Frequently asked questions about our clinical research studies.
Why try clinical research?
What are you testing?
What is included in study participation?
How long is a study?
How often do I have to come in?
How long is each appointment?
Does it cost me anything?
Do I need health insurance?
How do I know if I'm eligible?
How is my personal information used?
Is participation in a research study safe?
What are the side effects?
What is a placebo?
What are the major exclusions?
Can I do a phone interview/consultation to determine eligibility?
Is there compensation?
Why try clinical research?
To try a new study medication that may be the next “cutting-edge” treatment for your disorder or try one that is already on the market (like Pristiq, Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor, etc.) that you may not be able to afford on your own. You will also be helping national medical research efforts in testing medications for people with the same condition as you. The data is collected from all the clinical research study sites around the world and analyzed to see if the study medication helped and was safe.
What are you testing?
We are testing the effects of a potential new medication or one that is already on the market (like Pristiq, Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor, etc.) in another age, dose or disorder by asking volunteers to be in a study.
What is included in study participation?
You will receive a diagnosis for your condition by one of our psychiatrists. You meet with a psychiatrist at every visit to talk about your symptoms and report any side effects and are watched carefully for safety. Full lab work is also included, such as blood and urine testing and ECG (electrocardiogram) reports.
How long is a study?
Each study varies in length. Short-term studies are usually 2-5 months. Long-term studies last about 1 year.
How often do I have to come in?
Short-term studies require you to come in about once a week or every two weeks. Sometimes it's only once a month. Long-term studies require you to come in about once a month.
How long is each appointment?
During the initial consultation appointment, you will meet with one of our clinicians to determine if you're eligible to participate and this takes about 30-45 minutes. After meeting with the clinician, if it is decided that a clinical trial is appropriate, the first appointment is scheduled, which takes approximately 2-3 hours.
Does it cost me anything?
No. Study participation is provided at no cost.
Do I need health insurance?
No. We do not collect insurance information.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
You will need to make a consultation appointment with one of our clinicians to discuss your medical history, symptoms and current and past medications. Then we can determine if you're eligible for one of our studies and explain the requirements, risks and benefits so you can decide if it's right for you.
How is my personal information used?
Confidentiality is an important part of clinical research and ensures that personal information is seen only by those authorized to have access. It also means that the personal identity and all medical information of study participants is known only to the individual patient and researchers. Results from a study will usually be presented only in terms of trends or overall findings and will not contain specific information about the participant.
Is participation in a research study safe?
You're safety is our highest priority. You are watched throughout the study for any harmful side effects. Since you are a volunteer, you may discontinue participation in a research study at any time if you feel it isn't working for you. We ask that you make a final appointment to return any study medication and to meet with the psychiatrist to review your symptoms and discontinuation reasons. At the end of the study we can provide a referral to a doctor in your area.
What are the side effects?
Each study medication has their different set of possible side effects. During your initial consultation appointment with one of our clinicians, if they determine you are eligible to participate, then they will explain to you the details of the study for which we think you are best qualified. They will let you know which study medication we are testing and provide you with an explanation of the possible side effects.
What is a placebo?
A placebo is a pill that looks identical to the study medication, but contains inactive ingredients. It is also known as a "sugar pill," but it does not contain any sugar or lactose (milk) products.
In some of our studies, the chance of receiving placebo is less than 50%. For instance, one study might be testing different dosages and there are four groups of patients. Three groups will receive the real study medication, each with a different dose, and the fourth group will receive a placebo. This means the chance of receiving placebo is small, only 25%. Sometimes, we have studies that do not use placebo at all and you will definitely receive the real study medication with active ingredients. Other studies may have the possibility of a chance for placebo in the first part of the study, but a long-term extension may be available in which the real medication is provided.
What are the major exclusions?
There are several medical conditions which are almost always on the exclusion list for the participation guidelines of each study. Some of these include: major cancers less than 5 years in remission (but not including skin), glaucoma, seizure disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, opiate pain medications and recent heart attack. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are also not allowed to participate.
Can I do a phone interview/consultation to determine eligibility?
No. In order to determine your eligibility and understand your medical background better, we prefer to do an interview in person.
Is there compensation?
Compensation is provided for most of our studies. Each study varies in the amount provided, but the average is about $40 at each visit during the study.