Currently Recruiting Studies

pSOPT Study: Personalized Engine for Speed of Information Processing

Have you noticed any decline in your memory of thinking abilities?
Are you between the ages of 60-89?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to both of these questions, you may be eligible to participate in a study on personalized computer-based training programs and biofeedback!

What is involved if you qualify for participation in this 6-week study?

• 1 cognitive assessment at the beginning of the study.
• 6 weeks of computer-based cognitive training.
• Up to three 1-hour sessions per week, which will be done in a private research lab.
• Biofeedback recordings of heart and breathing rate during the training.
• A brief meeting at the end of the study to hear your feedback!
• All participants are reimbursed for transportation and their time!
  
  

Recruitment age range and gender: 60+

Contact information for participant inquiries: 603-973-1670, email: stherrie@stanford.edu

Key words: Memory, Cognitive Training

Fluoxetine/Dextromethorphan in Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: an Open-Label Crossover Pilot Study

Do you worry: About getting sick, hurting someone, thinking bad thoughts, or not doing things right? About your appearance? About your health?

• Are you 18-65 years old?
• Are you taking fluoxetine, or not taking medications?
   

We are actively screening individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the related disorders body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), illness anxiety disorder (IAD), and somatic symptom disorder (SSD) for our Flex Study (Fluoxetine/Dextromethorphan in Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: an Open-Label Crossover Pilot Study).
   
Purpose: To understand whether dextromethorphan, an over-the-counter cough medicine, may bring about improvement in symptoms of OCD and other disorders characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts when used together with fluoxetine.

Recruitment age range: 18-65

Contact information for participant inquiries: 650-723-4095 or ocdresearch@stanford.edu

Key words: OCD, BDD, IAD

Impacts of Discrimination and Racism Experienced by Asian Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows Subsequent to Covid-19

Starting October 25, 2021, you are invited to participate in a research study on the prevalence and types of racism, discrimination, and xenophobia experienced by Asian medical trainees (medical students, residents, fellows) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire will ask for demographic information, workplace environment, experiences of racism prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the settings in which they occur, questions related to the impacts on stress levels, anxiety, mood, fears, safety, physical health, concern about the future, concern about experiencing harassment both at work and in personal lives, and concern about family and friends also experiencing harassment. The purpose of this research is aimed at improving Asian minority mental health, especially for medical trainees, who are already at higher risk of depression and burnout as physicians-in-training.

Recruitment age range: 18+

Contact information for participant inquiries: DR. HUIQUIONG DENG, 650-498-7430 HDENG397@STANFORD.EDU & DR. AMY ALEXANDER, AMY.ALEXANDER1@STANFORD.EDU

Key words: COVID-19, anti-Asian discrimination, mental health

Treating Insomnia Related Emotion Brain Dysregulation (TIRED-Brain Study)

Sleep loss can negatively impact the brain networks that regulate emotion. Research suggests that insomnia contributes to depressive mood symptoms. The CoPsyN Sleep lab at Stanford University is conducting a study to investigate the degree to which the emotional regulation brain network is modified by the restoration of sleep.
   
Individuals who are between 25 and 60 years old, experiencing depression symptoms and trouble sleeping may be eligible for this study. Eligible participants will receive extensive sleep evaluation, individual treatment for insomnia, and reimbursement for participation. This study will require visits to Stanford University. To learn more please call (650) 721- 6089, email tiredbrain@stanford.edu, or fill out the interest form.

Recruitment age range: 25 to 60

Contact information for participant inquiries: tiredbrain@stanford.edu

Key words: sleep, anxiety, depression

Immersive/2-D Emotion Regulation/Emotional Re-scripting Intervention for Emotion Eating within a Real-World Clinic Setting

This study aims to improve emotional regulation in adults who report emotional eating (e.g., eating in response to emotions rather than just physical hunger) with a history of an eating disorder (e.g., binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, other specified feeding and eating disorder). This emotion regulation intervention uses immersive video experiences to help patients identify, experience, re-script, and better manage their emotions. The intervention consists of seven weekly sessions. As a participant you will have the choice of receiving the intervention or continuing the treatment you are already receiving (treatment as usual).

