Open Studies
If you are depressed or anxious, you may qualify for participation in one of our ongoing clinical trials of non-invasive neurostimulation for the treatment of anxiety depression. All of our research studies are approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and are directed by experienced psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and researchers. Find out more about our depression trials by clicking on the icons below.
Pilot Study for Antenatal Depression using personalized non-invasive brain stimulation
Study Purpose:
The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate the feasibility of five days of personalized non-invasive brain stimulation for antenatal depression.
Target Population:
Pregnant people aged 18-45 who have been diagnosed with unipolar major depressive disorder
Compensation:
Up to $600 upon completion of the in-person session.
Participants may qualify if they:
Study procedures:
Interested?
You can check your eligibility with our brief and secure online screening tool: https://unc.live/4rfCIH3
Questions:
If you have any questions, please contact the research team:
panda-tacs@med.unc.edu
Location: Carolina Center for Neurostimulation
100 Market Street, Suite 1
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
IRB #25-0425
Study Purpose:
The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate the feasibility of five days of personalized non-invasive brain stimulation for antenatal depression.
Target Population:
Pregnant people aged 18-45 who have been diagnosed with unipolar major depressive disorder
Compensation:
Up to $600 upon completion of the in-person session.
Participants may qualify if they:
- Are a female
- Are between the ages of 18-45
- Have a diagnosis of unipolar major depressive disorder AND current depressive symptoms
- Are pregnant between 14-32 weeks of gestation
- Have established obstetric care through UNC
- Have prior or current history of pregnancy complications including (but not limited to) pre-term delivery, gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, or abnormal placenta
- Have never been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a psychotic disorder, schizophrenia
- Have never been diagnosed with autism
Study procedures:
- You will first complete this brief online pre-screening. If you are found to be eligible, the study team will access your medical record to confirm your eligibility.
- If you are determined to be eligible according to medical record review, we will schedule you for a remote screening appointment with a study staff member (about 1 hour). If you qualify, we will collect electronic informed consent at the conclusion of this screening session.
- Within 30 days after the screening appointment, you will attend the Carolina Center for Neurostimulation to have high density electroencephalography (HD-EEG) to measure your brain activity (approximately 1.5 hour session).
- The following week, you will return for five consecutive days of PandA-tACS, scheduled flexibly around your availability on Monday through Friday. Sessions will take approximately 3 hours on Monday and Friday, and 2-2.5 hours from Tuesday to Thursday. During the in-person visits, you will receive active PandA-tACS for 40 minutes. PandA-tACS uses a weak electrical current applied to your forehead through electrodes attached with paste. You will also answer questions about your depression and related mood symptoms and mental health.
- Two weeks after your last session, you will have a 45 minute virtual follow-up to complete questionnaires about your depression and mood symptoms and overall mental health.
- Four to six weeks following your delivery, you will have another 45 minute virtual follow-up to complete questionnaires about your depression and mood symptoms and overall mental health.
Interested?
You can check your eligibility with our brief and secure online screening tool: https://unc.live/4rfCIH3
Questions:
If you have any questions, please contact the research team:
panda-tacs@med.unc.edu
Location: Carolina Center for Neurostimulation
100 Market Street, Suite 1
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
IRB #25-0425
Treatment trial for Major Depressive Disorder using non-invasive brain stimulation
Study Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether five days of personalized non-invasive brain stimulation can improve depression in people aged 18-70 who have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
Target Population:
Adults diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder with current depressive symptoms.
Time Commitment:
Filling out a prescreening questionnaire (about 3-5 minutes), 1x virtual screening session (about 45 minutes-1hr), an optional MRI session (15 min MRI; 1 hr total session), 5x in-person stimulation sessions (Monday to Friday, about 3.5 hrs on Mon and Fri and 1.5 hours on Tue-Thu, scheduled flexibly; includes high density electroencephalography (HD-EEG) on Monday and Friday), and 1x in person follow-up session two weeks later (approximately 1.5 hours, including HD-EEG). Total participation time is about 14 hours over 3 weeks.
Compensation:
Up to $430 upon completion of the in-person session.
Participants may qualify if they:
You can check your eligibility with our brief and secure online screening tool: https://bit.ly/CLACS-CW
Questions:
For any questions please contact the research team at CLACS-RCT@med.unc.edu
IRB: #24-2166
If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject, you may contact the Sterling Institutional Review Board Regulatory Department at telephone number 1-888-636-1062 (toll free) or [email protected].
Study Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether five days of personalized non-invasive brain stimulation can improve depression in people aged 18-70 who have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
Target Population:
Adults diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder with current depressive symptoms.
Time Commitment:
Filling out a prescreening questionnaire (about 3-5 minutes), 1x virtual screening session (about 45 minutes-1hr), an optional MRI session (15 min MRI; 1 hr total session), 5x in-person stimulation sessions (Monday to Friday, about 3.5 hrs on Mon and Fri and 1.5 hours on Tue-Thu, scheduled flexibly; includes high density electroencephalography (HD-EEG) on Monday and Friday), and 1x in person follow-up session two weeks later (approximately 1.5 hours, including HD-EEG). Total participation time is about 14 hours over 3 weeks.
Compensation:
Up to $430 upon completion of the in-person session.
Participants may qualify if they:
- Are between the ages of 18-70 years
- Have a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
- Have NOT been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder, Schizophrenia or Autism
You can check your eligibility with our brief and secure online screening tool: https://bit.ly/CLACS-CW
Questions:
For any questions please contact the research team at CLACS-RCT@med.unc.edu
IRB: #24-2166
If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject, you may contact the Sterling Institutional Review Board Regulatory Department at telephone number 1-888-636-1062 (toll free) or [email protected].
Inter-brain Synchronization of the Therapist-Client Dyad in Psychotherapy: Pilot EEG Study in Students with Mild-Moderate Depression Symptoms
Study Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to examine the brain activity of therapist and client during a single session intervention for depression symptoms. This research study is investigative and not intended as a form of treatment.
Target Population:
Full-time students between ages of 18 and 30 who experience depression symptoms.
Compensation:
Up to $65
Participants may qualify if they:
Study Procedures:
Interested?
Find out if you are eligible with our brief and secure online screening survey: bit.ly/hyperscan-fl
Have questions?
Please email [email protected] with any questions and a member of our research team will reach back out!
IRB #22-1422: If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject you may contact the UNC Institutional Review Board at contact [email protected].
Study Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to examine the brain activity of therapist and client during a single session intervention for depression symptoms. This research study is investigative and not intended as a form of treatment.
Target Population:
Full-time students between ages of 18 and 30 who experience depression symptoms.
Compensation:
Up to $65
Participants may qualify if they:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 30
- Are a full-time student (undergraduate, graduate, professional)
- Experience depression symptoms
Study Procedures:
- Remote screening interview
- 3 sets of questionnaires
- In-person single session intervention for depression symptoms
- Brain activity will be recorded
Interested?
Find out if you are eligible with our brief and secure online screening survey: bit.ly/hyperscan-fl
Have questions?
Please email [email protected] with any questions and a member of our research team will reach back out!
IRB #22-1422: If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject you may contact the UNC Institutional Review Board at contact [email protected].