Official Title Treatment of Stress and Anxiety in mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/Mild Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their care partners: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a treatment on anxiety and stress in individuals with memory concerns and those already with a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Mild Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias. 

Could this study be right for you?

The primary participant must:

• Be at least 60 years of age
• Have a “care-partner” that is willing to participate in the full program (such as a spouse, child or a good friend)
• NOT have a terminal illness or severe motor impairment
• Be able to use a computer and smartphone and read English at the 6th grade level

The care partner must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be able to use a computer and smartphone and read English at the 6th grade level

Age Range

60 - 99 years

Official Title BUckeye Concussion Knowledge Survey (BUCKS)

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine health outcomes in former Ohio State University athletes who played a varsity sport during their time at OSU. The objective is to determine whether athletes who sustained a concussion have different health outcomes than those who did not sustain a concussion. Any former OSU varsity athlete can participate in a 20-minute online survey.

Could this study be right for you?

• Anyone who has played a varsity sport as an undergraduate student at OSU, and they have now graduated (i.e., OSU athlete alumni). There are no other restrictions in terms of age, sex/gender, type of sport, etc.

Age Range

18 years and up

Official Title Ontogenesis of Categorization; Linking development, mechanisms, and biology

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the early development of attention, learning, and memory during childhood. Participation in this study includes 4, 90-minute-long visits to the lab per year. During these visits, your child will play 2-3 fun, computerized games. These games are designed to assess various aspects of their cognitive ability. 

The duration of the study will last 4 years.

Could this study be right for you?

Eligibility Criteria: 

• African-American/Black children who are 4 years old 

Age Range

4 - 4

Official Title A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression (RECOVER)

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether active VNS Therapy treatment is superior to a no stimulation control in producing a reduction in baseline depressive symptom severity, based on multiple depression scale assessment tools at 12 months from randomization. The duration of the study will consist over a 5 year period. You will visit the study site approximately 23 times after your implant surgery.

Could this study be right for you?

• Aged 18 years or older
• Must be in a major depressive episode (MDD or bipolar disorder) for ≥ two years or have at least had four episodes of depression including the current episode
• Patients depressive illness meets a minimum criteria of four prior failed treatments of adequate dose and duration

Age Range

18 and up

Official Title A Study of Esketamine Nasal Spray, Administered as Monotherapy, in Adult Participants with Treatment-resistant Depression

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to see if esketamine nasal spray alone is effective as a medication to improve depressive symptoms in adults with treatment-resistant depression when compared with placebo nasal spray.

The duration of the study consists up to a maximum of 24 weeks.

Could this study be right for you?

• Aged 18 years or older
• Must have had no response (less than 25% improvement) to at least 2 oral antidepressant treatments in the current episode of depression

Age Range

18 and up

Official Title Neural Mechanisms of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and COVID Pandemic-related Stress

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to better understand how Mindfulness-based Mind-Body therapies work to help people with Posttraumatic Stress and Stress and Anxiety related to the COVID Pandemic. We want to learn more about how these treatments work so we can put together better treatments for people with PTSD and stress or worry. Time in the study altogether is generally about 16-18 weeks

Could this study be right for you?

For those suffering from PTSD:

• Must be between 18 – 72 years of age
• Must have current clinically significant symptoms of PTSD
• Must be able to come to OSU Columbus campus for fMRI brain scan
• Must be appropriate for group therapy

Eligibility for those with Pandemic Stress:

• Must be between 18 – 72 years of age
• Must have current stress related to the pandemic
• Must reside in selected zip codes / under-resourced areas in central Ohio (areas with high levels of residents with incomes near the poverty line)
• Must be able to come to OSU Columbus campus for fMRI brain scan
• Must be appropriate for group therapy
• May have up to moderate depression and/or anxiety

Age Range

18 and up

Official Title Mechanisms of Self and Other Evaluation (MeSO Study)

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to better understand the way the brain works in people who have depression and people who have previously been depressed. We are also testing healthy subjects for comparison. We hope our findings will lead to better ways to diagnose and treat mood disorders in the future. Participation involves an initial phone call and a 2 to 4 hour visit to find out if you are eligible. This visit will include completing questionnaires and interviews. If eligible, participants will have a second 3-5 hour visit for an MRI scan. Two months after the scan, participants will complete daily online questionnaires for 7 days. This process is repeated 2 months later (4 months after the scan). 

Could this study be right for you?

