Clinical Research Directory

Developing a Recovery-Oriented Suicide Prevention Program for Young People at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

Young people at clinical high risk for psychosis are more likely to experience suicide thoughts than the general population, but there are few suicide prevention programs designed specifically for them. This study will develop and evaluate a recovery-oriented suicide prevention group program for young people at clinical high risk for psychosis. The program will be led by a clinician and a peer with lived experience. It will help participants identify reasons for living, build hope, set meaningful recovery goals, strengthen social connections, and learn strategies to better remember and use suicide prevention strategies developed during the program. Caregivers will also be invited to participate in a session to learn ways to support their young person. The study will first gather feedback from participants, caregivers, clinicians, and community advisors to refine the program. Researchers will then compare the program plus standard care with standard care alone to determine whether it improves personal recovery and increases participants' ability to remember and use suicide prevention strategies. Researchers will also collect feedback from participants and program staff to better understand how the program can be integrated into early psychosis services.

Normobaric Oxygen Therapy for Individuals With First-Episode Psychosis

Single-blind, randomized controlled trial of normobaric oxygen therapy among individuals with first-episode psychosis: Effects on symptomatology and cognition.

Online Intervention To Improve Motivation

Participants will complete one online intervention lasting 12 weeks. Each week, they will be asked to complete a 20-30 minute session online. The intervention is targeting improved mood and positive affect in order to support increases in motivation and goal-directed behavior. Before and after the intervention, participants will be asked to complete measures to assess symptoms, mood, and behavior.

Targeting Emotion Dysregulation to Reduce Suicide in People With Psychosis

People with psychotic disorders are excluded from most suicide-focused clinical trials despite incredibly high rates of completed suicide, and interventions that have been tested for this population have shown limited impact on suicide. Emotion dysregulation is a significant suicidogenic factor that is understudied in people with psychotic disorders. The investigators propose to implement and evaluate an intervention targeting emotion dysregulation in people with psychotic disorders while employing rigorous statistical modeling and measurement techniques including Ecological Momentary Assessment, which will support future advanced research on suicide and suicide prevention for this high-risk group.

Stratification and Treatment in Early Psychosis Study -ASSIST

The purpose of this trial is: * To investigate whether the response to clozapine treatment can be enhanced by adding cannabidiol (CBD), compared to placebo, in treatment resistant psychosis patients. * To confirm the safety of CBD in people with psychosis. The trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre, international, clinical trial. Individuals with a diagnosis of treatment resistant psychosis in their illness who have had a suboptimal or no response to clozapine treatment will be recruited. These patients are randomised to treatment with oral CBD 500mg twice daily, or a matching placebo for 12 weeks, in addition to clozapine, which is standard care treatment for this population. By using a battery of clinical outcome assessments, the trial will assess several optional biomarkers to predict clinical outcomes and response to treatment with CBD. Biomarkers are being assessed as an exploratory outcome measure. Participants will be invited to provide additional blood samples, stool samples, and complete neuroimaging assessments.

Stratification and Treatment in Early Psychosis Study - ENHANCE

The purpose of this study is: * To investigate whether the response to antipsychotic treatment can be enhanced by adding cannabidiol (CBD) to the existing treatment, compared to placebo, in participants with a first episode of psychosis, who have had a suboptimal or no response to their first antipsychotic treatment. * To confirm the safety of CBD in people with psychosis. The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre, clinical trial. Individuals with a diagnosis of first-episode psychosis, who have had a suboptimal or no response to their first antipsychotic treatment will be recruited. These participants are randomised to treatment with CBD oral solution 500mg twice daily, or a matching placebo for 6 weeks, as an adjunct to their existing antipsychotic treatment. By using a battery of clinical outcome assessments, the trial will also assess several biomarkers to determine if they can be used to predict clinical outcomes and response to treatment with CBD. Biomarkers are being assessed as an exploratory outcome measure. Participants will be invited to provide blood and stool samples, and may be asked to complete neuroimaging assessments at certain eligible sites.

Multimodal Intervention to Support Hospital-to-Community Transition in Bipolar Disorder

People with bipolar disorder (BD) are at high risk of relapse following hospital discharge, partly due to a lack of BD-specific expertise and resources within community services required for comprehensive treatment. Although clinical guidelines recommend combining medication and psychosocial support, and research shows that early intervention is associated with improved outcomes, no structured care programs currently exist for individuals in the early stages of BD, contributing to chronic illness progression and preventable hospitalizations. This open-label pilot trial will assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a structured care pathway to support the transition from hospital to community care. The intervention includes group-based psychoeducation, individual peer support, and personalized support for community healthcare providers to improve illness insight, treatment adherence, and symptom management.

