Welcome to the Anxiety Studies Page

CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

Pathways to Understanding: Learning from Loss

Are you the parent/legal guardian of child who died by suicide? You may be eligible for a research study at the University of Pittsburgh to learn more about risk factors for youth suicide. Compensation is provided.

Anxiety

AGE: 18 and older

DURATION: up to 4 hours

VISITS: 1 or more if preferred

LOCATION: Zoom videoconference

COMPENSATION: $50 for completion of the interview and questionnaires

Sleep Enhancement Research Study

Do you experience poor sleep? Do you have symptoms of anxiety and depression? You may be able to participate in a research study examining the effect of acoustic stimulation during sleep in young adults with a range of anxiety and depression symptoms. Compensation is provided.

DURATION: 4-7 weeks

VISITS: 4 in-person visits (including 2 overnight visits)

LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh – Center for Sleep and Circadian Science

COMPENSATION: Up to $530

EXPLORE research study

If you are between the ages of 50-80, you may be able to take part in a research study to help learn more about depression and suicidal ideation in older adults. This study involves interviews and a neuroimaging assessment via fMRI, as well as playing some games on a computer. Compensation is provided.

Anxiety

Depression

Healthy Aging

Other Mental Health and Behavior

AGE: 50-80

VISITS: multiple

LOCATION: Virtual (Zoom), Bellefield Towers (North Oakland), UPMC Presbyterian

COMPENSATION: up to $250

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

MyPaTH Story Booth 2.0

Interested in sharing your story about health, illness, or research? Patients and caregivers are needed to participate in a research study to help learn more about topics that are important to you and that may improve health and health care. Participation involves one 45-minute session that takes place over the phone. Eligible participants must be able to read and understand English.

DURATION: 45 minutes

VISITS: 1 visit or phone call

LOCATION: By phone

COMPENSATION: NONE

Neurofeedback for Borderline Personality Disorder Study

Are you 18-55 years old and been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to find out if an intervention called neurofeedback can improve symptoms in people with borderline personality disorder. Participation involves interviews, questionnaires, and MRI scanning. Compensation provided.

DURATION: 3 months

VISITS: 4

LOCATION: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

COMPENSATION: $230

NUMBER - Anxiety

Do you often worry, ruminate, or feel increasingly stressed, anxious, or depressed? You may be eligible to participate in a research study looking at how people respond to a brain stimulation method called transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS. The study involves four visits. Each visit lasts 2-3 hours. Compensation is provided. This is not a treatment study.

Anxiety

Depression

Other Mental Health and Behavior

Stress Reduction

AGE: 30-50

DURATION: 12 weeks

VISITS: 4

LOCATION: Oakland

COMPENSATION: up to $275

Heart-2-Heart Study

Having suicidal thoughts? Enroll in a research study evaluating suicidal ideation in young adults in romantic relationships. Couples ages 18-35 who live together may be eligible. Compensation is provided.

Anxiety

Depression

Family Health

Other Mental Health and Behavior

AGE: 18-35

DURATION: approximately 1 year

VISITS: 4

LOCATION: Oakland

COMPENSATION: up to $830

Project IMPACTS - Parent of Teen 14-17 struggling with suicidal thoughts

Are you the parent of a teen between the ages of 14 and 17 years old who use social media regularly? Does your teen struggle with suicidal thoughts? Your child may be eligible for a research study about social media, brain processing, suicidality, and mental health. You (parent) will be asked to answer questionnaires and complete and interview about your child. Compensation is provided.

AGE: Parent of teen 14-17

DURATION: 6 months

VISITS: 4 visits

LOCATION: Bellefield Towers, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, and/or Online and via Videoconference

COMPENSATION: YES

Friends Study - Moms of 7-9 year olds

Are you the mother of a child 7 to 9 years old? Moms who experience depressed mood or intense mood swings OR who have not experienced any mental health symptoms since the birth of their child may be eligible to participate in a research study on social relationships between kids. Moms and children will participate along with the child's closest friend. Participants will be compensated.

