All Clinical Trials

Hallucinations are a core diagnostic feature of psychotic disorders. They involve different sensory modalities, including auditory, visual, olfactory, tactile, and gustatory hallucinations, among others. Hallucinations occur in multiple different neurological and psychiatric illnesses and can be refractory to existing treatments. Auditory hallucinations and visual hallucinations are found across diagnostic categories of psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar disorder). Despite visual hallucinations being approximately half as frequent as auditory hallucinations, they almost always co-occur with auditory hallucinations, and are linked to a more severe psychopathological profile. Auditory and visual hallucinations at baseline also predict higher disability, risk of relapse and duration of psychosis after 1 and 2 years, especially when they occur in combination. Using a newly validated technique termed lesion network mapping, researchers demonstrated that focal brain lesions connected to the right superior temporal sulcus (rSTS) plays a causal role in the development of hallucinations. The rSTS receives convergent somatosensory, auditory, and visual inputs, and is regarded as a site for multimodal sensory integration. Here the investigators aim to answer the question whether noninvasive brain stimulation when optimally targeted to the rSTS can improve brain activity, sensory integration, and hallucinations. Read Less

The study will use a cross-sectional study design with a follow-up 2-arm randomized controlled trial with that has assessments at baseline, post-intervention (i.e., Week 12), and 3-months post-intervention (i.e., Week 24). The 2 arms are the 12-week intervention and a health education control among 60 Black breast cancer survivors. Read Less

Sixty adults who have experienced acute coronary syndrome within the past 2-12 months from three states (Rhode Island, North Carolina, Minnesota) will be randomized to either (1) a coaching program for depressed mood and health behavior change (Behavioral Activation for Health and Depression; BA-HD), or (2) Enhanced Usual Care. This study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of study procedures and BA-HD, and establish protocol and measurement harmonization across three sites in preparation for a future multi-site efficacy trial. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to understand why some individuals respond fully to cognitive behavioral therapy and others do not, based on multiple sources of data such as neural, neurocognitive, clinical, and self-report data. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to measure the amount of a protein in the brain known as tau using an imaging procedure called Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT). 18F-AV-1451 is a specialized radioactive PET imaging agent that is able to detect the presence of tau in the brain. In this study, the investigator will use the 18F-AV-1451 to capture images of tau in the brain. Findings from this study will likely provide insight into the mechanisms and distinctions of age-related cognitive decline and that of very early Alzheimer's disease. Read Less

This phase II trial studies how well white button mushroom supplement works in reducing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with prostate cancer that has come back (recurrent) or has favorable risk and has not undergone any therapy (therapy naive). PSA is a blood marker of prostate growth. White button mushroom supplement may affect PSA level, various parameters of immune system and levels of hormones that may have a role in prostate cancer growth. Read Less

This early phase I trial investigates how well 64Cu-labeled M5A antibody scan works in assessing tumor activity before and after patients with rectal cancer that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Using 64Cu-labeled M5A positron emission tomography imaging may play a significant role in imaging patients with colorectal cancer. Read Less

This early phase I clinical trial evaluates bridging radiation therapy given before chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell infusion to treat large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) that has come back (relapsed) or has not responded to previous treatment (refractory). Patients with relapsed or refractory disease have historically poor prognosis. CAR T-cell therapy is a type of treatment in which a patient's T-cells (a type of immune system cell) are changed in the laboratory so they will attack cancer cells. T-cells are taken from a patient's blood (leukapheresis). Then the gene for a special receptor that binds to a certain protein on the patient's cancer cells is added to the T-cells in the laboratory. The special receptor is called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Large numbers of the CAR T-cells are grown in the laboratory and given to the patient by infusion for treatment of certain cancers. While the outcomes from CAR T-cell therapy appear favorable, in the time between leukapheresis and CAR T-cell infusion many patients have symptomatic or life-threatening disease which often requires bridging therapy. Bridging therapy aims to slow disease progression and control symptoms during this critical period prior to CAR T-cell infusion. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells. Giving bridging radiation therapy to patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL prior to CAR T-cell infusion may improve treatment outcomes with minimal toxicity. Read Less

The primary goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of the iDECIDE (Drug Education Curriculum: Intervention, Diversion, and Empowerment) curriculum, a novel drug education and diversion program, in approximately 300 middle and high school students, who have violated their school substance use policies in the past month, as an alternative to punitive school responses for school-based substance use infractions. This randomized controlled trial will test the hypothesis that adolescents randomized to the iDECIDE curriculum will have improved substance use outcomes (i.e., knowledge, attitudes, and behavior) compared to adolescents in a waitlist control group. The outcomes of this study will measure knowledge of drug effects and brain development, perceptions of harm from substance use, willingness to quit or reduce use, and substance use behavior. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to examine how individual differences in interoception (the ability to sense, interpret, and act on bodily feelings like hunger, fullness, thirst, hot, cold, etc.) relate to eating behaviors in children ages 7-10 years. Findings will inform whether interventions targeting interoceptive awareness may be helpful for prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases. Read Less

External ventricular drain (EVD) placement is performed very often in neurosurgical practices. EVD's are most commonly placed at the bedside using external anatomical landmarks to guide the catheter into the frontal horn of the ipsilateral lateral ventricle. EVDs are often placed due to acute neurological compromise and require timely insertion. Accurate catheter placement is essential to achieving effective external CSF drainage without complications or occlusion/failure of the catheter. Catheter placement is most commonly performed via a freehand approach using external anatomical landmarks to help identify the location of the lateral ventricle within the brain without the aid of imaging. Proper identification of the ventricles on pre-procedure imaging, surgeon skill, and estimation of pathologic perturbations to the normal location of the ventricles all factor into the success of catheter placement. Multiple passes are often required. The accuracy rate from the freehand technique has been reported to range from 40 to 98 percent. Current methods for EVD placement do not compensate for superficial brain vessels or pathology that may alter the intracranial anatomy such as trauma, hemorrhage, or mass lesions. Some studies have attempted to use CTA imaging to identify intracranial vessels in an attempt to avoid them during placement. Image guidance is a tool used very commonly for placement of EVD's and shunts in the operating room. AxiEM Stealth is a noninvasive image localization modality that registers a CT or MRI to the individual patients facial and scalp anatomy. This study will compare the current standard of care of freehand placement of bedside external ventricular catheters to the placement of EVD catheters with AxiEM Stealth image guidance. Read Less

This study is designed to evaluate the if there is a predictable patterns in brainwave activity and to see how this changes with external physical therapy interventions such as manipulation, soft tissue massage, and exercise. Read Less