New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Anxiety

Anxiety disorders affect about 30% of people at some point in their lives. Current treatment includes SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines for short-term use, and various forms of therapy. Many people find combinations of medication and therapy most helpful, though finding the right approach often takes trial and error.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing psychedelics like psilocybin for treatment-resistant anxiety, neuromodulation approaches including transcranial magnetic stimulation, and new drugs that work differently from SSRIs. Researchers are also studying digital therapeutics, combination treatments targeting inflammation, and ways to predict which treatments will work for specific people.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on anxiety severity measured by standard scales, which anxiety disorders you have, whether you've tried other treatments, and whether you have other mental health conditions.

What types of trials are currently open

• Medication trials — Testing new anxiety medications or new uses for existing drugs. These often compare the study drug to a standard SSRI or placebo.
• Psychedelic trials — Studies of psilocybin or MDMA combined with therapy sessions, typically for people who haven't improved with standard treatment.
• Neuromodulation trials — Testing devices that stimulate specific brain areas using magnetic fields or electrical currents to reduce anxiety symptoms.
• Therapy trials — Comparing different forms of psychotherapy or testing new digital therapy approaches, often measuring outcomes over several months.
• Combination trials — Testing whether combining treatments—like medication plus therapy, or anti-inflammatory drugs with standard treatment—works better than either alone.