Personality disorder

This trial tests whether matching cognitive training to a person's specific thinking deficits can improve real-world outcomes for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders. Participants are assigned to one of two types of training—one targeting attention to context, t…

This study tests a new, non-invasive brain stimulation method for people with OCD. It uses mild electrical currents guided by brain wave recordings to target a key brain region. The goal is to reduce OCD symptoms quickly and safely, with effects lasting up to three months. The tr…

This study tests a new 12-session couple therapy called Sage for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and their partners. It aims to reduce BPD symptoms, improve relationship conflict, and support partner mental health better than standard individual therapy. Up to 1…

This study tests whether a drug that boosts NMDA receptors can help people with early signs of schizophrenia. About 48 participants with prodromal symptoms will take the drug for 12 weeks. The goal is to see if it reduces symptom severity and delays progression.

This study tests a 10-week cognitive training program called SCORES for teens at high risk for psychosis. The program aims to improve processing speed (how fast the brain handles information) through game-like tasks, group coaching, and rewards. Researchers hope better processing…

This study is testing whether a noninvasive brain stimulation technique called repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) can boost the effects of a type of talk therapy (Exposure and Response Prevention) for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that hasn't im…

This study tests whether real-time brain training (amygdala neurofeedback) can help people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) feel less intense negative emotions. Participants will either receive real feedback from their own brain activity or a fake (sham) signal while vi…

This study tests a quick, non-invasive brain stimulation method called accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation (aiTBS) to see if it can improve mood in people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) who are also experiencing a major depressive episode. About 45 adults…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can reduce symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Up to 30 adults with BPD will receive either real or sham TMS over several weeks. Researchers will trac…

This pilot study tests a new one-day treatment for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) who have suicidal thoughts. It combines a medication called D-cycloserine with up to 20 short sessions of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over 12 hours. The study enrolls …

This study tests whether giving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in person, via video, or a mix of both works best for children aged 5-18 with anxiety or OCD. About 500 kids will be randomly assigned to one of three delivery methods. The goal is to find out which approach impro…

This study tests whether combining ketamine infusions with dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) can reduce suicidal thoughts more effectively than a placebo plus DBT. About 120 adults with borderline personality disorder and treatment-resistant depression or bipolar disorder wil…

This trial tests whether a therapy that blends Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with Habit Reversal Training (HbRT) can reduce both obsessive-compulsive and tic symptoms in adults with Tourettic OCD — a subtype where OCD and tic disorders overlap. Standard treatments usuall…

This study tests whether a special helmet that delivers focused ultrasound can safely and effectively calm overactive brain circuits in people with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that hasn't improved with standard treatments. Participants receive two sessions of this …

This study tests whether a mild nerve stimulation device (tVNS) can make exposure therapy work better for people with OCD. About 56 adults with moderate to severe OCD will receive either real or fake stimulation during therapy sessions. The goal is to see if the combination reduc…

This study tests whether wearing light therapy glasses for one hour each morning can reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in young adults (ages 18–35) who go to bed at 1 a.m. or later. Participants wear the glasses daily for five weeks, track their sleep, and compl…

This study tests whether a special brain training technique, called mindfulness-based neurofeedback, can help adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) get more out of their regular talk therapy. Researchers will use real-time brain scans to help participants learn to con…

This study tests whether a special kind of talk therapy, called Emotion-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), can reduce symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). About 36 adults with OCD will be randomly assigned to either ACT group therapy or a supportive grou…

This study explores whether teaching people emotion regulation skills tailored to their individual needs works better than a one-size-fits-all approach. Researchers will enroll 390 adults with emotional difficulties, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, and assign them to practi…

This study tests an accelerated form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who haven't gotten better with standard treatments. Over 7 days, 30 participants will receive 28 sessions of brain stimulation targeting areas linke…

This pilot study tests whether a home-use device that sends a mild electrical current to the brain (tDCS) can reduce depressive symptoms in people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Sixty participants will receive either real or sham stimulation twice daily for one week.…

