Clinical trials

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the feasibility, behavioral/neural mechanisms, and preliminary efficacy of "MINDfulness-based Substance Use Prevention Program," or "MINDS-UP", a novel substance use prevention meditation intervention for children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14. The aims of the study are: Aim 1: Determine feasibility and acceptability of MINDS-UP as a preventive intervention via a) retention, b) attendance, c) teacher-rated participation, d) student-rated participation, e) homework completion, and f) acceptability. Aim 2: Evaluate neuropsychological mechanisms (target engagement) of MINDS-UP. Aim 3 (Exploratory): Assess preliminary efficacy of MINDS-UP on substance use initiation (SUI).

The purpose of this study is to learn whether a research neurofeedback training approach done during MRI scans may help reduce hallucinations such as the experience of hearing voices persistent despite treatment.

The goal of this study is to test the efficacy of brief video interventions parental internalized stigma and stigma-related outcomes (e.g., treatment intentions, caregiver burden, secrecy) among parents (ages 25-50) of children ages 6-18 with depression, ADHD, or substance use problems. Timely identification and treatment of mental health problems in youth is a public health priority. However, many youth do not receive treatment, and stigma has been identified as the primary barrier to help-seeking. Parents experience stigma related to their children having mental health problems, which has been associated with reduced help-seeking and increased parental distress. Prior experiments have found brief video-based interventions (BVIs), 1-2 minute videos similar to those viewed by youth on social media platforms, based on the principle of "social contact" with individuals affected by a stigmatized condition, effective in reducing mental health stigma and increasing help-seeking. In this 4-arm RCT, the investigators will recruit parents aged 25-50 using an online crowdsourcing platform, to test the efficacy of BVIs featuring a personal parent narrative of their experience with their child's a) depression, b) ADHD, or c) substance use, or d) a control condition that provides general written psychoeducational information without social contact.

This Phase 2 study examines the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of pimavanserin in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Male or female participants aged 12 to 40 years of age will be randomized to receive single doses of either placebo or pimavanserin in this randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over designed study, followed by open label extension.

The present study is a controlled trial that seeks to examine the feasibility, acceptability, mechanism, and efficacy of a recently developed computer-based therapy in individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD)

The goal of the study is to investigate the feasibility, safety, and effect of rTMS on mPFC/dACC activity using a combination of fMRI and clinical outcome measures, when used as an augmentation to CBT. Our hypothesis is that we will meet the following milestones prior to moving forward to the UH3 phase (a clinical trial for CUD). * Feasibility: At least 75% of participants will receive at least 15 out of 20 rTMS sessions with no participants experiencing a study-related serious adverse event * Mechanism: Compared to baseline, after 1 week of rTMS, participants who received active rTMS will demonstrate a 15% decrease in RSFC (resting state functional connectivity) between the DLPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and anterior cingulate * Efficacy: During the final 12 weeks of the trial (weeks 2-13), at least 15% of participants who received active rTMS will demonstrate 3 consecutive weeks of abstinence Participants will: * Have two brain MRI scans; * Undergo 1 week of daily rTMS (or sham) treatments (up to 20 sessions), and; * Have 12 weeks of once-weekly cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of cocaine use disorder. Researchers will compare active (real) rTMS to sham (placebo) rTMS. All participants will receive cognitive-behavioral therapy. The former principle investigator, Dr. Derek Blevins, has vacated his position (February 2025), and has transferred the principle investigator role to Dr. John Mariani, the STARS Clinic Director.

In the present study, 120 healthy volunteers (HV) will be randomized to one of three ketamine-induced pharmacoBOLD (phBOLD) arms: low, medium, and high. Within each ketamine arm, participants will be randomized to 4 days of "study drug" \[TS-134 (1st 20 participants) or XT (remaining 100 participants)\] or placebo in a 5:3 ratio (25 study drug:15 placebo per arm). During the study, each participant will undergo a Screening Period (up to 31 days), a 4-day Treatment Period, and a total of two phBOLD sessions: a first session at Baseline and a second session on Day 4 of the Treatment Period, conducted at least 7 days apart, and a follow up visit.

This study explores how stress, suicidal thoughts, and ketamine's effects are connected in people with major depressive disorder. Stress increases the risk for suicidal thoughts, but the biological basis is unclear. Ketamine may help reduce suicidal thoughts by affecting stress-linked brain systems. This study will use smartphone tracking to monitor real-time responses to stress and positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans to study how ketamine affects brain pathways related to stress and suicidal thoughts in depressed individuals.

