Welcome to the Eating Disorders Studies Page

CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

Project IMPACTS - Parent of teen 14-17

Are you the parent of a teen who uses social media and struggles with mental health? You and your child may be eligible for a research study about social media, brain processing, suicidality, and mental health. This research study involves clinical interviews and questionnaires, providing hair samples, one MRI scan (optional) and providing access to social media data. Compensation is provided.

Anxiety

AGE: 18 and older

DURATION: 6 months

VISITS: 4

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

COMPENSATION: YES

Pain in the Brain Study for Individuals with Suicidal Thoughts and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Have you recently had suicidal thoughts and engaged in non-suicidal self-injury, such as cutting? Are you aged 18-24? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand why some people harm themselves on purpose and to learn more about how physical pain and emotional pain may be related in the brain. Compensation provided.

DURATION: 4 months

VISITS: 1 in-person & 1 remote

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Online, and By Phone

COMPENSATION: Up to $170

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

All of Us Pennsylvania Research Program

All of Us wants at least one million people to join. Your participation can help shape the future of health for generations to come. People who join will share information. This might be about their health, habits, and what it’s like where they live. It might also be about family history and genes. By looking for patterns, researchers may learn more about what affects people’s health.

VISITS: one in person visit

LOCATION: Convenient locations throughout Pennsylvania

COMPENSATION: $25.00 gift card

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

REGISTRY

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

CARMA Registry - Parent of a child 4-17

Are you a parent of a child 4-17 and interested in behavioral health research studies? You may be eligible for a research registry that hopes to make it easy for busy families to participate in research, by identifying research studies that they may be eligible for and then providing a warm hand-off to studies that are of interest.

AGE: Parent of a child 4-17 years old

DURATION: Indefinitely

VISITS: One session for consent

LOCATION: Online

COMPENSATION: NONE

REGISTRY

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

CARMA Registry - Adults 18-26

Are you 18 to 26 years old and interested in behavioral health research studies? You may be eligible to join a research registry that aims to make it easy for busy young adults to participate in research, by identifying research studies that they may be eligible for and then providing a warm hand-off to studies that are of interest.

DURATION: Indefinitely

VISITS: One session for consent

LOCATION: Online

COMPENSATION: NONE

Project HOME: Young Adult Arm

Are you age 18 with a restrictive-type eating disorder? Do you currently live at home with your family? You and your family may be eligible for a research study to learn better how eating disorder treatments and adaptations work when given in the home setting. Compensation is provided.

Eating Disorders

Featured Research

AGE: 18

DURATION: Up to 32 weeks

VISITS: 5

LOCATION: Bellefield Towers - Oakland

COMPENSATION: YES

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

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

RAW-The Effect of Rumination, Anxiety, and Worry on Aging and Dementia Risk (High Worry) Study

Are you over the age of 50 and interested in participating in a research study that will examine how anxiety and worry contribute to aspects of aging, including brain and body aging, as well as risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The results of this study will help us design therapies that address individual needs of older people with anxiety

DURATION: 2 years

VISITS: 5 visits

LOCATION: Oakland

COMPENSATION: $300

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Research Study on Communication and Understanding in Behavioral Health

Are you 18? Have you had experience managing your mental wellness and/or interacting with behavioral health care providers? You may be eligible to participate in a research study to understand the communication between patients and their providers and how that interaction affects understanding and participation in behavioral health.

AGE: 18 and older

DURATION: up to 40 minutes

LOCATION: Online

COMPENSATION: NONE

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

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

Hormonal Skin Patch for Women with Anorexia Nervosa

Are you a 19-45 year old woman diagnosed with anorexia nervosa? You may be able to participate in a research study to help find out if a hormonal skin patch can improve bone density in women with anorexia nervosa. Participation involves imaging studies, blood tests, and nutritional analyses. Compensation is provided.

Eating Disorders

Other Bones, Joints, and Muscles

Women's Health

AGE: 19 - 45

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

DURATION: 18 months

VISITS: 6 visits & 3 phone calls

LOCATION: UPMC Montefiore Hospital, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital - Oakland & Neuromuscular Research Lab - South Side

COMPENSATION: Up to $575 & parking or transportation reimbursement

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS:

Food, Nutrition, and Metabolism, Mental Health and Behavior