Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Researchers are investigating how the antidepressant citalopram affects the brains response to emotional information, focusing on the amygdala, a key brain area involved in depression. This study explores how different parts of the amygdala react to positive and negative emotional stimuli, using advanced brain scanning technology to understand the underlying brain mechanisms. Participants will receive a single oral dose of either 20 mg citalopram or a placebo in a randomized, double-blind design. After dosing, participants will undergo high-strength 7T fMRI brain scans while viewing emotional faces. This precise imaging allows researchers to observe how citalopram influences specific subfields of the amygdala during emotional processing. Participants will be screened for medical and psychiatric health before joining. During the study, brain activity and behavioral responses such as accuracy and reaction time during a gender discrimination task will be measured about three hours after dosing. The study includes safety monitoring and lasts for a few hours on the study day, focusing on neural and behavioral outcomes related to emotional processing.

The GENESIS clinical study aims to map HLA genetic variation in the Greek population and evaluate possible correlations with selected underlying diseases. It is a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional clinical study targeting 12,000 subjects over an anticipated duration of 36 months, with the goal of creating a pilot HLA map for medical research and possible clinical applications. Each subject will complete one visit at a participating site and provide demographic information, including date of birth, gender, race, ancestry, height, and weight, as well as information about smoking or vaping, alcohol consumption, arterial blood pressure, diagnosed diseases, and current treatments. Recent clinical laboratory results from up to 12 months before sample collection may also be collected when available, including blood count, metabolic, liver enzyme, and biochemical parameters. Two buccal swabs will be collected from each subject for DNA extraction and HLA genotyping analysis. Selected DNA samples will also undergo low-pass whole genome sequencing to further investigate associations between the HLA region and autoimmune diseases. After the analysis is completed, an individualized ancestry report will be securely available to study subjects if they elect to access it.

Research on personality disorders PDs in older adults is limited despite these disorders being common in this age group and often co-occurring with other mental and physical conditions. Current diagnostic criteria mainly fit younger adults, so this study evaluates new dimensional models for PDs called the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders AMPD and the ICD-11 approach. Researchers aim to assess if these models are appropriate and clinically relevant for older adults by comparing younger and older populations and studying older clinical patients. Participants include younger adults 18-64 and older adults 65 from the general population who complete questionnaires. Older adults in clinical settings with various psychological conditions will also take questionnaires, and a smaller group will undergo clinical interviews. The study uses two main questionnaires the LPFS-BF 2.0 measuring personality functioning, and the PID-5-BFM measuring personality traits. Additional standard tests and clinical ratings will be collected in the clinical population. Participants will complete questionnaires in person, with some clinical participants providing informant reports from family or friends. Researchers will analyze questionnaire results for validity, age-neutrality, and clinical utility. The primary outcomes are scores from the PID-5-BFM and LPFS-BF 2.0 collected about one month after admission, with clinical ratings and additional measures collected during hospitalization and follow-up. The study involves ongoing monitoring to understand PD structure and characteristics in older adults and improve care.

Researchers are evaluating a culturally-responsive mental health engagement program designed for young adults from racial and ethnic minority groups who are enrolled in community-based mental health services. This study aims to test new components added to the existing Just Do You intervention, which previously showed promise in keeping young adults connected to their treatment. The trial focuses on improving engagement and increasing mental health service use among these diverse young adults over a 24-month period. The trial will recruit 80 young adults aged 18 to 34 from minority groups receiving outpatient psychiatric rehabilitation services. All participants will first receive the core Just Do You program, which uses creative arts and a team including a licensed clinician and a peer professional to support recovery and mental health literacy. Participants will then be randomly assigned to one of eight groups receiving different combinations of three new culturally-responsive components addressing cultural identity, motivation, and environmental factors. Each participants intervention will last up to five weeks. During the study, participants will complete baseline assessments, followed by evaluations immediately after the intervention and at a 3-month follow-up. Researchers will measure participant acceptability, qualitative feedback, adherence to the intervention, and mental health service use. Engagement with child protective services will also be assessed. The study seeks to understand how these new components support ongoing connection to mental health care over an average of two years.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness and safety of lemborexant, a new dual orexin receptor antagonist, in treating adults with mental disorders complicated by insomnia. This observational study focuses on patients aged 18 and above who meet the DSM-5 criteria for mental disorders and have an Insomnia Severity Index score of 11 or higher. The study aims to provide real-world evidence for optimizing treatment plans for insomnia alongside psychiatric conditions. Participants will receive lemborexant tablets taken orally before bedtime, starting at 5 mg per day, which may be increased to 10 mg based on clinical response and tolerance. The treatment period lasts 8 weeks, including a baseline assessment week and 8 weeks of active treatment. Patients who are using benzodiazepine receptor agonists at the start are recommended to gradually reduce and stop these within the first 4 weeks. The study is single-arm and prospective, with all participants receiving lemborexant. During the study, participants will complete various assessments including the Insomnia Severity Index, Sleep Satisfaction VAS, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Researchers will monitor changes in insomnia symptoms, treatment retention, benzodiazepine discontinuation rates, dose adjustments, and adverse events. The total duration of participation is approximately 8 weeks, with follow-up to observe symptom improvement and safety outcomes.