The purpose of this study is to compare two models of employment services for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) interested in finding and maintaining employment. All 40 participants will receive up to 12 sessions of the first-line treatment for OCD called exposure and response prevention, a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Assigned by chance, half of the people will also receive Individual Placement and Support (IPS); the other half will receive standard vocational services (SVS). This study will compare these two approaches for helping adults with OCD find and maintain work.

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and tolerability of donepezil in a small group of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Study participants will be receiving care at the New York State Psychiatric Institute Eating Disorders Unit. Study medication will be increased from 1 mg per day to a maximum of 5 mg per day for up to 8 weeks. Participants will be closely monitored for side effects by a research psychiatrist every week, in addition to the regular clinical monitoring they receive during inpatient treatment. The study will also include assessments of habit strength to measure any changes in maladaptive eating habits over the course of the treatment.

This protocol focuses on the effect of sleep interventions on improving sleep and building cognitive/brain resilience in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and sleep disturbance. Two sleep interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and acoustic slow-wave activity enhancement (SWAE), will be utilized in a pilot randomized clinical trial in which participants are randomized to different treatment groups (CBTI or SWAE). Participants will be assessed over a 6-month period in order to examine the impact of sleep treatments on neuropsychological outcomes and cognitively mediated everyday functioning.

This is a clinical trial in which 40 participants with schizophrenia will be randomized to 15 days of treatment with cariprazine (CAR) or brexpiprazole (BREX) in a single-blind manner. \[11C\]PHNO PET scans will be obtained before treatment and after 1 day and 15 days of treatment to examine the effects of antipsychotic medications on the dopamine-3 receptor (D3R). The overall objectives of the current study are to: 1) measure the acute binding of CAR/BREX to the D3R; 2) measure D3R availability for evidence of upregulation following subchronic administration of CAR/BREX in the same set of patients; 3) examine relationships between subchronic binding of CAR/BREX to, and upregulation of, the D3R vs. D2R and changes in positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive deficits. Relationships between subchronic binding of CAR/BREX and EPS will be explored.

This study will examine the impact of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on food choice behavior and related neural activity.

The development of new treatments for psychosis, a psychiatric condition that is prevalent and highly disabling despite antipsychotic medications, has been limited, in part, by a lack of information from brain imaging studies during the period that leads to the development of psychotic symptoms. In this project the investigators will use Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (NM-MRI) to examine a brain chemical that is involved in schizophrenia called dopamine and where it first becomes abnormal. The investigators will use multimodal PET/MR imaging (i.e., \[11C\]raclopride w/MPH challenge and NM-MRI) in the same CHR patients. The investigators will recruit 115 clinical high risk individuals. All subjects will undergo \[11C\]raclopride w/methylphenidate challenge and neuromelanin-MRI imaging along with clinical assessments. Patients will be followed every 3 months for two years or until conversion to psychosis, whichever comes first, to assess for conversion to psychosis and clinical outcomes.

This is a single site clinical trial in which 12 participants with schizophrenia will be randomized to one of three doses of treatment with Cobenfy for 5 weeks. \[18F\]DOPA PET scans will be obtained before and after treatment to examine the effects of Cobenfy on dopamine transmission. The overall objective of the current study is to measure Cobenfy's ability to engage its putative target (DA transmission/synthesis capacity in the striatum and midbrain as measured by \[18F\]DOPA Kicer (\[18F\]DOPA relative uptake rate)).

This is a single site trial in 30 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar I/II/NOS disorder in which all participants will receive eight weeks of olanzapine and samidorphan (Olz/Sam) plus four weeks of aerobic exercise.

We propose to conduct research on strategies that support the successful scale-up of an evidence-based, suicidal risk and behavior identification and cross-system linkage programs for justice-involved youth (e-Connect), and to rigorously evaluate the implementation activities and associated costs that support that scale-up of e-Connect within 9 Indiana counties. Guided by the GPM and EPIS frameworks, this 4-year study will comprise 3 project phases: (1) Scale-Up Strategy Efforts, focused on preparing for scale-up; (2) e-Connect-scaleup implementation (2a Exploration and Preparation and 2b Implementation and Sustainment); and (3) Scale-Up Effectiveness Trial/Outcome Evaluation. The current project draws on lessons learned from the e-Connect efficacy trial in NYS and research team leadership will serve as External Facilitators to support 9 Local Facilitators to ensure the successful transfer of knowledge, skill and expertise in delivering e-Connect in a new JJ system and geographic context, utilizing implementation strategies to support the more widespread, sustained and rigorous adoption of e-Connect. The study will include a learning community created by External Facilitators for Local Facilitators to provide support, to exchange strategies to handle implementation issues, to develop competencies in facilitation, and to guide implementation throughout the program. The learning community will help Local Facilitators navigate through the implementation stages of the study.