This study tests whether adding a case manager and family meetings to standard care helps people with borderline personality disorder. About 100 adults will be randomly assigned to the new program or usual care. The goal is to see if the approach is practical and improves daily f…

This study tests whether combining a nasal spray (oxytocin) with a 5-week self-compassion training program can reduce symptoms like self-criticism, shame, and emotional instability in people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). About 80 adults with BPD will receive either …

This study tests whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a safe antioxidant supplement, can reduce early psychosis-like symptoms in 90 people at clinical high risk for schizophrenia. Participants take NAC for 8 weeks, and researchers measure changes in symptoms and brain activity. The go…

This early-stage study at Yale is testing whether a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin is safe and tolerable for people whose daily life is impaired by mood, anxiety, trauma, or addiction symptoms. Fifty participants will receive the drug openly (everyone knows they get it) and be f…

This study tests a new, faster version of a brain stimulation treatment called TMS for people with depression or OCD. Instead of daily sessions for weeks, participants get 10 hours of TMS each day for just 5 days. The goal is to see if this quick approach can improve symptoms and…

This study tests whether Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapy proven for PTSD, can help people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Researchers will give 56 adults 14 weekly EMDR sessions and measure changes in emotional and behavioral symptoms. …

The PANDA trial is testing whether a walking program or supervised karate training are safe and acceptable for adults with borderline or avoidant personality disorders. About 60 participants will be randomly assigned to usual treatment alone, usual treatment plus walking, or usua…

This study tests whether online group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reduce depression, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms in adults with cystic fibrosis and their caregivers. Participants will attend 13 sessions via Zoom and be compared to those receiving supporti…

This small study at Yale is testing whether a single dose of MDMA (the drug in ecstasy) can improve social cognition—like reading emotions and feeling sociable—in adults with borderline personality disorder. Ten participants will take the drug and complete tasks and surveys. It's…

This study looks at how well a 20-week therapy called Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) works for teens aged 13-18 who self-harm or have suicidal behavior. Researchers will track self-harm episodes, suicide attempts, depression, and quality of life right after …

This study explores whether internal family systems (IFS) therapy, a type of talk therapy that helps people understand different 'parts' of their mind, can reduce symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Fifteen adults with BPD will receive up to 50 therapy sessions ove…

This study tests a new type of mental training for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The training teaches a skill called 'reappraisal-by-distancing' to help control emotions. Researchers will use brain scans to see if the training changes brain activity and will …

This study tests a 10-week therapy program called SINTYA for young adults aged 16-25 with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The program combines group and individual sessions to reduce impulsivity and related symptoms like emotional distress, self-harm, and suicide risk. Res…

This study tests a new, faster version of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Twenty adults with OCD who haven't improved enough with standard treatments will receive six TMS sessions each day for five days. The goal is to see if this …

This study tests whether group schema therapy, which uses self-recorded videos as part of treatment, can help teens with borderline symptoms. 64 participants will be randomly assigned to either the therapy or usual care. The therapy includes 30 group sessions, 8 individual sessio…

This study investigates how people with hearing loss, including cochlear implant users, experience listening effort from moment to moment. Researchers will track eye movements and pupil dilation as participants repeat sentences that are manipulated to be harder to understand. The…

This study looks at whether giving exposure therapy for OCD at different times in a woman's menstrual cycle changes how well it works. Researchers will use brain scans to see if hormones affect the brain's fear network and OCD symptoms. The goal is to find the best time in the cy…

This study will carefully examine the physical and mental health of 100 adults admitted to NHS mental health wards. Researchers will review medical notes, do physical exams, and use questionnaires to measure conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and persona…

This study looks at how stress and personality traits influence decision-making in people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) compared to healthy adults. About 106 participants aged 18-45 will complete online tasks, a stress test, surveys, and have their heart rate, sweat …