AGE: Moms of 7-9 year olds

SEX: Female

DURATION: 6 months

VISITS: 1 in-person, 1 virtual

LOCATION: Oakland

COMPENSATION: YES

Using Plants and Photography to Reduce Stress

Do you experience stress that impacts your daily life? Are you a student at University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, or Carlow University and have free admission to Phipps Conservatory? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study developing a stress reduction program.

AGE: 18 and older

DURATION: 2.5 hours

VISITS: 1

LOCATION: Phipps Conservatory

COMPENSATION: $10

Mothers & Emotions Treatment Research Study

Struggling with your emotions as a mom? Enroll in a research study evaluating moms’ and their kids’ mental health. Mothers who have a history of suicidal behavior, experience intense mood swings and struggle with anger, and who have a child age 9-11, may be eligible for treatment. Compensation is provided.

AGE: 18 and older

SEX: Female

DURATION: approximately 24 months

VISITS: 5 eval visit & weekly Skill Training for 6 months

LOCATION: Oakland and virtually

COMPENSATION: up to $805

Project IMPACTS - Parent of teen 14-17

Are you the parent of a teen who uses social media and struggles with mental health? Your child may be eligible for a research study about social media, brain processing, suicidality, and mental health. You (parent) will be asked to answer questionnaires and complete and interview about your child. Compensation is provided.

AGE: 18 and older

DURATION: 6 months

VISITS: 4

LOCATION: Bellefield Towers, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, and/or Online and via Videoconference

COMPENSATION: YES

Measurement of Middle Eastern and North African Trauma: The (MOMENT) Study

Are you an immigrant or refugee from the Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) region who has fled or been displaced from your MENA home country due to safety, economic, religious or political reasons? You may be eligible for a research study to create a MENA-specific questionnaire to accurately measure chronic stress and trauma exposure. Compensation is provided.

Anxiety

Healthy Volunteer

Other Mental Health and Behavior

Other Wellness and Lifestyle

And 1 more area

AGE: 18 and older

DURATION: 1-3 hours

VISITS: 1

LOCATION: Virtually or in-person (Oakland)

COMPENSATION: up to $50

Threat Dysregulation in Adolescents at Risk for Psychosis – Healthy 18-20 years old

Are you a healthy 18-20 year-old young person who has no history of any psychiatric, drug use, or alcohol use disorder? You may be able to join a research study to learn more about why some young people experience symptoms such as hearing or seeing things that others do not, having beliefs which others do not share, and/or having other unusual experiences. Compensation is provided.

DURATION: 12 months (baseline visit, 6 month, and 12 month)

VISITS: 3 in-person visit and activities from home

LOCATION: By Phone, Online, & 230 McKee Place - Oakland

COMPENSATION: up to $825

RISE Study - Coping with Loss in Elders

Are you 60 or older? Have you lost a spouse or partner in the past year? You may be eligible for a research study to understand the link between social connections and mood after losing a loved one. Compensation is provided.

Anxiety

Depression

Healthy Aging

Other Mental Health and Behavior

AGE: 60 and older

DURATION: 12 months

VISITS: 7 visits

LOCATION: virtual or in person

COMPENSATION: up to $405

Enhancing Treatment Utilization for Depression and Suicidality in Pediatric Primary Care (ETUDES Center Pediatric Primary Care Study)

Are you 18 years old and sad or depressed? You may be eligible for a research study to improve the lives of youth experiencing depression and suicidality and their families. Participation involves completing questionnaires about mood and feelings, treatment preferences and barriers at five points over a period of one year.

Anxiety

Depression

Other Mental Health and Behavior

AGE: 18

DURATION: 1 year

VISITS: 5 evaluations

LOCATION: Online & By Phone

COMPENSATION: up to $200

Enhancing Treatment Utilization for Depression and Suicidality in Pediatric Primary Care (ETUDES Center Pediatric Primary Care Study) - Parent of adolescents age 12-17

Are you the parent of a child 12 to 17 years old that is sad or depressed? You and your child may be eligible for a research study to improve the lives of youth experiencing depression and suicidality and their families. Participation involves you and your child completing questionnaires about mood and feelings, treatment preferences and barriers at five points over a period of one year.

