Mental Health Care Is Still Out of Reach for Too Many People
Many people spend months—or even years—trying to understand what they’re feeling before they ever ask for help. They search symptoms online, wonder if treatment will work or worry about how others might respond if they speak up.
For some, cost or access to care becomes another barrier. Others feel discouraged after trying medications or therapies that didn’t help the way they hoped.
Mental health clinical trials can offer another path forward.
Clinical trials help researchers study new medications, therapies and care approaches for conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD and more. They also help patients gain access to emerging treatments and highly specialized care that may not yet be widely available.
At UC Health, psychiatry specialists and researchers are working to turn uncertainty into possibility through innovative treatments and a relentless commitment to better mental health care.
Mental Health Clinical Trials Are More Than Medication
When people hear the words “clinical trial,” they often think only about experimental drugs. But mental health research today is much broader than that.
Researchers are studying:
- New medications for depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder
- Psychotherapeutic approaches and behavioral interventions
- Brain imaging and long-term cognitive studies
- Lifestyle interventions, including nutrition-based care
- Digital tools and technologies that support mental health treatment
Melissa DelBello, MD, MS an internationally recognized UC Health psychiatrist and researcher specializing in mood disorders and bipolar disorder, says many patients are surprised by how comprehensive modern clinical trials are. “We're looking at a variety of novel treatments, and it gives people the opportunity to have access to state-of-the-art and innovative care early in its development.”
At UC Health, some studies focus on how the brain changes over time. Others explore how therapies or lifestyle changes may improve symptoms and quality of life.
Dr. DelBello shares, “Many people think clinical trials are only for medications which isn’t true. For example, we are currently enrolling patients with bipolar depression in a ketogenic diet trial or and have many studies examining psychotherapeutic interventions.”
Clinical trials also help researchers better understand why treatments work differently for different people—and how care can become more personalized in the future.
Why Access to Clinical Trials in Cincinnati Matters
For many families, traveling across the country for specialized mental health care simply is not realistic. That is why access to local research opportunities matters.
As the Tri-State’s only academic medical center, UC Health offers hundreds of active clinical trials and research studies across multiple specialties, including psychiatry.
Jeffrey Strawn, MD, a UC Health psychiatrist and researcher focused on anxiety disorders, depression and PTSD, says keeping access to clinical trials close to home can make a meaningful difference for patients and families.
“It’s so important that people in our community can access clinical trials here at UC Health because psychiatric illness already creates enough barriers. Families should not have to travel across the country to access innovation or expertise.”
Dr. Strawn says local access also allows patients to stay connected to the support systems they rely on while receiving advanced care.
“When trials are available locally, patients can remain connected to their schools, jobs, families, therapists, and support systems while still accessing cutting-edge treatments.”
For many patients, he says, simply knowing there are still options available can help restore a sense of hope.
“Instead of hearing, ‘There’s nothing left to try,’ they hear, ‘There are still options. There are still investigators, right here at UC Health, working on this.’”
