Anxiety Clinical Trials in Canada

The goal of this clinical trial is to design an online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) program and to learn if it can treat anxiety in women transitioning into menopause (perimenopause). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is our online psychotherapy program a practical and acceptable means of managing anxiety during perimenopause? * Does our online psychotherapy program work in improving anxiety levels during perimenopause? Participants will participate in weekly e-CBT module sessions tailored to perimenopausal anxiety and will be given weekly feedback on assignments from trained care providers through a secure online platform. Participants will complete questionnaires at the beginning, middle, and at end of the study, as well as at the three and six-month follow-up. Read Less

Global warming, progressing at a rapid pace in Canada, is causing severe consequences for ecosystems and human health. Rising temperatures accelerate glacier melting, increase heat waves, and disrupt biodiversity. These environmental changes impact mental health, notably through ecoanxiety, a form of anxiety linked to climate change. Although ecoanxiety is a natural reaction to environmental degradation, it can lead to chronic stress, generalized anxiety, and even depression. Recent studies show that ecoanxiety is increasingly common, especially among young people. In Quebec, 73% of young adults (18-35 years) report experiencing ecoanxiety, with 42% experiencing significant levels. Vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous communities like the Inuit of Nunavik, are particularly affected. To address ecoanxiety, interventions focused on emotional management and reconnecting with nature are essential. Studies show that outdoor activities such as walking or gardening reduce negative emotions and improve well-being by fostering a connection with nature, thereby increasing resilience to climate change. Art, especially pictorial art, is emerging as a promising tool in combating ecoanxiety. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the mental health benefits of art, which is not only beneficial for those suffering from mental illness but also for the general population. The Quebec Interministerial Mental Health Action Plan (PAISM) 2022-2026 highlights the promotion of art as a priority in mental health prevention. Among art forms, the contemplation of Impressionist paintings has shown positive effects, generating emotions of serenity and deeper reflection on our relationship with nature. Music therapy also plays a vital role in anxiety management, promoting relaxation and emotional expression. Music, in particular, has shown promise in reducing ecoanxiety. Listening to music can alleviate anxiety and depression by stimulating the limbic system, which regulates emotions. Music can also modulate physiological stress responses and strengthen personal resilience, enhancing emotional regulation in environmental crises. An innovative approach involves creating music from electrophysiological signals captured from plants, a process known as sonification. This nature-inspired music fosters a deeper connection with the environment, potentially reducing ecoanxiety and increasing resilience. Emotions, both positive and negative, are central to mental health. According to James Russell\'s circumplex theory of emotions, they are classified into two dimensions: valence (pleasant or unpleasant) and arousal (energy level). Positive emotions like joy and relaxation promote well-being, while negative emotions, such as anxiety and sadness, have detrimental effects on mental health. Emotional responses manifest through physiological changes, such as increased heart rate and skin conductance. Modern technologies, like functional MRI, allow researchers to observe the brain\'s activity in areas like the amygdala, responsible for emotional regulation. Digital technologies have revolutionized the use of art in promoting mental health. Immersive digital interventions, such as apps that allow users to experience art online, have shown positive results. One such app currently in development combines the works of Impressionist painters Claude Monet and Helen McNicoll with music created from plant electrophysiological signals. This digital combination of art and nature offers emotional benefits, promoting well-being in the face of climate challenges. It is well-established that positive emotions play a crucial role in improving mental health and protecting against ecoanxiety. Research shows that Impressionist paintings and music can generate positive emotions. This study hypothesizes that (1) observing and listening to musicalized paintings can generate positive emotions, (2) the emotional effect is stronger when both stimuli are combined, and (3) these emotions vary with age. Read Less

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized music intervention program to improve the condition of individuals suffering from chronic pain. The main objective is to evaluate if the intervention program will significantly reduce participants composite score of pain, anxiety, and well-being (reversed) as evaluated by the Edmonton symptom assessment scale (ESAS-r) immediately after the intervention, and whether this improvement will be significantly greater than that of control sessions. Read Less

