Ongoing Clinical Trials for Anxiety Disorder
There are currently 3 clinical trials investigating treatments for anxiety disorder across Europe. These trials are exploring different treatment approaches, including cannabidiol (CBD) for anxiety and PTSD symptoms in uniformed personnel, personalized medication dosing based on genetic testing, and troriluzole as an additional treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder. The trials are taking place in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
Clinical trial locations
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
Study on Cannabidiol for Reducing Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms in Dutch Uniformed Personnel
This trial is investigating cannabidiol (CBD) as a potential treatment to help reduce anxiety symptoms before starting formal therapy for anxiety or PTSD. The study is specifically designed for Dutch uniformed personnel, including police officers, firefighters, ambulance paramedics, military personnel, and veterans.
Who can participate: To join this study, you must be a member of Dutch uniformed personnel aged between 18 and 65 years. You need to be waiting for therapy to treat a trauma and stressor-related disorder or an anxiety disorder, as confirmed by a psychiatric interview called the MINI PLUS.
Who cannot participate: People who already have diagnosed PTSD or anxiety disorders, those outside the specified age range, individuals not belonging to the Dutch uniformed personnel groups, and those considered part of a vulnerable population cannot take part in this trial.
What the trial involves: Participants will take CBD capsules daily for two weeks. During this period, researchers will monitor changes in anxiety levels using Beck’s anxiety index. The study will also assess how CBD affects fear responses, stress regulation, and sleep quality through questionnaires, physiological measurements, and a sleep watch. The aim is to understand whether CBD can help manage anxiety symptoms and improve overall well-being before starting traditional therapy.
Investigational treatment: The trial uses cannabidiol (CBD), a natural compound found in the cannabis plant, administered in capsule form. CBD is being studied for its potential calming effects and ability to reduce anxiety symptoms.
Study on Personalized Dosing of Sertraline, Aripiprazole, and Risperidone for Patients with Mood, Anxiety, or Psychotic Disorders
This trial is comparing personalized medication dosing based on genetic testing (pharmacogenetics) with standard dosing methods for patients with mood, anxiety, or psychotic disorders. The study aims to determine whether tailoring medication doses to an individual’s genetic makeup can improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects.
Who can participate: You can join if you are between 18 and 64 years old, currently receiving psychiatric treatment (either as an inpatient or outpatient), and have at least a moderately severe depressive episode, anxiety disorder, or psychotic disorder. You must have not responded well to at least one previous psychiatric medication and be about to change, or have recently changed, to specific medications: sertraline or escitalopram for mood or anxiety disorders, or aripiprazole or risperidone for psychotic disorders. Women who can become pregnant must have a negative pregnancy test and agree to use effective birth control during the study.
Who cannot participate: Interestingly, the exclusion criteria appear to overlap with conditions being studied, which may indicate specific subtypes or severity levels that are excluded. Patients with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, or psychotic disorders of certain types or severities may not be eligible.
What the trial involves: The study lasts 24 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either personalized dosing based on their genetic profile or standard dosing. Those with mood or anxiety disorders will take sertraline or escitalopram, while those with psychotic disorders will take aripiprazole or risperidone. All medications are taken orally as tablets. Throughout the study, your recovery, well-being, quality of life, symptoms, and any side effects will be monitored regularly.
Investigational approach: The trial compares pharmacogenetics-based medication (where dosing is adjusted based on your genetic makeup) with standard psychiatric medication (where dosing follows general guidelines). The goal is to see if genetic-based personalization leads to better outcomes.
Study on Troriluzole for Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Not Responding to Current Treatment
This trial is testing whether troriluzole, when added to existing treatment, can help improve symptoms in people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) who have not responded adequately to their current medication. OCD is characterized by unwanted, repeated thoughts and behaviors that a person feels driven to perform.
Who can participate: You can join this study if you have been diagnosed with OCD as your primary condition and have had it for at least one year. Your current treatment must not be working well enough, as shown by a Y-BOCS score of 22 or higher (indicating moderate or severe symptoms). You must currently be taking an SSRI antidepressant (excluding fluvoxamine), clomipramine, venlafaxine, or desvenlafaxine at an adequate dose and duration. Both men and women can participate, and the study includes individuals from vulnerable populations.
Who cannot participate: People who do not have OCD, those outside the specified age range (typically adults and older teenagers), pregnant or breastfeeding women, individuals with certain other medical conditions or taking specific medications, people with a history of certain mental health conditions or substance abuse, and those unable to comply with study requirements cannot participate.
What the trial involves: Participants will continue their current OCD medication while also taking either troriluzole or a placebo in capsule form for up to 10 weeks. Throughout the trial, you will be regularly monitored to see if your OCD symptoms improve, primarily measured by changes in your Y-BOCS score. Other assessments will look at your overall functioning and symptom severity.
Investigational treatment: Troriluzole is a medication being studied as an additional treatment for OCD. It is believed to work by modulating glutamate levels in the brain, which may help reduce OCD symptoms. It is taken orally in capsule form.
Summary
These three clinical trials represent diverse approaches to treating anxiety and related disorders across Europe. The studies are distributed across the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Italy, with Spain hosting two of the three trials. Each trial focuses on a different treatment strategy: CBD for uniformed personnel with anxiety and PTSD, personalized genetic-based medication dosing for various psychiatric conditions including anxiety disorders, and troriluzole as an add-on treatment for OCD that has not responded to standard medications.
A notable aspect of these trials is their focus on populations with inadequate responses to current treatments, highlighting the ongoing need for more effective options. The personalized dosing study is particularly innovative in its use of genetic testing to tailor medication, representing a modern approach to psychiatric care. The CBD study addresses a specific professional group at high risk for anxiety and PTSD, while the troriluzole study specifically targets treatment-resistant OCD, a particularly challenging form of anxiety disorder.
If you are interested in participating in any of these trials, it is important to discuss the options with your healthcare provider to determine whether you meet the specific criteria and whether participation would be appropriate for your situation.
