Participating in a Clinical Trial for Anxiety Disorders and Depression

Before medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or before certain therapy methods are widely accepted as effective, they are tested on people who volunteer to participate in a clinical trial.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is supportive of research that is conducted through clinical trials. Participating in research can potentially help change the mental health outcomes for you and others who suffer anxiety, depression, and related disorders. You may learn about new interventions/treatments that are being considered. You can make a difference!

We encourage you to view the various clinical trials (also called research studies) listed below. If you have questions about a trial, we highly encourage you to discuss your potential involvement with your medical provider. Additional clinical trials can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov.

Please note: ADAA does not have clinical trial listings in every U.S. state or Canadian province.

Professionals/Members/Organizations interested in posting a clinical trial click here.

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You should know as much as possible about the research study before you participate. It is important that you feel very comfortable asking questions and that the staff answers them in a way you can understand. When preparing for a meeting with the study coordinator or doctor you should plan ahead and write down the questions you want to ask. Review the study website to help you prepare questions to ask. You might ask a friend or relative to come with you for support and to hear the responses to your questions. You may want to ask the following questions when deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial:

Q&A

What questions should I ask? +

  • Why is this research being done?
  • What is the purpose of the study?
  • Who is sponsoring the study?
  • Who has reviewed and approved this study?
  • Why does the research team think the treatment, drug, or medical device will work?
  • What kinds of therapies, procedures, and/or tests will I have during the trial?
  • Will they hurt? If so, for how long?
  • How will the tests in the study compare to tests I would have outside the study?
  • How long will the study last?
  • How often will I have to go to the study site?
  • Will I be able to take my regular medications during the trial?
  • What medications, procedures, or treatments must I avoid while in the study?
  • What are my responsibilities during the study?
  • Will I have to be in the hospital during the study?
  • Will the study researchers work with my doctor while I am in the study?
  • Can anyone find out that I am participating in a study?
  • Can I talk to other people in the study?
  • Will I be able to find out the results of the trial?
No

Questions about risks and benefits include: +

  • How do the possible risks and benefits of the study compare with approved treatments for me?
  • What are the possible immediate and long-term side effects?
  • Will I have to pay anything to participate in the study?
  • What are the charges likely to be?
  • Is my insurance likely to cover those expenses?
No
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Resources:

ResearchMatch brings together two groups of people who can benefit each another: those trying to find research studies and researchers looking for participants in their studies. Research is a way to discover knowledge that can have a positive impact on the health of society. Most research studies need a certain number of people to participate, but many end too early because too few volunteers join them. Even when enough people join research studies, it may be difficult to find the right match for them. ResearchMatch helps solve this problem by matching you with researchers who need volunteers like you. It is a free and secure registry, and you can be involved in its mission of helping make a real difference in people’s health in the future. Anyone can join, and ResearchMatch can help match you with any type of research study, ranging from surveys to clinical trials, always giving you the choice to decide what studies may interest you.

Watch this helpful video produced by ResearchMatch. The video answers questions about what a research study is and how someone can get involved.

Watch ADAA members Charles Taylor, PhD and Debra Kissen, PhD, MHSA discuss using positive activities to combat anxiety and depression that was presented for clinical trial volunteers in this 2018 ResearchMatch video.

Watch ADAA member and Scientific Council co-chair Dr. Martin Paulus discuss Connectedness and Mental Health in this 2021 ResearchMatch video.

Other Clinical Trials Resources:

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