Recruitment age range: 18-65

Contact information for participant inquiries: zonipede@stanford.edu; 650-723-7885

Key words: emotional eating, eating disorders, treatment

Autism Spectrum Disorder Math Elements Training

Do you have a child with high functioning autism? Participate in an exciting study to increase our understanding of math skill development and how the brain changes with math learning. We are currently seeking children with ASD who:

• Are right handed
• 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders
• Don't have braces
   

We are also seeking typically developing children of the same ages!

Recruitment age range: 2nd to 4th graders

Contact information for participant inquiries: Go to our website at braindevelopment.stanford.edu or email at braindevelopment@stanford.edu or call 650.736.0056

Key words: autism, math, learning, cognition

BGAP Study: Brains, Genes, And Puberty

We are looking for boys ages 8-13, who either have confirmed Klinefelter syndrome (47, XXY) or are typically developing to participate in a study exploring how puberty affects brain and behavioral development in adolescent boys, and how standardized treatments influence the brain and behavior in boys with Klinefelter syndrome.
   
Participation involves:

• 2 full day visits each year for 4 years
• Comprehensive physical, cognitive, and behavioral evaluations
• MRI brain scan (MRIs are safe and non-invasive. Your child will not be exposed to any x-rays or any harmful radiation)

Potential Benefits include:

• Discussion and written report of results from cognitive and behavioral evaluation
• Early access to study outcomes
• Flight/hotel/ground transportation costs and food covered for the participating child and one caregiver or parent
• Families will receive an honorarium of up to $100 for their participation (plus prizes and a picture of your child's brain)

Recruitment age range: 8-13 years old

Recruitment gender: Male

Contact information for participant inquiries:  (650) 497-6525 / BGAPstudy@stanford.edu

Key words: puberty, neurodevelopment, Klinefelter syndrome

Puberty and Neurodevelopment in Adolescents (PANDA) Study

Researchers at Stanford University are looking for pre-teens ages 10-14 of all gender expressions to participate in a study exploring how hormones affect the development of different parts of the brain during puberty. This is a longitudinal study that requires 3 visits across 5 years.
   
Each visit will include:

• A comprehensive physical, cognitive, and behavioral evaluations
• Brain imaging with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (safe, non-invasive, no x-rays/radiation)
•  Blood Test (including genetic analysis)

Potential benefits for participating:

• All participants will receive written reports from evaluations
• Priority access to the results of the study via a study newsletter
• Up to $130 honorarium for each year of participation

Recruitment age range: 10-14 years old

Contact information for participant inquiries:  (650) 498-2115 / pandastudy@stanford.edu

Key words: Puberty, Adolescents, Brain Development

GirlBAND

This study is an NIH-funded research project aimed to increase our understanding of the brain during a critical time of girls' growth. Information learned from this research can ultimately contribute to an increased understanding of learning, behavior, and emotion facilitating the development of intervention services/therapies.

Recruitment age range: females between the ages of 6-14 years

Contact information for participant inquiries:  girlbandstudy@stanford.edu

Key words: learning and behavior challenges, developmental disability, girls

Improving Cognition via Exercise (ICE) in Schizophrenia

Participants needed for a research study on the influence of exercise on cognitive functioning in individuals with schizophrenia.

Recruitment age range: 18-55

Contact information for participant inquiries: Lauren Chang at (650) 498-8459   OR   Daniel Virtheim at (650) 353-7030

Key words: Schizophrenia, exercise, cognition

Accelerated Theta Burst in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Biomarker Study

This study is looking for participants that have depression with a history of being unresponsive to at least one medication, that might respond to this new treatment. This study provides a new way of using transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat depression and is called theta burst stimulation. It involves using a shorter period of stimulation for each treatment, which might benefit patients.  If you have been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression and are interested in participating, please fill out our survey to see if you qualify. This is a multi-step screening process. https://is.gd/research_screening

Recruitment age range: 18-70 years old

Contact information for participant inquiries: Romina Nejad at rnejad@stanford.edu

Key words:  depression, TMS

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Two Arm Multi-Center Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of a Once Nightly Formulation of Sodium Oxybate for Extended-Release Oral Suspension (FT218) for the Treatment of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Cataplexy in Subjects With Narcolepsy

This is a single nightly formulation drug, FT218, for the treatment of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Cataplexy in subjects with Narcolepsy. Participants must have documented evidence of Narcolepsy Type-1 or Type-2, and no prior use of Xyrem.

