Clinical research offers hope to many people and an opportunity to help researchers find better treatments for illnesses in the future. Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials help scientists and physicians discover new ways to prevent, detect, or treat illness.

Specifically, the goal of clinical trials is to determine if a treatment works and is safe. Clinical trials can also look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses.

People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Many healthy subjects say they participate for altruistic reasons or as a contribution to move science forward. Participants with an illness participate not only to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and to have the additional care from medical professionals.

Participation in a well-designed and well-executed clinical trial may provide a number of benefits for the participant. It may be the best approach to gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, gain access to an expensive medication or treatment that insurance may not cover, and receive regular and careful medical attention from a research team that includes doctors and other health professionals.

If you are considering enrolling as a subject in a clinical trial, you will need to consider the risks involved in participation. When weighing the risks, you may want to consider the possible harms that could result from taking part in the study, the level of harm, and the chance that harm may occur.

Most clinical trials pose the risk of minor discomfort, which usually lasts only a short time. However, you may experience complications that require medical attention. There may be unpleasant, serious, or even life-threatening effects of experimental treatment.  Additionally, the study may require more time and attention than standard treatment would, including visits to the study site, more blood tests, more procedures, or complex dosage schedules.

The specific risks associated with a research protocol are described in detail in the informed consent document, which participants are asked to consider and sign before participating in research. Also, a member of the research team will explain the study and answer any questions about the study.

We understand that participating in research means a commitment on the part of the patient/research subject. Visits must be done in a certain time frame. Sometimes families must travel to get to a study site. Sometimes there are placebo conditions in a study.

Dr. Chandler has conducted clinical research on illnesses such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Please look at our Clinical Research page to learn about the trials in which we are currently involved.

*Triangle Neuropsychiatry is not currently recruiting participants for research. 03/02/22