Eligibility to participate in a research program is determined through a careful screening process. The first step is an online screening, which can be accessed from the link below. The online screening is will ask about your physical and mental health to determine if a study is a good fit for you. You can expect the online screening to take 30-60 minutes. If a study seems to be a good match based upon the online screening, a study team member will contact you and discuss the study in more detail, answer questions you may have about the study, and send a copy of the informed consent form to read prior to enrolling in the research study.  

If you are still interested in participating, you will meet with a member of the research team, virtually or in person, to review the consent form and answer your questions. The consent form will explain the purpose of the study, its procedures, potential risks and benefits, and your rights as a participant. If you are interested in participating after reviewing the consent form, it will be signed by you and the person obtaining your consent. 

The next step will to be evaluated at an in-person or hybrid virtual/in-person screening. The screening process may include interviews to assess physical and mental health, lab work, and the review of your medical records, according to the research protocol set for each study.

Participation in one of the clinic's research studies involves coming to Stanford for regular visits. During study visits, study participants typically meet with a research psychiatrist and a research coordinator. While meeting with the research psychiatrist, participants discuss current depression symptoms and any medical issues related to the treatment. Participants may meet with a member of the research team who is trained to administer certain psychiatric assessments. These assessments allow the research team to thoroughly monitor the participant’s symptoms of depression throughout the course of the research study.

Most studies conducted in the Depression Research Clinic involve treatment with study medication. The only exceptions are occasional device studies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or observational studies where participants may complete questionnaires or various tests such as MRI.  Study medication received as part of a research study is provided to participants at no cost.

Participation in a research study offers several advantages. All study-related clinic visits, psychiatric evaluations, physical examinations, laboratory work, and medications are provided at no cost to eligible participants. This is a considerable benefit, given the rising costs of mental healthcare. In addition, highly trained professionals at Stanford University assess research participants on a regular basis to ensure comprehensive care.

However, there can be disadvantages to being a research participant. Study visits may take more time than what is typically required as an average patient and include the completion of a variety of questionnaires, as well as answering questions about depression symptoms. Moreover, research protocols frequently limit the dosing of the study medication, and often restrict the use of medications other than those being studied. In some double-blind studies, participants have the possibility of receiving placebo (sugar pill) instead of the active medication. Before enrolling in any study, potential participants will be told of the possibility and percent chance of being placed in the placebo group. Follow-up care may be provided for a limited time after participation in a placebo-controlled study. Most research appointments are scheduled Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Within that time frame, we do try to be as flexible as possible to accommodate participants' schedules.

Clinical research is vital for advancing medical science, improving patient care, and ultimately saving lives. Without clinical research, many of the medical treatments and interventions that we rely on today would not exist. Ultimately, participating in a clinical trial is a personal decision that should be made based on careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits, as well as discussions with your healthcare provider and the research team conducting the trial.