This study aims to create a 'patient library' by collecting blood, stool, and hair samples from 250 people aged 15 to 30 who have had a first psychotic episode or are at high risk. Researchers will track their mental health over 10 years using the CAARMS test. The goal is to bett…

This study tests a new idea: that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) may be a form of addiction to close relationships, similar to substance use disorders. Researchers will give a special questionnaire to 194 people—those with BPD, those with bipolar disorder, and healthy volu…

This study looks at how gender affects the way people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) see themselves and their relationships. Researchers will interview 15 people with BPD of different gender identities and use special tests to measure hidden thoughts. The goal is to b…

This study tests whether a 3-day training program called REFOCUS helps mental health teams provide care that supports personal recovery. About 760 people with severe mental disorders (like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) will take part across 18 centers. Researchers will measu…

This study is testing whether subtle changes in how people speak can predict who will develop schizophrenia. Researchers will record and analyze free speech from 215 young people aged 15-30 who are at ultra-high risk for psychosis. By using computer programs to detect semantic an…

This study is a large survey of up to 20,000 adults with conditions like depression, anxiety, or borderline personality disorder. Researchers will ask about medical history and symptoms to see who might qualify for future industry-sponsored clinical trials. The goal is to make it…

This study follows 415 people with difficult-to-treat depression for 5 years after they joined an earlier genetics study. Researchers will review medical records and registry data to see how patients' depression changes over time, including suicide attempts and treatment response…

This study looks at how often dissociative identity disorder (DID) occurs in adults who experienced childhood trauma and have borderline personality disorder, functional dissociative crises, or early psychosis. Researchers will use interviews and questionnaires with 350 participa…

This study uses fMRI brain scans to understand how the brain works in teenagers with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Researchers will compare brain activity in teens with BPD, teens with ADHD, and healthy teens. The goal is to learn more about the brain areas involved in s…

This study looks back at the treatment records of about 12,000 people with depression, OCD, or anxiety. Researchers will compare how well two treatments—NeuroStar TMS and Esketamine—reduce symptoms. The goal is to learn which approach works better in real-world settings.

This study investigates how the immune system influences psychotic symptoms and response to antipsychotic medication. Researchers will collect blood and spinal fluid from 500 participants, including those starting or changing antipsychotics and healthy controls. The goal is to fi…

This study looks at whether leadership training helps doctors feel more satisfied and less stressed at work. Researchers will survey 200 physicians at Methodist Health System to compare wellbeing between those who have had leadership training and those who have not. The goal is t…

This study tests whether combining a one-time session of brain stimulation (rTMS or electrical scalp stimulation) with emotion regulation training helps people with mood, anxiety, or related disorders better control their emotions. 240 participants will learn either cognitive res…

This study looks at 50 people with OCD or Tourette syndrome to find clear differences between compulsions and tics. Participants wear a smartwatch and a portable brain-wave recorder at home and in the lab. The goal is to help doctors choose the right treatment by using objective …

This study aims to find brain activity patterns and thinking skills that can predict which people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) will not respond well to standard treatments. Researchers will use brain scans and cognitive tests in 100 participants with OCD and compare t…

This study tests whether cognitive remediation—brain exercises with coaching—can improve thinking skills and reduce aggression in 30 forensic inpatients with conditions like psychosis, ADHD, or substance use. Participants will do exercises and be compared to an active control gro…

This pilot study is testing whether two established trauma therapies—Prolonged Exposure and EMDR—can be safely used in young adults with psychotic disorders who also have PTSD symptoms. Twenty participants from the OPUS early-intervention program will receive one of the therapies…

This study follows 688 adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) for 5 years to see if feeling shame can predict suicide attempts. Researchers will also look for biological markers and protective treatments. No new drug or therapy is being tested—this is purely an observa…

This study is testing whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tDCS can improve executive functions—like working memory, attention, and decision-making—in people with conditions such as traumatic brain injury, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, bo…