Preoperative anxiety (PA) affects up to 5 million children in North America each year and is associated with adverse medical, psychological, and behavioral effects. Children who are highly anxious often require more medications during surgical procedures and take longer to recover. While many attempts have been made to reduce PA in children, existing interventions are limited by their expense and time intensive nature. Thus, the current lack of effective and efficient methods of reducing anxiety in children before and after surgery has prompted us to develop and propose to test a new intervention. The investigators have developed a novel,interactive tablet based Virtual Reality program, StoryTelling Medicine (STM), to help reduce anxiety in children undergoing elective surgery, and its associated negative effects. STM is an age appropriate, customizable program to prepare children for complex surgical procedures by guiding them through the hospital settings. The investigators will examine if STM is effective in reducing PA and its adverse effects in children undergoing surgery. If effective, STM has the potential to improve children's and families' surgical experiences, and reduce health problems in the hospital setting and beyond. Read Less

Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario who need mental health supports experience longer waits than non-Indigenous youth within the region and when compared to youth in other more urban areas. Limited access and extended waits can exacerbate symptoms, prolong distress, and increase risk for more serious outcomes. Transitional aged youth (i.e., those in their mid-late teens to early twenties) are a particularly vulnerable group. Novel, innovative approaches are urgently needed to provide support for Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario. In partnership with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, the investigators are evaluating the impact of a mental health app (JoyPop) as a tool for Indigenous transitional-aged youth who are waiting for mental health services. The JoyPop app was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a key difficulty for youth presenting with mental health challenges. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the app compared to usual practice while Indigenous transitional-aged youth are waiting for mental health services. Read Less

New technologies are needed to help diagnose anxiety disorders. EVestG has facilitated the identification of numerous possible biomarkers of several psychiatric disorders. Some EVestG features seem to be caused by differences in low-frequency modulation that is consistent (both in frequency and behaviour) with the hippocampal rhythm (theta), which is known to play a role in anxiety. Critically, there is ample support in the literature for an anatomical and functional basis for the modulation of vestibular signals via theta. If anxiety could be measured continuously, perhaps throughout a patient's day, or throughout a task, it might be able to confirm an anxiety disorder. However, current techniques for measuring theta are highly invasive, performed rarely, and only in epilepsy patients. EVestG technology, however, is non-invasive, and could potentially record anxiety levels in any subject for extended periods of time. The proposed study will attempt to identify hippocampal theta in vestibular signals in healthy participants through a double-blind administration of two different drugs that are dissimilar both pharmacologically and in acute clinical effects but which are known to reduce the theta rhythm. Read Less

Clinical evidence is urgently needed to be able to advise patients on which cannabis-based products to take, or to avoid, in managing cancer-related symptoms. This trial was therefore designed to determine which cannabis extract combination (High THC-Low CBD, Low THC-High CBD, or Equal amounts of THC and CBD) is most effective at treating cancer related symptoms for each patient relative to placebo. Investigators propose a randomized, double-blind, N-of-1 trial to test the effectiveness of each cannabis extract combination using cannabis oils in a minimum of 120 patients on 4 cancer-related symptoms: nausea, pain, anxiety and sleep disturbance. The three active treatments will be the following cannabis oil extract combinations: High THC/Low CBD, Low THC/High CBD, and Equal amounts of THC/CBD. * THC = Tetrahydrocannabinol * CBD = Cannabidiol The placebo treatment will be Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) oil. The active oils and the placebo are similar in taste, smell and effectively blind subjects. Primary objective: To identify whether there is an active cannabis extract that is more effective than placebo in managing overall cancer-related symptoms for individual subjects who completed at least 1 treatment cycle for the entire patient population represented by those individual subjects, and for subsets of that subject population defined by relevant baseline patient characteristics. Secondary objective: To identify whether there is a cannabis extract that is more effective than placebo in managing each of the 4 index symptoms (pain, nausea, anxiety and sleep disturbance) for individual subjects who completed at least 1 treatment cycle, for the entire patient population represented by those individual subjects, and for subsets of that subject population defined by relevant baseline patient characteristics. Tertiary objectives: To investigate the safety (e.g., serious adverse events) of each of the three cannabis extracts. To identify subject preference of each of the 4 oils (if any). Read Less