This study aims to optimize a treatment package for the relapse prevention treatment of AN. In the Preparation Phase, we examined accessibility and feasibility of the treatment package. In the current Optimization Phase, we will identify which components of treatment contribute to positive outcomes after acute hospitalization. We will carefully evaluate maintenance of remission, measured by rate of weight loss and end-of-trial status.

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a new pharmacological approach to increase efficacy of treatment with extended release naltrexone (XR-naltrexone) for individuals with opioid use disorder by combining it with buprenorphine-naloxone. This is a two arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to examine whether addition of buprenorphine-naloxone will improve treatment retention, reduce opioid craving, and improve mood over 24 weeks of treatment with extended release naltrexone (XR-naltrexone) administered every four weeks for a total of 6 injections.

Two-hundred and eighty individuals with schizophrenia who have a recent history of violent acts will be randomized in this 2-arm, parallel-group, 24-week, open-label, 7-site clinical trial to examine the effects of treatment with clozapine vs antipsychotic treatment as usual (TAU) for reducing the risk of violent acts in real-world settings

This study examines the impact of Auxilio Brasil (AB), a cash transfer program to mothers of school-age children, on resource-deprived populations in Brazil and its protective effects on child neurodevelopment and mental health. The investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT) among those already receiving AB in which 300 families will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a high ($40/month) or low ($2/month) supplemental transfer for 2 years. Three hundred children (index child participants; 7-10 years old) will be enrolled across both study arms. Additionally, up to 150 siblings ("sibling participants;" 7-10 years old) will be enrolled. Eligible families who decide to participate will sign a study-specific informed consent (mother) and assent (child) form. The UNIFESP team will conduct the respective assessments at baseline, approximately 8- and 16- months, 24-months and approximately 6-months post-RCT. Aim 1: Determine the impact of high vs low cash transfers on children's exposure to adversities (ACEs) and neurodevelopment. Aim 2: Determine the impact of cash transfers on children's inflammatory markers and HPA activity/cortisol. Exploratory Aim: The investigators will explore (i) whether sex/gender of the children moderates the pathways in the above mediation model; and (ii) whether cash transfer-related effects persist 6 months post-RCT.

Currently, abuse of prescription opioid analgesics and heroin is a serious problem in the U.S. Although several medications, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, are available and effective in treating opioid use disorder (OUD), long-term relapse rates remain high. The current study is designed to examine a new approach to treating OUD, namely use of a vaccine targeted against oxycodone \[Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH\], one of the most commonly abused prescription opioids. The vaccination approach to treating substance use disorders relies on the ability of the vaccine to produce antibodies that bind the target drug in blood and reduce its ability to enter the brain. The long-term goal of this research will be to develop a combined vaccine against oxycodone and heroin. However, in this trial the Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH vaccine will be studied separately. This is a multi-site study, being conducted at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Clinilabs clinical research unit (CRU) in Eatontown, New Jersey. The current study proposes to evaluate safety (Aim 1), degree of antibody production (Aim 2), and efficacy (i.e., ability to reduced drug liking following opioid administration) (Aim 3). The oxycodone vaccine (Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH) will be tested in participants with OUD (target # completers = 45 across two study sites). This study will provide a great deal of information about the safety and potential effectiveness of the Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH vaccine in reducing the abuse of opioids. The NYSPI site is currently paused and has been paused since an institutional pause on human subjects research began in June 2023. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) issued an FWA restriction on NYSPI research that also included a pause of human subjects research as of June 23, 2023.

This study aims to provide an evidence-based shared decision making intervention for antipsychotic medications, the Antipsychotic Medication Decision Aid (APM-DA), for individuals experiencing early psychosis and provide, for the first time, an understanding of the shared decision making mechanism of action.

The proposed project tests the efficacy of glutamate modulators in non-depressed individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD); the primary hypothesis is that the glutamate modulator being tested reduces heavy drinking days compared to the active control. It also aims to investigate, using a 2 by 2 factorial (2x2) design, the hypothesis that the effects of the glutamate modulator are enhanced when combined with behavioral treatment.