Pilot Study of Sensor-Informed Smartphone-based Mental Health Interventions for Mood in Early Psychosis

The aim of this trial is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of using passive smartphone sensors to detect moments of heightened negative mood and inform the timing of brief mental health interventions, such as mindfulness exercises and psychoeducation, in adults with early psychosis.

Enhancing Mental Health Outcomes for Patients With Psychosis in Malawi Through Community-based Rehabilitation

The overall aim of the proposed study is to determine the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and preliminary effectiveness of the adapted nurse-led, community-based rehabilitation treatment model for community-dwelling individuals living with psychosis in Blantyre, Malawi using a pilot randomized controlled trial.

State Representation in Early Psychosis 2

This observational study will examine behavioral and electroencephalography measures related to state representation in individuals with early psychosis and healthy control participants. Participants will complete clinical interviews, self-report measures, cognitive assessments, computerized behavioral tasks, and EEG assessments. The study will evaluate performance and computed parameters from the Translational Orientation Pattern Expectancy task and Translational Bandit Task, along with EEG variables related to cognitive control, reward processing, and neural synchrony. The study aims to better understand heterogeneity in early psychosis and identify neurocognitive and neurophysiologic markers that may inform future precision psychiatry approaches.

Group Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Skills Training for First Episode Psychosis

Psychosis is a serious mental health condition that can affect how a person thinks, feels, and functions in daily life, often making it harder to maintain relationships, continue education, or work. Even with standard treatment, many people continue to experience emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and difficulty coping with strong emotions. These challenges can worsen recovery, increase the risk of substance use and suicidal behaviour, and place a significant burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based psychological treatment that helps people manage emotions, tolerate distress, and improve relationships. Although DBT has been effective in other mental health conditions, it has not been well studied in people with first-episode psychosis. This study will evaluate an 8-week group DBT skills training adapted for individuals with first-episode psychosis. The study aims to assess whether the program is acceptable and feasible to deliver, and whether it may improve emotion regulation, mood, resilience, and functioning. Findings will inform whether a larger clinical trial of this intervention should be conducted.

Building a Computational Model of Auditory Hallucinations

Some people hear voices or sounds that other people cannot hear; these are called auditory hallucinations. The study aims to understand what is happening in the brain when this occurs and will use brain scans to learn more. Greater understanding should help develop better treatments in the future.

Screening and Monitoring of Mental Health in Educational Settings: Programme for Detection, Psychoeducation and Self-help

Adolescence is a critical developmental stage during which many mental health problems first emerge. However, a large proportion of these issues go undetected and untreated. Globally, approximately one in seven adolescents experiences mental health difficulties, with increasing trends observed in recent years. Schools offer an important setting for early detection and intervention, yet existing programmes often lack structure or scalability. The MENTOR programme (MENtal Health Tracking, Outreach and Referral) was designed to identify adolescents under psychological distress in educational settings and offer tiered support including psychoeducation, self-help tools, and referral to mental health services when needed. This is a prospective, longitudinal, multicentre study that will be implemented in eight educational centres in Spain, including secondary schools, sixth-form colleges, and vocational training centres. Adolescents and young adults will be invited to participate voluntarily. At baseline and at each trimester, participants will complete validated mental health screening tools assessing common conditions such as anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. Based on results, participants will be assigned to one of several support pathways: access to digital self-help materials, small-group interventions, or referral to school-based or external mental health professionals. Follow-up assessments will measure changes in symptomatology, engagement with self-care tools, and help-seeking behaviour. Quantitative data will be analysed to assess feasibility, adherence, and effectiveness of the intervention over time, and conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis This protocol aims to improve adolescent mental health through a school-based, digitally delivered screening and intervention programme. By evaluating feasibility and acceptance across eight educational centres, the study seeks to generate real-time data on prevalent mental health issues, promote awareness and self-care, and facilitate early professional intervention. If effective, the programme could support scalable, tiered prevention strategies in educational settings, contributing to reduced rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, and addictions. Its implementation may also improve resource allocation, reduce wait times, and inform future health policies for longitudinal mental health monitoring from childhood. Findings will contribute to the development of accessible, evidence-based models for adolescent mental health promotion and early intervention.

Psychosis TMS Study

The main goal of this study is to investigate the neural mechanisms of working memory function in patients with early psychosis using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in conjunction with functional MRI. TMS is a noninvasive method used to modulate brain activity via changing magnetic fields applied over the surface of the scalp.

