Study Procedures
Below is a list of common procedures involved when participating in a clinical trial.
Interviews
Interviews involve speaking with a physician, psychiatrist, and/or psychologist about both your mental and physical health. These Interviews will be used to initially determine your level of illness as well as your improvement and eligibility for a research study.
Surveys
Surveys regarding your level of well being, quality of life, as well as your satisfaction with various medications may be taken. These surveys are primarily used to create statistical data about various populations.
Vitals
Basic medical information such as pulse, blood pressure, weight, waist measurements, and temperature. These are generally gathered once per visit.
Physical Exams
A basic physical examination conducted by a physician to assess your physical well being as well as determine your eligibility for the study. They may include more specific exams directed at targeting various symptoms of psychoactive medications such as reflexes, tremors and basic health.
Neurocognitive Testing
Our clinicians assess various cognitive domains such as memory, attention, spatial skills, language, executive functioning and processing speed. These cognitive domains are used to assess for improvements in functional outcome.
Blood Draws
Our skilled phelbotomists will obtain small quantities of blood to analyze values such as blood cell count, chemistry, blood sugar, thyroid function, and the amount of study drug in your blood.
Urine Specimen
Specimen is used for tests such as drug screens, pregnancy, and checking if your system is clear of other psychoactive medications.
ECG
Otherwise known as an electrocardiogram, is a painless recording of your heart's electrical rhythm, also referred to as a QT interval.
Health Checks
At each visit, you will be assessed for changes in your health and current medications. Additional exams my also be conducted. Some studies may require chest X-Rays, ophthalmology exams, and lumbar punctures.
Brain Scans
Some studies will require an MRI, PET, or CT brain scan to determine biomarkers for specific disease-state characteristics and to determine the effects a study drug may have on the brain.