What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 360 patients with anxiety. The study was sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
Automatic scheduling doubled the number of postpartum visits from 22% to 40%.
JAMA network open · 2024 · NCT05543265
These findings — that of new moms with health conditions attended a primary care visit when appointments were auto-scheduled — were published in the JAMA network open and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 360 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with anxiety, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
If you have anxiety, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, or other ongoing conditions and just had a baby, ask your doctor's office to schedule your follow-up appointment before you leave the hospital. This simple step can help you stay on top of your health when life gets overwhelming with a newborn. The approach tested here is not a medication or device — it's a scheduling system that any clinic could use.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open anxiety trials
Comfort Intervention in PICU Children
This randomized controlled trial evaluates a family-centered comfort intervention for children hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit. The intervention consists of listening to the mother's voice, environmental light regulation, and use of a weighted blanket, delivered in addition to routine nursing care. Outcomes include child comfort, anxiety, fear, and sleep parameters, as well as parental anxiety and satisfaction with care. The study will determine whether the intervention improves child and parent outcomes compared with routine care.
Triage Survey for Psychiatry Research Eligibility
TRIAGE-Psych is a survey study designed to assess potential participants' eligibility to screen for industry-sponsored psychiatry clinical trials.