Mobile Application-Based Interventions for Cannabis Use in Young Adults With First Episode Psychosis

Psychotic disorders affect approximately 4% of Canadians and have a significant impact on individuals' well-being, their families and social networks, and healthcare systems. The development of psychosis is explained by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, including the use of psychoactive substances. Frequent cannabis use can contribute to the development of psychotic disorders. The prevalence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) in individuals with a first-episode psychosis (FEP) followed in Early Intervention Services (EIS) is 42-53%, well above that of the general population (\~3%). Cannabis use in individuals with psychosis is associated with increased symptom severity, higher rates of relapse and hospitalization, and poor psychosocial functioning. Standardized mobile app-based interventions offer a scalable and accessible solution. Our team developed and piloted CHAMPS (harm reduction) and iCanChange (use reduction/cessation) with favourable results: retention 82% (CHAMPS) and 84-86% (iCC), high satisfaction, and preliminary efficacy signals. The two pilot studies were targeting feasibility, this study is studying efficacy of the two app-based interventions (CHAMPS and iCanChange).

Effects of Intranasal Insulin on Neuroimaging Markers and Cognition in Patients With Psychotic Disorders

This clinical trial is a single center, single dose study of the acute effects of intranasal insulin on energy metabolism and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorders, compared and healthy controls.

Preliminary Efficacy of an mHealth Intervention in West Africa

The investigators are conducting a pilot feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial of a digital intervention for serious mental illness in West Africa. Participants will be recruited from a large psychiatric hospital in Ghana and will be asked to use a digital intervention titled G-FOCUS.

Cognitive Remediation for Social Cognition in Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

This study will investigate whether the remote administration of the cognitive remediation program RC2S+ acceptable and feasible in people with schizophrenia and related disorders.

CBTpro: Scaling up CBT for Psychosis Using Simulated Patients and Spoken Language Technologies

The primary objective of this grant is to develop and evaluate an Artificial Intelligence-based clinical training tool--CBTpro--to support high-quality skills training in CBT for psychosis (CBTp). CBTpro will provide a rapid means of scaling and sustaining high-quality CBTp in routine care settings across the US.

Cerebellar Modulation of Cognition in Psychosis

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about cognition in psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder). The main question it aims to answer is: Can we use magnetic stimulation to change processing speed (how quickly people can solve challenging tasks). Participants will be asked to perform cognitive tasks (problem-solving) and undergo brain scans before and after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a way to non-invasively change brain activity. Forms of TMS are FDA-approved to treat depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. In this study, we will use a different form of TMS to temporarily change brain activity to observe how that changes speed in problem-solving.

Open Label Extension Study of NCT06221852

This is a 12-week open-label extension study for participants completing study NCT06221852.

Ketogenic and Nutritional Interventions for First Episode Bipolar Disorder

This is a randomized, controlled clinical trial to assess the effects of the ketogenic diet in combination with treatment as usual on brain energy metabolism and psychiatric symptoms in individuals with first episode bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

Comparison of Accelerated Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation vs High Frequency Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Hf-rTMS) on Cognitivesymptoms in Treatment-resistant Schizophrenia

This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial compares three brain stimulation approaches-accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aITBS), high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS), and sham stimulation-for treating cognitive deficits in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Ninety patients receiving clozapine will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive 20 sessions over 4 weeks targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The primary outcome is change in cognitive function measured by B-CATS score at 2, 4, and 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include social cognition, symptom severity, brain metabolism (FDG-PET), and inflammatory biomarkers.

EPI-MINN: Targeting Cognition and Motivation

The purpose of this study is to perform a practice-based research project designed to assess whether cognition and motivated behavior in early psychosis can be addressed as key treatment goals within real-world settings by using a 12-week mobile intervention program. Participants who are enrolled in a chart review study of measurement-based care will be recruited to participate in this study. In the measurement-based care study, participants are enrolled in coordinated specialty care programs for early psychosis that provide comprehensive clinical services such as psychotherapy, medication management, psychoeducation, work or education support, and measurement-based care. Participants will complete a set of well-defined measures every 6 months that assess symptoms, functioning, cognition and motivation as standard of care. The current study will utilize the data acquired in the measurement-based care study. The aim of this study is to investigate a well-defined 12-week mobile intervention program specifically designed to target cognitive functioning and motivated behavior for individuals with early psychosis. The investigators will test for differences in the clinical trajectories over 18 months in those who receive the intervention vs. those who do not. This study will be conducted jointly with a sister protocol under a separate NCT listing. This iteration will be conducted locally within the EPI-MINN Network, while the other project will be conducted on a national scale.