Center for Psychiatric Research at the Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital
The Center for Psychiatric Research at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital actively searches for new methods to improve the health of our patients. We work in collaboration with companies developing medications to research new therapies that can help manage or alleviate symptoms associated with psychiatric illnesses. An important part of this research involves conducting clinical research trials.
What are clinical research trials?
The Alexian Brothers Center for Psychiatric Research recruits volunteers for investigational trials to answer specific questions about medications. These investigational trials help determine if experimental uses of new or existing medications are safe and effective.
All clinical research trials have specific criteria regarding who can participate. Researchers screen potential participants to determine if they are an appropriate match for a specific research trial.
What happens during a clinical research trial?
Our clinical research focuses on psychiatric illnesses and can occur on an inpatient or outpatient basis depending on the study. If participation criteria are met and the candidate wants to continue, an informed consent document is signed indicating an agreement to participate and to follow the instructions given by the study staff. Next, medical tests are performed and participants are given very specific instructions about how to take the medicine. All medical tests and medications associated with the investigational study are generally provided at no cost to the participant.
Some research trials compare medications with a placebo, an inactive medication that has no treatment value but is important for showing the effectiveness and safety of the real medicine being tested. Other studies compare different medications to see if one is more beneficial than the other.
Many safeguards exist to ensure the safety, health, and confidentiality of the individuals enrolled in a research study. The ethical and medical codes that govern medical practice also apply in research trials.
What are the potential benefits?
Individuals who participate in clinical research trials play an important part in furthering our medical knowledge about certain psychiatric conditions and how they respond to new treatments. Participants may also benefit by receiving a treatment for their condition that is not currently available to the general population.
What are the potential risks?
There are risks associated with clinical research. The experimental treatment may not be effective for some individuals and there may be undesirable side effects from taking a medication. In some studies, participants may receive a placebo.
Still have questions? The following link is an excellent resource for mental health clinical research:
Free Confidential Phone Screening
Clinical research offers people renewed hope and the possibility that something different may be possible.
Please call us at 847-230-3591.
Click here to request information on clinical research.