Recruitment age range: 16+

Contact information for participant inquiries:  Polina Davidenko (650) 721-7552

Key words:  Narcolepsy, Cataplexy

Impact of Affect Reactivity and Regulation on Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions

Women diagnosed with breast cancer face decisions about how to treat the affected breast as well as whether or not to remove the unaffected one. In our research study, we will be looking at the factors that may influence these treatment decisions. We would like to better understand what women think and feel as they are deciding on their cancer treatment.  Interested individuals can also leave their contact  information in a Stanford secure website by going to the following link: https://is.gd/StanfordTreatmentDecisionStudy

Recruitment age range: 18 and older

Recruitment gender: Female

Contact information for participant inquiries: (650) 723-5736  |  treatmentdecisionstudy@stanford.edu

Key words:  breast cancer

A Novel Neurofeedback Training Study for Children with ADHD

Our research group at Stanford Psychiatry is conducting a new study exploring changes in brain function in response to a novel neurofeedback training. We are looking for children ages 7-11 with a diagnosis of ADHD and/or experiencing attention problems who are interested to participate. Family will receive an honorarium of up to $300 for participation in addition to complimentary computerized cognitive training.

Recruitment age range: 7-11 years old

Contact information for participant inquiries: Hannah Fingerhut and Lauren Dacorro at adhd_study@stanford.edu or 650-724-2939 for more information or to enroll, please visit: http://cbrain.stanford.edu/

Key words:  ADHD, neurofeedback

Nitrous Oxide for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Phase IIa Trial

Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) PTSD Research Study

• Do you have symptoms of PTSD?
• Are you a Veteran with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
• Are you between the ages of 18 and 65?
   

You may be eligible to participate in a study to understand nitrous oxide's effects in PTSD.

Recruitment age range: 18-65

Contact information for participant inquiries: 
veteranshealth@stanford.edu or 650-723-4095

Key words: PTSD, veterans, VA

Virtual Reality Therapy for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)

This research study is seeking participants, ages 18-70 years of age, who are diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) to participate in a research study on the use of virtual reality (VR) therapy for FND. The purpose of the study is to learn if computerized delivery of physical and cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment for FND. If you decide to participate, you will be randomized to receive the intervention or to receive placebo.  In both cases you will receive 8 sessions of a VR experience. You will also be asked to take several surveys, provide feedback, and be videotaped while wearing a virtual reality helmet display and playing several games.  Some of the games will involve hitting targets while you embody a computer generated avatar body. Audio and video taping may occur while you participate, but that data will not be linked to your personal information, and the data will be destroyed after it has been coded and transcribed.  You may be identifiable in the videotapes.

Recruitment age range: 18-70 years old

Contact information for participant inquiries: (650) 714-1459

Key words:  VR, FND

Cognitive Training Study for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Our research group at Stanford Psychiatry is conducting a new study to examine changes in brain function in response to online, computerized cognitive training games (brain training games). We are looking for individuals ages 65 to 85 with a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment or who are experiencing memory problems who are interested in participating in our research.  

The participants will receive an honorarium of up to $200 for participation in addition to complementary access to a suite of online brain training games. The participants will also receive MRI brain imaging and cognitive assessments. No radiation or injection is involved. 

Recruitment age range: 65-85

Contact information for participant inquiries: Hannah at study_brain@stanford.edu or at 650-724-2939 or for more information, please visit: http://cbrain.stanford.edu/

Key words: memory, MCI, cognitive training