This clinical trial studies adults aged 18 to 64 with moderate depression to see if psilocybin causes immediate changes in brain activity related to mood and depression. Researchers compare brain connectivity and blood flow after taking psilocybin versus a placebo to understand its effects on mood regulation. The study is randomized and carefully monitors brain changes using MRI scans. Participants attend two treatment sessions where they receive oral medication and supportive psychotherapy. One group takes a placebo at the first visit and psilocybin at the second, while the other group receives psilocybin at both visits. MRI scans are done after medication but before psychotherapy to observe brain activity changes. Supportive psychotherapy helps create a positive and reassuring environment during treatments. During the study, participants complete various depression and mood assessments up to six weeks after treatment. Researchers measure brain blood flow and connectivity changes within three weeks. Additional tests evaluate depressive symptoms, anxiety, cognitive function, and mystical experiences. Participants must have support at home for 24 hours after treatment and ongoing psychiatric care. The study lasts up to eight weeks, including follow-up assessments to ensure safety and monitor effects.

This research aims to improve mental health treatment for autistic individuals by developing and testing a toolkit for therapists. The study is divided into two phases first, remote focus groups with autistic individuals and licensed therapists will explore barriers to mental health care and ways to enhance it. The goal is to create a resource that helps therapists adapt evidence-based treatments for autistic clients. In the second phase, therapists at a community clinic will be randomly assigned to either continue their usual psychotherapy approach or to use the new toolkit while treating autistic adolescents. This toolkit includes strategies designed to improve therapists knowledge, confidence, and the quality of care they provide. The study will compare outcomes between the two groups over time. Participants will include autistic adolescents aged 13 to 17 with co-occurring mental health conditions, and therapists from the community clinic. The study will collect data through measures of intervention acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness at baseline and one month. Additional assessments will examine therapist knowledge, confidence, client satisfaction, goal attainment, and clinical impressions up to four months. The study will run from April 2026 to December 2027.

Researchers are evaluating a mentalization-based parenting program called the Lighthouse MBT Parenting Program for parents with various mental disorders who are receiving adult mental health services. This trial compares this program to the usual care provided to these parents. The goal is to study both the short- and long-term effects of this intervention on parenting stress and related outcomes, addressing the high need for evidence-based support for parents with mental health conditions and their children. The study involves two groups one receives the Lighthouse MBT Parenting Program, which includes a preparatory individual session followed by twelve weekly group sessions of two hours each. The other group receives care as usual, consisting of one or two sessions with family members, commonly offered in adult mental health services. Both interventions are provided alongside the participants regular outpatient treatment. Participants will be assessed at the start of the study and again at 6, 12, and 24 months after starting the program. The research team will measure parenting stress using a standardized index and evaluate other factors such as childrens psychological adjustment, family functioning, quality of life, parenting competence, and the severity of psychiatric symptoms. The study includes careful follow-up to monitor these outcomes over two years.

Researchers are studying the effects of electroconvulsive therapy ECT in patients with major depressive disorder, focusing on both immediate and long-term outcomes. This observational study evaluates patient and clinician ratings of depression symptoms, cognitive function, side effects, and relapse over a six-month period. The goal is to identify factors that predict response, remission, cognitive impairment, and relapse after ECT treatment. Participants receive ECT as part of their clinical care at Haukeland University Hospital or Stavanger University Hospital. The study tracks changes in depression and cognitive function from before treatment to after treatment and again at six months. Measurements include standardized depression scales and memory questionnaires to evaluate treatment effects and cognitive outcomes. During the study, patients complete assessments such as the Montgomery and sberg Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Mini Mental State Examination, and Everyday Memory Questionnaire. Researchers also collect patient-rated and clinician-rated impressions of improvement and overall clinical status. The study includes monitoring of side effects and relapse, with follow-up visits lasting up to six months after treatment. Participation duration varies based on individual treatment schedules and follow-up.

Anxiety and depressive disorders, collectively called emotional disorders, are common and often recur, causing significant challenges in daily functioning. Researchers are studying a modified form of Dialectical Behavior Therapy DBT to treat these disorders across different diagnoses. This 3-year randomized controlled trial conducted in Taiwan aims to evaluate how effective this adapted DBT is compared to usual treatments, and whether its effects vary among specific emotional disorders.