BIPOLAR DISORDER

This study tests whether valbenazine can help people with tardive dyskinesia (uncontrollable movements) who still have symptoms while taking or after stopping another drug. About 50 adults with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression will take valbenazine for 24 week…

This study tests whether adding the drug brenipatide to standard bipolar treatment can delay the return of symptoms. About 400 adults with bipolar I or II will receive either brenipatide or a placebo as a shot, alongside their usual medications. The goal is to see if the drug ext…

This study is testing a personalized approach to therapy for 60 youth (ages 13–23) who have bipolar disorder or a close family member with it. Instead of a one-size-fits-all treatment, participants receive different levels of DBT (a type of talk therapy) based on their needs. The…

This study tests a program called Taking Action, where trained peers help college students with serious mental illnesses like depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia learn to manage their condition. About 300 students will be randomly assigned to either the program or just…

This study looks at whether extra therapy sessions (called boosters) help young people aged 14 to 26 who have or are at risk for bipolar disorder. Participants have already completed one year of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in a previous study. The goal is to see how often …

This study tests a special clinic designed to help people with severe mental illness (like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) lose weight and improve their metabolic health. About 84 adults aged 18-45 who take antipsychotic medication and have a high body mass index will be enrol…

This study tests whether a type of talk therapy called Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), delivered by video, can prevent or delay bipolar disorder in teens (ages 12-18) who have a parent with bipolar disorder. All 120 participants will receive a health check and th…

This study looks at how a ketogenic diet changes brain activity, metabolism, and mood in adults with bipolar disorder. Researchers will use brain scans and blood tests to understand the diet's effects. The goal is to see if this diet can help manage symptoms. 107 people aged 18-4…

This study tests whether a low-dose melatonin supplement, combined with a behavioral sleep program, can shift the body clock earlier and improve mood and sleep in people with bipolar disorder. About 50 adults with bipolar I or II who are evening types and have mild depression wil…

This study tests if magnetic seizure therapy (MST) works as well as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for people with bipolar depression or treatment-resistant depression. About 60 adults will receive either MST or ECT to see which better reduces depression symptoms with fewer side…

This study tests a new medication called azetukalner for people with bipolar I or II disorder who are currently in a depressive episode. Researchers want to see if it reduces depression symptoms better than a placebo over 6 weeks. The trial involves 400 adults aged 18 to 74 and i…

This study tests whether adding the drug KarXT to standard mood stabilizers (lithium, valproate, or lamotrigine) can better control manic episodes in people with bipolar I disorder. About 424 adults hospitalized for mania will receive either KarXT or a placebo for 5 weeks. The ma…

This study tests whether brief high-intensity exercise is better than standard high-intensity training for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Fifty participants will follow one of the two programs for 26 weeks. Researchers will track how many stick with the program an…

This study compares a standard mobile cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program to a personalized version that teaches skills faster. One hundred people aged 18-25 with anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder will use the Maya app for 20 minutes a day, two days a week, for six …

This study tests a 12-session group program called "Better Together" for single young adults with severe mental illness (like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression). The program teaches communication, emotional regulation, and healthy relationship skills. Researche…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can improve cognitive problems and mood in people with schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, or Parkinson's disease. Researchers will give TMS to the …

This study is testing whether a year of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help young people aged 13 to 23 who have bipolar disorder or are at high risk for it. Participants will attend weekly skills training and individual therapy sessions to learn mindfulness, emotion contr…

This study looks at whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help veterans with serious mental illness (like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) who also have chronic low back pain. About 190 veterans will receive CBT and be monitored for changes in pain interference, qualit…

This study tests whether light therapy and a short sleep education program can improve sleep and daily rhythms in people with bipolar disorder. Researchers will track how many days participants spend in the hospital. The study involves 170 adults with bipolar disorder who have sl…

This study compares a new, lower-energy seizure therapy (LAP-ST) to standard electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for quickly reducing suicidal thoughts in people with depression, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder. The goal is to see if the new treatment works as well or b…

This study tests a custom high-CBD product to see if it can ease anxiety and depression in people with bipolar disorder. Over 4 weeks, 25 adults with stable medication will take CBD and report their symptoms. It is an early-phase trial to gather initial data on safety and effecti…

This study tests if a type of brain stimulation called iTBS can reduce depression symptoms in people with bipolar disorder that hasn't improved with other treatments. About 124 adults will receive either real or fake (sham) stimulation daily for 30 days. Researchers will track mo…