The purpose of the proposed study is to examine if a repeated treatment of High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) can increase the functional connectivity between the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate, which may further enhance the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness classes. Read Less

This study is a randomized factorial trial designed to evaluate unguided (i.e., purely self-help), transdiagnostic internet delivered cognitive behaviour therapy tailored for public safety personnel with tunneled of personalized course delivery and with or without the incorporation of social learning resources. Read Less

Background. Following a childhood diagnosis of epilepsy, children and their families encounter significant concerns about the disease trajectory, side effects of anti-seizure medications, and long-term prognosis. The multitude of uncertainties can cause significant anxiety in the family, often within the context of limited supports and resources. Epilepsy education can help address these concerns, mitigating the development of anxiety, ultimately leading to better patient-, family- and system-level outcomes. Globally, the MEEP is the only mobile application providing education, monitoring of symptoms, and tracking of medical appointments. The original MEEP was developed, tested, and integrated into practice in Turkey; the investigators will now evaluate the efficacy of an English and French version of the MEEP for families of children with epilepsy in Canada. A two-group, single-center, randomized controlled intervention trial with 1:1 allocation ratio will be conducted in the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of the Montreal Children's Hospital. Seventy-two caregivers of children with epilepsy (intervention=36, control= 36), aged 1-17 years and treated at the study site will be eligible. Family Introduction Form, Epilepsy Information Scale for Parents and Parental Anxiety Scale for Seizures will be used to collect data at baseline and 3 weeks post-delivery of the 7-week intervention. The MEEP consists of 2 parts. The first part entails the delivery of the educational content of the MEEP, and the second part consists of a "Parental Monitoring Section." Comparator. The control group will continue to benefit from the standard educational services provided by the study site. Read Less

Lack of patient knowledge about ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) is a leading cause of treatment fear with 60% of ECT patients reporting high levels of anxiety. The purpose of this study is to determine if using Virtual Reality (VR) to allow patients' to experience a virtual ECT education session before treatment is useful in lowering treatment anxiety and increasing knowledge about ECT if compared to standard treatment. In addition, measuring heart rate and blood pressure levels before ECT treatment will allow us to assess changes in anxiety levels. Individuals who choose to participate will be placed (participant will have a 50% chance to be placed in either group) to view either a virtual reality video to experience a virtual ECT session, or to receive standard preparation, i.e. a discussion with a psychiatrist. Before and after this session participants will be asked to complete a measurement of their anxiety level and knowledge about ECT (ECT Attitude \& Knowledge Questionnaire). Just before ECT treatment, blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety level will be measured. Participants will also complete cognitive and depression assessments. This study will help to develop a relationship between healthcare providers and patients and their families to help with education before ECT treatment. Read Less

Youth in Canada are in need of novel, innovative approaches to support their mental health and wellbeing. Within this age group, research suggests rates of several mental health difficulties and related hospitalizations have increased over recent decades. These challenges are exacerbated in rural communities, such as in Northwestern Ontario, where youth access mental health services less frequently and face longer wait times than those in more urban areas. Such limited access and extended waits can exacerbate symptoms, prolong distress, and increase the risk for adverse outcomes. In partnership with St. Joseph Care Group and Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, the investigators are evaluating the impact of a mental health app (JoyPop) as a tool for youth waiting for mental health services. The JoyPop app was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a fundamental difficulty for youth presenting with mental health challenges and an ability still undergoing maturation during this developmental period. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the app compared to usual practice while youth aged 12-17 are waiting for mental health services. Read Less