intervention proposed in this study is based on psychological strategies that have proven to be effective, such as relaxation exercises, techniques to manage stress and strategies to improve mood, strengthen the relationship with the partner and foster the bond with the baby before its birth. The application is designed to accompany pregnant women from the beginning of pregnancy to the postpartum period. It has different programs that include weekly activities on various important topics, such as physical health care, emotional management, connection with the baby during pregnancy, preparation for childbirth and the first months of the newborn's life. To evaluate the effectiveness of this tool, a study will be carried out with pregnant women treated by the Catalan Health Service. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study groups: the experimental group (in which participants, in addition to the usual medical care offered during pregnancy, will have access to the programs and activities of the app organized in a weekly plan of 5 activities and will have to answer the study questionnaires at weeks 16 and 36 of pregnancy and postpartum) or the control group (in which participants will receive the usual medical care offered during pregnancy, but will not have access to the programs and activities of the app and will have to answer the study questionnaires at weeks 16 and 36 of pregnancy and postpartum). Women who use the app are expected to experience greater emotional well-being and a lower risk of developing mental health problems during pregnancy. In addition, they may feel more prepared for motherhood, take better care of their health, have a more positive birth experience and a lower risk of postpartum depression. These women are also expected to develop a stronger bond with their baby and adapt better to the new stage of motherhood.

Floatation Experience in Nurses and Physicians

The goal of this observational study is to monitor the floatation experience and continue the program as long as deemed important. The main question it aims to answer is: will inventory wellbeing scores increase according to the number of floatation sessions accrued? Nurses (registered, practitioner, and anesthetist) and physicians, employed at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Trauma Center, Mercy Health, will be welcomed to participate in the floatation experience. Participants will be given an option to complete the Wellbeing Inventory survey prior to each floatation session.

The "11 for Health" Program Intervention and Its Impact on Polish Children

This study evaluates the impact of the "11 For Health" program-an innovative football-based health education initiative-on children's physical fitness, health status, health knowledge, and pro-health behaviors. Originally implemented in African and South American countries, the program has been adapted and successfully introduced in European and Asian countries. The intervention consists of structured football sessions integrating health education messages aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle among schoolchildren. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this program in enhancing both physical fitness and health-related outcomes in comparison to traditional physical education classes

Investigating the Acute and Chronic Effects of a Supplement Containing Caffeine, Vitamins, Minerals and Botanical Extracts on Cognition, Sleep and Wellbeing, in Healthy Volunteers

The aim of the study is to investigate the acute and chronic effects of a supplement containing Caffeine, Vitamins, Minerals and Botanical extracts on cognitive function, sleep and wellbeing, in healthy volunteers. The study will follow a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Participants will receive both treatments, and both study arms will include an acute testing visit (day 1) and a chronic testing visit (day 29). The active treatment contains a blend of 120mg caffeine, vitamins, minerals and botanical extracts and the matched placebo treatment contains marigold extract and brown rice flour. The trial will use computerised cognitive tasks, administered via COMPASS software (Northumbria University, UK), online cognitive assessments via Cognimapp and self-reported questionnaires and sleep diary, as measures of the outcome variables. 90 participants will participate, aged 18-75, and self-ported as being in good health. Participants will be randomly allocated to a treatment order and will be supplied with either the active treatment or the placebo whilst visiting the research centre for the acute testing visits. Participants will take the treatment home to consume daily for the duration of the supplementation period. Participants will record the time of taking treatment each day in a treatment diary which will be returned to the research centre, along with any unused treatment, at each chronic testing visit.

Effects of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing Course Effects of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing Course

Norway and other Western industrialized countries are facing major challenges in terms of preventable health problems, high work absence, largescale demographic changes and rising social inequalities in health. This project addresses the need for effective means to meet these important challenges. The project will scientifically evaluate The 5 Ways to Wellbeing course (5Ways), a novel measure aiming to promote wellbeing and integration, health and work adherence. Subjective wellbeing is systematically and prospectively related to important individual and societal outcomes, including social connectedness and integration, innovation, productivity, work performance, healthy behaviours, health and longevity. Promotion of wellbeing may therefore contribute to address the urgent societal ailments of today. Intervention effects and cost effectiveness of the 5Ways will be examined in-depth in four real-life settings, using quantitative methods. Specifically, we will investigate course impact wellbeing, health and work adherence among users of The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) and clients in Healthy Life Centres. If effective, the course may be implemented nationwide and contribute to increase wellbeing and work participation. Findings from the study may thus contribute to enable municipalities and workplaces to make better priorities for promoting work presence, reducing suffering and improving mastery and quality of life among their inhabitants.

Impact of Aromatherapy on Wellbeing and Relaxation in Gynae Oncology Patients Post Treatment

The goal of this pilot study is to learn if aromatherapy helps to reduce stress and improve relaxation and wellbeing in gynaecological cancer patients after they have finished their treatment for cancer. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Is there a benefit in using an aromatherapy product for relaxation and wellbeing after completion of cancer treatment. Researchers will compare a commercially available aromatherapy test oil blend to a control oil (an oil at high dilution with a faint aroma) to see if the oil blend helps to reduce stress and increase wellbeing and relaxation. Participants will: Use a commercially available aromatherapy product or a control every evening for 4 weeks and complete a questionnaire at the start, after 2 weeks and at the end of the 4 week period. During the four weeks of the study, the participants may wish to record their experience with the test oil and assess its impact on relaxation and wellbeing in a personal diary.

PROMOTE: The Effect of a Six Week Prebiotic Supplementation on Wellbeing of Young Adults.

The study will investigate whether taking a prebiotic for six weeks helps to reduce morning cortisol levels in healthy young adults with mild to moderate stress compared to a placebo. Individuals should continue with their usual lifestyle during the study. Other factors of wellbeing will also be assessed.