This study tests whether bezafibrate, a drug used for high cholesterol, can safely improve depression in people with bipolar disorder. About 30 adults with bipolar depression will take bezafibrate alongside their usual mood-stabilizing medication for 8 weeks. Researchers will mon…

This study tests a therapy called Targeted Cognitive Training (TCT) for 80 veterans with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or PTSD. TCT uses computer exercises to improve how the brain processes sounds and information. Researchers will use EEG brain s…

This study looks at whether eating only during certain hours of the day (time-restricted eating) can help people with bipolar disorder feel better. About 150 adults who are already on medication for bipolar disorder will track their eating, sleep, and mood for two weeks, then fol…

This study follows 1,000 adults with hard-to-treat depression or OCD who receive advanced treatments like brain stimulation or ketamine. Researchers will collect data from brain scans, cognitive tests, and voice recordings to find markers that predict which treatment works best f…

This study screens up to 16,000 people aged 3 to 99 with mood or anxiety disorders, as well as healthy volunteers, to see if they qualify for other research studies at the National Institute of Mental Health. Participants undergo interviews, medical exams, brain scans, and lab te…

This study tests whether smartphone location data can give early warning of mood episodes and social withdrawal in veterans with bipolar disorder. Researchers will track 200 veterans for 14 weeks using a phone app and interviews. The goal is to create algorithms that alert patien…

This study looks at how different energy sources—glucose and ketones—change brain activity in people with bipolar disorder. About 100 participants will have MRI scans while playing money-winning games, before and after drinking glucose or ketones. Researchers want to see if the b…

This study uses eye-tracking technology to measure how people with bipolar disorder pay attention, respond to rewards, and control their thoughts. Researchers will compare adults with bipolar disorder who also have anxiety or substance use issues to those without these conditions…

This study looks at whether adding five extra services—like peer support, digital outreach, and family therapy—to standard care helps people with early psychosis stay in treatment longer. About 350 participants from six clinics will either get standard care or the enhanced versio…

This study aims to describe the full range of bipolar disorder by observing 3,000 patients in Norwegian psychiatric clinics. Researchers will track symptoms, functioning, and medication use through interviews. The goal is to better understand the disorder, including in people who…

This study uses powerful 7T MRI brain scans and visual perception tests to find biological markers for severe mental disorders like major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Researchers will compare 320 patients and healthy volunteers aged 18-45 to improve diagnosis …

This study uses a safe, noninvasive light-based technique called fNIRS to measure brain activity in 200 adults with depression, bipolar disorder, or mild cognitive impairment. Researchers will compare brain patterns across groups and link them to symptom severity. The goal is to …

This study looks at how ketamine reduces suicidal thoughts in people with depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD. Researchers want to see if blocking a specific brain receptor (AMPA) stops ketamine from working. 30 adults with current suicidal thoughts will receive ketamine with e…

This study looks at why young adults with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop alcohol use disorders. Researchers will use brain scans and alcohol response tests to track changes over two years in 100 people aged 21-26. The goal is to find early warning signs that could le…

This study follows 3,000 people with bipolar disorder who are taking olanzapine. Researchers want to see what other medicines they use and whether teaching them about weight gain helps prevent it. No new drug is being tested—just observing real-world treatment patterns.

This study looks at how the brain's earliest visual processing areas work in people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder. Researchers will use EEG (a non-invasive brain wave test) to measure electrical activity while participants view simple visual pa…

This study uses fun virtual reality games and brain wave recordings (EEG) to explore how people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder experience time differently than healthy individuals. Researchers will measure reaction times, errors, and brain signals during tasks that involv…

This study follows 80 youth aged 9-19 with bipolar disorder to learn what affects their mood over time. Researchers will track symptoms, inflammation, and family relationships. The goal is to improve diagnosis and treatment for young people with this condition.

This study is testing whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tDCS can improve executive functions—like memory, attention, and decision-making—in people with various neuropsychiatric conditions. Researchers will enroll 600 adults with diagnoses such as traumatic…

This study is testing a new social skills training program designed to help veterans with serious mental illness (like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or PTSD) improve their work relationships and job success. About 20 veterans will take part in weekly group sessions and practic…

This study watches how physical activity, sleep, and light exposure relate to mood in people with bipolar disorder, major depression, or migraines, as well as healthy volunteers. Over two years, participants wear activity trackers and light sensors, answer daily mood questions on…