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This page lists ongoing clinical research studies at The Royal that are currently seeking volunteer participants and/or healthy control volunteers.
We invite you to browse through the list below to search for studies that may interest you.
Note: Participation in mental health research is always voluntary and we encourage you to discuss the clinical study with your physician before getting involved.
*All clinical studies have been approved by The Royal’s Research Ethics Board
Want to participate in research, but aren’t eligible for any of our current studies? Sign up for The Royal’s voluntary Permission to Contact for Research registry, so that we can get in touch with you about upcoming research opportunities that you may be eligible for.
For more information about clinical research at The Royal, contact tammy.beaudoin@theroyal.ca.
MOOD DISORDERS RESEARCH
| POPULATION | AGE & GENDER | STUDY NAME | STUDY DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Are currently experiencing depression, free of pharmacotherapy, and are not currently engaging in regular moderate or vigorous intensity exercise |
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Assessing the clinical & neural outcomes in depressed youth randomized to one of two Intensities of aerobic exercise |
This study will assess the effects of moderate versus high intensity aerobic exercise on symptoms of depression, cognitive functioning and brain function.
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| Are referred to the ECT service at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and have a current diagnosis of a mood disorder |
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Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on brain activity during sleep in late-life depression |
Study evaluates the effects of ECT on brain activity during sleep in elderly persons with depression.
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| Have a current diagnosis of depression or bipolar disorder or have no history of a mental or sleep disorder |
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Effects of mood disorders on electrophysiological measures of central executive and emotional processing in adolescents: an ERP study |
Study aims to find out the brain’s involvement in attention, higher thinking skills, and emotional processing in children, adolescents and young adults with and without depression.
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| A current diagnosis of a mood disorder (depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia) |
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Phototherapy for early-onset depression: Associations between sleep and mood changes |
Study tests whether the sleep and “body clock” profile of young people with depression influences their response to light therapy.
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| Have a primary diagnosis of a depressive disorder. Patients may have comorbidity of any non-psychotic disorder, as well as PTSD and/or mTBI |
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A prospective, blinded, randomized, multicenter study to evaluate the utility, safety, and efficacy of using PEER Interactive to inform the prescription of medications to patients with a primary diagnosis of a depressive disorder and comorbidity of non-psychotic behavioural disorders versus treatment as usual |
Study is to improve the prescription accuracy of psychotropic medications for military personnel diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disorders and related conditions.
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| Major Depressive Disorder or Healthy Volunteer |
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Impacts of early-life adversity on microbiota and immune alterations in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder |
Study objective is to determine if perturbations within the immune system and the gut microbiome are more pronounced in individuals with a history of childhood adversity and are aligned with the presence and severity of depressive symptoms.
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| Have a primary Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder |
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Characterizing suicidal ideation in treatment-resistant depression using neuroimaging |
This study is using brain imaging to understand brain changes associated with depression in people with and without suicidal thoughts. Researching potential risk factors will help us establish more accurate and detailed risk profiles.
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Have a current diagnosis of mood disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or psychotic disorders
OR
Have been referred to the Sleep Disorders Clinic of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
OR
Have no previous history of a mental or sleep disorder |
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Sleeping and health improvements: following longitudinal trajectories (SHIFT) |
This study aims to evaluate the link between sleep and the heart, brain and mind.
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Major Depressive Disorder or Episode |
18 years and older Any gender |
A naturalistic study comparing the efficacy of uni- and bi-lateral theta burst stimulation in treating major depression |
Clinical trial investigating uni- and bi-lateral theta burst stimulation with participants who have major depressive disorder or episode and are treatment-resistant.
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Patients with Major Depression Disorder |
18-70 years |
This study will compare IV ketamine to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Participants will be randomized to one of these treatments.
This study will help us learn more about how to treat severe depression in people who do not respond to other therapies. |
Investigations on the Efficacy of Ketamine in Depression in Comparison to Electroconvulsive Therapy.
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SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH
| POPULATION | AGE & GENDER | STUDY NAME | STUDY DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently have a diagnosis related to psychosis (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective, schizophreniform, delusional, BP with psychotic features, etc.) |
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A longtitudinal naturalistic exploration of outcome and recovery in schizophrenia and related psychoses using a clinically based research evaluation (CBRE) |
The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to outcomes and recovery in schizophrenia and other
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| Are a current inpatient, outpatient or day program patient of the Schizophrenia or Recovery Program |
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Is there a difference in uptake of Paliperidone Palmitate between the deltoid and ventrogluteal injection sites? |
Study examines if there is a difference in uptake of Paliperidone Palmitate (Sustenna) between the deltoid (arm) and ventrogluteal (hip) injection sites.
