Centre For Addiction And Mental Health

This pilot study tests a personalized deep brain stimulation (DBS) method for people with severe, treatment-resistant substance use disorders. Ten participants will first undergo detox, then have temporary electrodes placed in their brains to map addiction-related circuits, follo…

This study looks at whether taking antipsychotic medication every other day is as effective as taking it daily for people with schizophrenia. 120 participants will be randomly assigned to either daily dosing or every-other-day dosing for one year. The goal is to see if extended d…

This study tests whether metformin, a diabetes drug, can help adults with intellectual disabilities who have gained weight from antipsychotic medications. One hundred participants will receive either metformin or a placebo for 24 weeks, along with lifestyle advice. The goal is to…

This study tests a new type of brain stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for cannabis use disorder. Researchers will enroll 46 adults who use cannabis frequently and want to cut back or quit. The goal is to see if the treatment is safe, tolerable, and can reduce cravings and use.

This study tests whether cannabidiol (CBD) can reduce alcohol cravings and drinking in people with alcohol use disorder. Thirty-six participants will receive both CBD and a placebo at different times to compare effects. The goal is to see if CBD can help control alcohol use, but …

This study tests whether starting nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, or lozenges) at a specific time in the menstrual cycle helps women quit smoking. About 1,200 women who smoke daily and have regular periods will be assigned to start their quit attempt during the follic…

This study compares Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) to standard Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) in 80 people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. MST uses magnetic pulses to trigger a controlled seizure, aiming to ease symptoms like hallucinations an…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called TMS can help people with mental illness quit smoking. Forty daily smokers with psychiatric conditions will receive either TMS or standard care. The goal is to see if TMS is practical and effective in real-…

This study looks at whether extra 'booster' sessions of a therapy called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help youth aged 14 to 26 who have bipolar disorder or a family history of it. Participants have already completed one year of DBT in a previous study. The goal is to se…

This study is testing a personalized, three-level approach to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for young people aged 13 to 23 who have bipolar disorder or are at high risk due to family history. The goal is to see if matching the intensity of therapy to each person's needs can …

This study tests whether an app-based therapy called A-EMDR can help people who have both PTSD and substance use disorders. Twenty-four adults will use the app three times a week for four weeks, while researchers track changes in PTSD symptoms and substance use. The goal is to se…

This study tests a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tACS to see if it can improve working memory in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Twenty volunteers aged 60 and older will receive daily stimulation sessions for two weeks. The main goal is to s…

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 study tests whether a non-invasive treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can help daily smokers quit. rTMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain areas involved in addiction and decision-making. Forty participants will receive daily sessions f…

This study is testing whether 12 weeks of group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people reduce their alcohol or cannabis use. Researchers will enroll 400 adults with alcohol use disorder or cannabis use disorder. Participants will attend weekly CBT sessions, and the st…

This early-stage study tests whether psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) combined with talk therapy can safely help autistic adults with depression that hasn't improved with other treatments. Twenty participants will receive two doses of psilocybin along with ab…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS can safely and effectively reduce depression in autistic youth aged 16-24. Eighty participants will receive either real or sham rTMS over 30 sessions. The goal is to see if this approach, already used…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) can reduce depression symptoms in people with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. About 124 participants will receive either real or sham (fake) stimulation da…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tDCS can help people who vape nicotine daily to cut back. Forty adults aged 18-65 who vape regularly will receive either real or fake tDCS for 10 sessions over two weeks. Researchers will measure changes i…

This study tests whether giving multiple sessions of magnetic brain stimulation each day works better than the usual one-session-per-day approach for treating depression in people aged 60 and older. About 280 participants will receive active treatment, with some getting the accel…

This study is testing whether dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help youth aged 13 to 23 who have bipolar disorder or are at high risk for it. Over one year, participants will attend skills training and individual therapy sessions to learn mindfulness, emotion regulation, an…

This study explores whether autistic adults have too much 'plasticity' (flexibility) in the part of the brain that controls movement, and if a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS can reduce that over-plasticity to improve motor function. Researchers will compare …

This study looks at whether regular cannabis users can adjust how much they vape when using high-potency concentrates (30%, 60%, and 90% THC). Researchers will measure blood THC levels, puffing behavior, and subjective feelings of intoxication. The goal is to understand if people…

This study uses brain imaging (PET scans) to explore how psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, affects brain connections in adults with treatment-resistant depression. Twelve participants will receive psilocybin, with or without risperidone, to see if changes in s…

This study investigates whether abnormal insulin action in the brain contributes to cognitive and metabolic problems in schizophrenia. Twenty participants (some with schizophrenia, some healthy) will receive either intranasal insulin or a placebo before a PET scan that measures b…

This study looks at how the antipsychotic medication haloperidol may block insulin action in the brain, which could explain why these drugs often cause weight gain and diabetes. Researchers will give healthy volunteers either haloperidol or a placebo and use brain scans to measur…

This study looks at how antipsychotic drugs might cause metabolic problems in women by affecting how the brain responds to insulin. Researchers will give 15 healthy women a single dose of the antipsychotic olanzapine and insulin nasal spray, then use brain scans to see changes. T…

This study looks at how age and how often someone uses cannabis affect driving skills. Researchers will compare young (19-25) and middle-aged (35-45) drivers who use cannabis occasionally or frequently. Participants will smoke a cannabis cigarette or a placebo and then drive in a…

This study looks at how smoking cannabis and tobacco, alone or together, impacts driving skills, thinking, and blood THC levels. Sixty regular cannabis users will drive a simulator and take cognitive tests after smoking different combinations. The goal is to understand why people…

This study looks at whether creating a personalized profile for children with disruptive behavior and their parents can help predict which treatment will work best. About 200 children and their parents will take part. The goal is to see if matching therapy to a child's specific e…

This study checks if a simple online cognitive test (Creyos) can accurately track memory and thinking changes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or past depression. About 150 participants will take both online and in-person tests over up to 5 years. The goal is to see…

This study uses PET and MRI scans to look at brain changes in people who developed depression within three months after a mild or moderate COVID-19 infection. Researchers will compare brain scans of 90 participants to see if key brain chemicals are altered. The goal is to better …

This study looks at how the brain and eyes work together when people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) view their own face. Researchers will use brain scans and eye-tracking to understand why people with BDD see their appearance differently. The goal is to learn more about thes…

This study looks at whether a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS can change the density of synapses (connections between brain cells) in people with schizophrenia. Researchers will use special PET scans to measure these changes in 20 participants. The goal is to under…