AGE: 18 and older

DURATION: 1 year

VISITS: 5 evaluations

LOCATION: Online & By Phone

COMPENSATION: YES

Threat Dysregulation in Adolescents at Risk for Psychosis - 18 - 20 year olds

Are you 18-20 years old and having unusual or extraordinary experiences such as hearing voices, having beliefs that other people do not share, or having difficulties concentrating and thinking clearly? You may be able to join a research study to learn more about why some young people develop these symptoms while others do not. Compensation is provided.

DURATION: 12 months (baseline visit, 6 month, and 12 month)

VISITS: 3 in-person visit and activities from home

LOCATION: By Phone, Online, & 230 McKee Place - Oakland

COMPENSATION: up to $825

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Mental Health Literacy and Treatment-seeking Behaviors in Youth - Young Adult Arm

Are you in 8th-12th grade? Do you identify as Black? You may be able to participate in a research study examining mental health literacy and treatment-seeking behaviors of Black youth. This study involves completing one online survey to better understand your understanding of mental health illness and what can be done to help other youth feel more comfortable seeking mental health treatment.

AGE: 18 years old

COMPENSATION: NONE

Panda Study – Ages 18

Are you 18 years old and enrolled in high school? Do you identify as LGBQ+? You may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about how social experiences, including difficult social experiences, impact brain function in ways that may contribute to depression. Eligible participants are willing and able to undergo MRI scanning and are right-handed.

Anxiety

Depression

Healthy Volunteer

Other Mental Health and Behavior

AGE: 18

DURATION: 6 months

VISITS: 3 visits

LOCATION: Loeffler Building & UPMC Presbyterian Hospital - Oakland

COMPENSATION: Up to $180 + parking/travel expenses

BEaM Study - Parent with a history of depression or bipolar disorder

Have you ever experienced symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder? Are you the biological parent of a child aged 11-14 who has mood swings, but doesn’t have bipolar disorder? You and your child may be able to participate in a research study to assess the effects of two group-based interventions on emotions and mood among adolescents with a family risk for mood disorders.

DURATION: up to 13 months

VISITS: 1 virtual visit, >5 in-person visits

LOCATION: Online, Oakland and Shadyside

COMPENSATION: Yes

BEaM Study - Parent

Are you the parent of a child 11-14? Does your child have a biological parent or full biological sibling who has ever experienced symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder? You and your child may be able to participate in a research study to assess the effects of two group-based interventions on emotions and mood in adolescents with a family risk for mood disorders.

DURATION: up to 13 months

VISITS: 1 virtual visit, >5 in-person visits

LOCATION: Online, Oakland and Shadyside

COMPENSATION: Yes

Familial Pathways Study (FamPath): The Role of Inflammation and Stress in Youth Suicidal Behavior

Are you 18-30 years old and currently have depressive symptoms? You may be eligible to participate in a study to learn more about the role of biological markers of suicidality that may run in families and brain inflammation in suicidal behavior in young adults. Studies suggest increased inflammation is associated with suicidal behavior. Compensation provided.

DURATION: 12 months

VISITS: 4 visits

LOCATION: Oakland - Bellefield Towers

COMPENSATION: $750

BRAINY Study – Parents of 10-13 year olds

Are you the parent of a 10-12 year old girl or an 11-13 year old boy? Your child may be able to participate in a study to learn more about the effects of puberty on brain development and anxiety in teenagers. Participation involves interviews and questionnaires, an fMRI scan, and providing hair and saliva samples. Compensation is provided.

Anxiety

Child Health

AGE: Parents (Ages 18+) of 10-13 year olds

SEX: Female, Male

DURATION: Approximately 2 years

VISITS: 4 in-person, online questionnaires every 6 months

LOCATION: Loeffler Building & Biomedical Science Tower – Oakland & online or by phone

COMPENSATION: Yes

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS:

Mental Health and Behavior