Clinical Research Directory

Dissecting Immunological and Autoimmune Mechanisms of Neuropsychiatric Diseases

The goal of this observational cohort study is to investigate the role of immune system in neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and to identify immunological biomarkers that may improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and future treatment of immune-related neuropsychiatric disorders in individuals aged 16-100 years with suspected immune-mediated neuropsychiatric symptoms and matched control participants without neuropsychiatric symptoms. The main questions it aims to answer are what immunological mechanisms are associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms across a range of neurological, psychiatric, autoimmune, infectious, and inflammatory conditions. Also, if immunological biomarkers can be identified that may support the diagnosis, prognosis, and future treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in which the immune system may play a role. Participants will provide a blood sample for immunological analysis and may optionally provide a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample if a suitable previously collected sample is not available. Researchers may also analyse existing clinical and biological samples where available. Participants will provide demographic and clinical information, allow access to relevant medical record data, and may optionally provide additional blood samples, up to four times within one year, for further biomarker and immunological analyses.

Music Effects on Dementia

Older adults constitute a population whose age-related physiological and cognitive changes predispose them to conditions that are less likely to occur in younger individuals. Dementia encompasses a group of health conditions that primarily affect this age group. These disorders commonly impair mental functions-particularly memory-but they also manifest through behavioral symptoms, such as irritability, and exert a significant impact not only on the affected individual but also on their immediate environment. In this study, the investigators will implement a structured musical improvisation intervention led by four professional concert musicians. This approach, which has demonstrated effectiveness in other populations, aims to evaluate its effects on the mental and physical health of older adults living with dementia. Additionally, the intervention will be assessed in terms of its potential impact on primary caregivers, thereby exploring its reach beyond the individual diagnosed with dementia. Previous studies have reported the effectiveness of such interventions, noting improvements in memory, behavioral symptoms, and even overall physical well-being. To date, no studies of this nature have been conducted in our country, making this the first to pursue an extensive exploration of outcomes-not only those traditionally assessed in similar trials, but also a broader evaluation of various dimensions of health in older adults undergoing the intervention. Additionally, caregivers may also benefit from actively participating in these sessions, which are designed to include them from the very beginning. Beyond generating data on the potential effects across different bodily and cognitive functions-knowledge that may become a leading reference in this field-this intervention holds the potential to be scaled up, thereby benefiting a larger population and ultimately enhancing the care provided to older adults living with dementia.

Acupuncture for Post COVID-19 Condition (Long COVID) Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

In this study, a 12-week pragmatic, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of long Covid neuropsychiatric symptoms and provide reference for clinical non-drug treatment.