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| Have a current diagnosis of major depression, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder |
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Cognitive rehabilitation and brain imaging |
Study examines cognitive difficulties, brain imaging, and cognitive rehabilitation in people who live with a mental disorder.
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| Have a current diagnosis of major depression, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder |
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VR and cognition study |
Study examines cognitive training using virtual reality (VR) in people who live with a mental disorder.
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Have a current diagnosis of major depression, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder
OR
Have no current or past diagnosis of a mental disorder & have no family member with a current or past diagnosis of a mental disorder |
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Mind Lamp: A Smartphone Study |
Study examines mood and cognitive performance using a smartphone application.
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Are a current inpatient or outpatient of the Schizophrenia Recovery Program |
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Electroconvulsive therapy in treatment-resistant schizophrenia: comparison of the use of ketamine vs. other anesthetics during ECT |
This study aims to compare the efficacy of adjunct ECT in patients with treatment resistant schizophrenia considering the use of ketamine versus other anesthetics.
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FORENSIC RESEARCH
| POPULATION | AGE & GENDER | STUDY NAME | STUDY DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| All patients receiving treatment within the forensic program at the Brockville Mental Health Centre and The Royal Champlain site |
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Anger and psychopathology in a forensic patient population: a look at psychiatric diagnosis in family members |
The purpose of the present study is to investigate the nature of the association between dysfunctional anger, personal and familial psychopathology, and aggression within a sample of Forensic patients.
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| Men who have had adverse childhood experiences |
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A qualitative investigation of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and hands-on versus hands-off sexual offences against children |
The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and sexual offending against children.
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| Men with a sexual interest in children and men with no sexual interest in children |
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Real people vs. not real people: comparing the accuracy of two stimuli sets in determining sexual preference in men with sexual interest in children |
The purpose of this study is to undergo new testing material in the forensic lab.
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| Men who have no strong unusual erotic interests OR men who have strong interests in women’ feet OR men who have a strong interest in prepubescent girls |
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Are connectivity differences unique to pedophilia? |
This brain imaging study on erotic responses involves answering questions in an interview, completing questionnaires, and participating in a brain scanning session.
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| Men with a sexual interest in children |
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Phallometric verification of change in men’s sexual interest in children |
Study includes two phallometric sessions in order to compare responses across both time periods.
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| Men who admit to having a sexual interest in children but never received treatment for this interest |
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Moving toward prevention: encouraging men with a sexual interest in children to seek treatment before offending |
Study to help men with a sexual interest in children get treatment before acting on this interest. Participation involves completing a package of questionnaires at two times points (first appointment and six months later).
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| Men who are Fathers or Step-Fathers who have been arrested, charged, or convicted of a sexual offense or a violent non-sexual offense |
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This study seeks to understand attitudes related to incest offending by comparing responses from participants who have committed different types of offenses, and who may be Fathers or Step-Fathers. |
Participation involves completing a computerized task that takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
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| Forensic outpatients, as well as outpatients from the Anger Disorders Clinic to examine the relationship between violent thinking and behaviour. |
18 and over Male |
This study examines the relationship between violent thinking and behaviour. |
Participation involves completing a computerized task that takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
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RESEARCH WITH HEALTHY PARTICIPANTS
| POPULATION | AGE & GENDER | STUDY NAME | STUDY DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Participants |
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Effectiveness of the norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor Levomilnacipran in healthy males |
The study involves taking antidepressants (already on the Canadian market, not experimental) in order to test levels of neurotransmitters.
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| Right-Handed Healthy Participants |
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Neural correlates of cognitive procedural memory consolidation during sleep |
This study will look at brain activity related to learning a new task. Brain activity will be recorded using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Electroencephalography (EEG), two non-invasive techniques.
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| Healthy Participants |
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Characterizing suicidal ideation in treatment-resistant depression using neuroimaging |
We are using imaging to look for characteristics of brain structure and/or function in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have suicidal thoughts.
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