You may be eligible for this study if you:

• Are between the ages of 18-40
• Are right-handed
• Do not have a history of neurological disorders (e.g., seizures, head injury, etc.)
• Do not have major medical problems (e.g., stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, endocrine disorders, etc.)
• Have normal vision, vision that is corrected to normal with glasses or contacts
• Are willing and able to undergo fMRI scanning (not claustrophobic, no non-removable metal in your body)
• Are not pregnant

Age Range

18 and up

Official Title Mechanisms of Negative Affectivity

Purpose

Symptoms related to depression and anxiety can affect a person’s daily life and relationships. Some research suggests that people with mood and anxiety disorders process information differently than people without these types of disorders.

The purpose of this study is to better understand the way the brain works in people who have depression and anxiety. Researchers hope their findings will lead to better ways to diagnose and treat mood and anxiety disorders in the future.

Participation involves an initial phone call and a 3 to 5 hour visit to find out if you are eligible. This visit will include completing questionnaires and interviews. If eligible, participants will have a second 3-5 hour visit for an MRI scan.

The 3rd and 4th visits (at 6 and 12 months) will include 1.5 to 3 hours of questionnaires and interviews each.

Following the scan, the 6-month follow-up, and the 12-month follow-up, participants will also complete daily online questionnaires for 7 days.

Could this study be right for you?

You may be eligible for this study if you are:

• 18-25 years of age
• Right-handed
• Currently experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety (feeling down or depressed, anxious, nervous, or tense, having no interest in things you used to enjoy, or feeling hopeless)
• Not currently receiving treatment (psychiatric medications or therapy)
• No major medical problems (e.g., stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, endocrine disorders, etc.)
• No history of neurological disorders (e.g., seizures, head injury, etc.)
• Normal vision, vision that is corrected to normal with glasses or contacts
• Willing and able to undergo fMRI scanning (not claustrophobic, no non-removable metal in your body)
• Not pregnant

Participation involves an initial phone call and a 3 to 5 hour visit to find out if you are eligible. This visit will include completing questionnaires and interviews. If eligible, participants will have a second 3-5 hour visit for an MRI scan.

The 3rd and 4th visits (at 6 and 12 months) will include 1.5 to 3 hours of questionnaires and interviews each.

Following the scan, the 6-month follow-up, and the 12-month follow-up, participants will also complete daily online questionnaires for 7 days.

Age Range

18 and up

Official Title Parental History of Suicidal Behavior and Early Markers of Risk in Pre-pubescent Youth

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to learn what factors may be related to suicide attempt(s) in children (ages 6 - 9) that have a parental history of suicidal behavior in hopes that this information will help prevent and treat self-harm behavior in youth at high risk.

Both parents and children will complete questionnaires, interview questions, and a family discussion in addition to problem solving tasks and computer games.

There are multiple study visits. The first will last about 2.5 to 3 hours and all other appointments will occur annually from your first appointment. Due to COVID-19, families will have the option to conduct annual follow-up appointments via telephone. These annual telephone visits will last approximately 30-45 minutes. If the annual visit is conducted in-person, it will last 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

Could this study be right for you?

• Parents and children must be able to read and understand English fluently
• Child is 6 to 9 years of age
• Meet other criteria (e.g., no traumatic brain injury) for the study

Age Range

6 and up

Official Title Decision-Making Abilities and Testamentary Capacity Among Older Adults

Purpose

The overall goal of this research is to examine factors such as social resources, personality characteristics, and neurocognitive functioning in relation to decision-making abilities testamentary capacity among healthy older adults.

Another purpose of this research study is to evaluate the impact of Problem-Solving Treatment-Primary Care (PST-PC), a cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach, on decision making among healthy older adults. PST-PC involves a seven-step model, in which participants identify problems to be solved, discuss and evaluate different resolutions to reach desired goals; create action plans to accomplish determined goals; and evaluate their effectiveness in resolving designated problems.

We will compare the effectiveness of PST-PC on individuals who will not receive any intervention.

A no treatment control group of older adult participants will also be recruited to compare the effectiveness of PST-PC to individuals who do not receive the intervention. This no treatment control group will composed of participants who do not receive the PST-PC sessions.

Could this study be right for you?

Inclusion Criteria:

• adults aged 65 and older
• Must be independently-living and community-dwelling
• Participants must be willing to undergo a health interview to rule out outstanding medical and psychiatric conditions
• Adequate sensory abilities

Exclusion Criteria:

• A history of psychiatric illness necessitating inpatient treatment
• Participants with self-reported depression and/or anxiety exceeding mild levels of clinical severity

Age Range

65 and up