Specific phobia

This trial tests whether an internet-based form of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can reduce symptoms of common mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and stress-related conditions in adults seeking primary care. About 500 participants will be randomly assigned to either th…

This study compares two care models for treating anxiety in 556 children and teens aged 8-17. In stepped care, everyone starts with internet therapy and gets in-person help only if needed. In stratified care, participants are assigned to internet or in-person therapy based on the…

This study tests whether giving e-cigarettes to smokers with mental illness—along with optional behavioral coaching—helps them switch from regular cigarettes and lower their exposure to harmful chemicals. The trial enrolls 250 daily smokers who have tried to quit before but aren'…

This trial tests whether a structured talk therapy called ConquerFear can help people with advanced cancer manage their fear of the disease progressing. It compares ConquerFear to a supportive-expressive approach, which focuses on emotional expression and support. The study invol…

This study tests an online wellness course that teaches diet, exercise, stress reduction, and self-care to people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, and similar conditions. Researchers want to see if the program reduces fatigue and improves quality of life. Abo…

This study tests whether a new form of exposure therapy, called Expectancy Focused Exposure (EFE), can reduce anxiety symptoms and prevent fear from returning more effectively than traditional exposure therapy. Adults with anxiety disorders—such as social anxiety, panic disorder,…

This study tests a short, three-session online program designed to help caregivers of people with advanced prostate cancer manage their fear that the cancer will progress. The program teaches techniques like detached mindfulness to help caregivers relate to worrying thoughts in a…

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 is testing a new type of talk therapy called Process-Based Therapy (PBT) for people with anxiety. Unlike standard treatments, PBT adapts techniques from different therapies to target each person's specific struggles. Ten adults with moderate-to-severe anxiety will try …

This study compares a standard mobile cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program to a personalized version that teaches skills faster. About 100 adults aged 18-25 with anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder will use the Maya app for 20 minutes, twice a week, for six weeks. The …

This study is testing a mobile app called MAYA that teaches cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help older adults manage anxiety and depression. About 60 participants aged 40 and older with an anxiety or depressive disorder will use the app for at least 20 minutes, twice…

This study tests if a smartphone app called Sidekick can help teenagers with anxiety disorders practice exposure exercises between therapy sessions. About 46 teens aged 13-18 will use the app alongside their usual outpatient treatment. The goal is to see if the app is practical, …

This study tests a 4-week online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for women with BRCA1/2 mutations who have finished cancer treatment and still worry a lot about cancer coming back. Researchers will compare those who get therapy right away to those on a waitlist, measur…

This study tests a brief group therapy that teaches people to better understand their own and others' thoughts and feelings (called mentalization). One hundred adults with anxiety or depression will be randomly assigned to this new therapy or to standard group therapy. Researcher…

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 compares two types of exposure training for people with spider phobia: in-person exposure with a real spider and videochat-based exposure where someone else handles the spider. 72 adults with spider fear will be randomly assigned to one of these treatments or a waiting…

This study tests a stepped care model for treating anxiety in children and teens aged 7-17. It starts with a low-cost, parent-focused therapy and offers more intensive treatment only if needed. The goal is to make effective care more accessible while reducing costs and therapist …

This study is developing and testing a new internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) program for children and teens aged 8-17 with anxiety disorders. The 12-week program, guided by a therapist, uses exposure therapy to help young people face their fears. Researchers …

This study tests a group therapy method called I-Reconstruction to see if it lowers anxiety in adults. Thirty-six participants will attend ten weekly online sessions and complete questionnaires about their anxiety and mood. The researchers will compare them to a group receiving u…

This study tests whether an online, therapist-guided program for insomnia can also reduce anxiety symptoms. 98 adults with both chronic insomnia and anxiety will either start the program immediately or after a delay. The program includes sleep education, behavioural strategies, a…

This study looks at whether combining two common therapy techniques—changing negative thoughts and practicing detached mindfulness—works better than using them alone for people with anxiety or depression. Researchers will compare the effects of each technique and their order. The…

This study tests whether a parent-only therapy (SPACE) can reduce anxiety in teens, compared to a parent education support group. About 108 adolescents with anxiety disorders will participate. Parents attend 12 weekly sessions, and researchers measure teen anxiety symptoms before…

This study is testing whether low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) — a noninvasive device that sends sound waves to the brain — can help people with chronic back pain, opioid cravings, and anxiety. Researchers will enroll 25 adults and measure safety, mood, heart rate, and oth…

This study tests an internet-based self-help program called eConquerFear-HK for Chinese cancer survivors who have mild to moderate fear of their cancer coming back. About 48 people who finished treatment for early-stage breast or colorectal cancer will try the program. The goal i…

This study tests a new way to reduce fear in people with phobias (like spiders or snakes) without needing to consciously face what scares them. Using brain scans (fMRI), the method retrains the brain unconsciously, aiming to lower fear responses and make treatment less distressin…

This study tests whether brief, online self-guided programs can help parents of children ages 2-7 better manage their child's anxiety. About 90 parents will be randomly assigned to one of three programs. The goal is to see if these programs reduce how much parents accommodate the…

Many parents of childhood cancer survivors struggle with intense fear that their child's cancer will come back. This study tests a 7-session group therapy program, adapted from one used for adult survivors, to see if it is acceptable and helpful for parents. Thirty-six parents in…

This study at the National Institute of Mental Health screens up to 16,000 people with mood or anxiety disorders, as well as healthy volunteers, to see if they can join other research studies. Participants undergo evaluations like psychiatric interviews, brain scans, and lab test…

This study looks at how people with depression or anxiety respond to different types of psychotherapy—individual sessions or an online program. It aims to find clues that predict who benefits most from each approach. By understanding these factors, doctors may better match patien…

This study investigates whether the quality of parent-adolescent communication at the start of psychiatric inpatient treatment predicts how much symptoms improve six months later. Researchers will track 60 adolescents hospitalized for depression, anxiety, or other mental disorder…

This study looks at fear of cancer recurrence in people who had surgery for kidney cancer and their partners. Researchers are working with patients to create better ways to ask about and measure this fear. The goal is to improve follow-up care by understanding what matters most t…

This study tests whether a device called rTMS, which uses magnetic pulses to temporarily change brain activity, can alter how people with anxiety respond to fearful situations. Researchers will measure brain signals and reactions in 80 adults who recently started anxiety treatmen…

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 uses brain imaging and a single dose of the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam to understand how people with both depression and anxiety disorders process threats differently than those with depression alone. About 165 adults will complete two sessions involving startle tests…

This study tests whether a technology called transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) can temporarily change brain activity linked to anxiety. Researchers will recruit 40 adults with anxiety disorders who recently started treatment. Participants will undergo brain imaging and then …

This study is looking for genetic markers linked to a side effect called behavioral activation—feeling overly excited or agitated—that can happen when children and youth take SSRI antidepressants for depression, anxiety, or OCD. Researchers will collect DNA from 160 participants …