Anxiety disorders affect roughly one in five adults in the US. Treatment typically starts with therapy and may include SSRIs or SNRIs, medications originally developed for depression that also reduce anxiety. Many people benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, but symptom control can be partial and side effects can limit medication use.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing drugs that work faster than SSRIs, including compounds targeting the NMDA receptor and GABA system. Researchers are studying psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy for specific anxiety disorders, cannabinoid-based treatments, and digital therapeutics that deliver therapy through apps. Investigations also focus on kappa opioid receptor antagonists and inflammation-targeting approaches.
Fast-acting anxiolytics
Drugs targeting the NMDA receptor may reduce anxiety within hours rather than weeks. Early trials suggest they could help people who haven't responded to SSRIs.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy
Psilocybin and MDMA are being tested in combination with therapy for social anxiety and PTSD-related anxiety. Results from controlled trials have shown sustained symptom reduction in some participants.
Digital therapeutics
Apps delivering cognitive behavioral therapy are being tested to see if they can reduce anxiety as effectively as in-person sessions. Some have received FDA clearance as prescription digital therapeutics.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on diagnosis type, symptom severity on standardized scales, prior medication trials, and whether other psychiatric conditions are present.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new medications, usually compared to placebo or existing drugs like sertraline or escitalopram, to see if they reduce anxiety symptoms.
- Therapy trials — Testing psychotherapy approaches, including virtual reality exposure therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, and app-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Psychedelic trials — Studies of psilocybin or MDMA given with guided therapy sessions. Participants receive the drug a few times over weeks, not daily.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether early intervention in people at high risk can prevent full anxiety disorders from developing.
- Biomarker studies — Following people with anxiety to identify biological markers that might predict treatment response or guide personalized treatment.
Recently added Anxiety Disorders trials
Try a brief therapy approach designed to reduce anxiety symptoms
This study will evaluate whether Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) helps reduce symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in emerging adults in Pakistan. Participants will first be screened to identify those with mild to moderate levels of GAD. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive either SFT or be placed on a waitlist. The researcher will measure changes in anxiety symptoms before and after the intervention to determine whether SFT is effective for emerging adults with GAD in Pakistan.
Try mirror therapy during labor to improve postpartum well-being
Today, childbirth is considered one of the most physically and psychologically intense experiences in a woman's life. Labor is a critical period during which fear, anxiety, and stress related to childbirth may increase, potentially affecting both the course of labor and postpartum emotional well-being. Supportive approaches implemented during this period may contribute to a more positive perception of the childbirth experience and enhance postpartum well-being. Mirror therapy is a non-pharmacological approach that enables individuals to visually perceive their own bodies and the ongoing process, thereby strengthening self-perception and promoting positive body awareness. The use of mirror therapy during labor may increase women's active participation in the childbirth process and enhance their sense of control. It may also support emotional well-being and reduce negative emotional states during the postpartum period. Accordingly, this study aims to evaluate the effects of mirror therapy administered during labor on postpartum pain, mood, and emotional well-being. The findings are expected to contribute to strengthening midwifery support during childbirth, integrating non-pharmacological approaches into clinical practice, promoting their wider use, and protecting women's psychological well-being. Thus, the study is expected to provide scientific evidence that may inform midwifery education and practice as well as postpartum care policies.
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