Condition

Psychological Distress clinical trials and research

• 45Clinical trials
• 31NIH research projects
• 1New in 30 days
• 16Countries

Newest Psychological Distress clinical trials

All recruiting trials (45)

• Healing Hearts: A Mindfulness App for Parents Navigating Divorce or Separation

  A online program tests a self-guided mindfulness app for distressed parents going through divorce or separation, to see if it helps parent and child wellbeing.

  Recruiting University of Connecticut · Stamford, Connecticut · NCT07871916

• Positive Psychotherapy and Positive CBT for inmates’ distress and well-being

  This study tests two group-based therapies—Positive Psychotherapy and Positive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—to see if they reduce distress and improve well-being and coping among incarcerated adults in Pakistan.

  Recruiting Bahria University · Karachi, Sindh and 3 other locations · NCT07853352

• CBITS for Pakistani teens: a school-based trauma program

  A school-based group therapy called CBITS is being tested to see if it helps Pakistani adolescents who have experienced trauma feel less distressed and function better.

  Recruiting National University of Modern Languages · Islamabad · NCT07768540

• Virtual nature vs guided imagery for anxiety and well-being in hospitalized older adults

  In this study, hospitalized adults 65 and older try two ways to bring nature to them: watching 360-degree nature videos on a VR headset or listening to a guided imagery audio to imagine the same scenes, to see which helps mood and anxiety during a two-week period.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Semmelweis University · Budapest and 1 other locations · NCT07765355

• Finance-focused psycho-oncology support for cancer patients experiencing financial hardship

  This pilot tests whether two monthly 60-minute finance-focused counseling sessions over three months can help cancer patients who are experiencing financial distress.

  Recruiting University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, Alabama · NCT07724041

• Culturally tailored nurse-led COPE program for caregivers of children with autism

  This study tests a culturally adapted COPE program led by nurses to help primary caregivers of children with autism feel less distressed, alongside standard care.

  Recruiting Khyber Medical University Peshawar · Faisalābad, Punjab Province · NCT07722949

• Remote Balance in Everyday Life for young MI patients with distress

  This study tests a remote 6-session program (rBEL) to help adults under 55 who had a heart attack and feel distressed see if the program and study procedures are feasible.

  Recruiting Uppsala University · Uppsala · NCT07706816

• Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention for Emergency Nurses

  This randomized trial tests whether a structured VPTG intervention helps emergency nurses reduce vicarious trauma and improve well-being.

  Recruiting Fatima Jinnah Women University · Multan · NCT07677527

• Bridging psychosocial care after cancer treatment

  This study tests a routine digital distress screen plus a psycho-oncology navigation call to help cancer survivors access support after completing treatment.

  Recruiting University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Basel · NCT07672314

• Italian YOLO: a web-based ACT program to boost student wellbeing

  A web-based ACT program called Italian YOLO is tested to see if it improves psychological wellbeing and reduces distress among university students.

  Recruiting University of Bologna · Bologna, BO · NCT07654569

• Stress training and mindfulness via phone-based programs

  Young adults will try different smartphone-based stress-management and mindfulness trainings over 14 days to see which version is easiest to use and how it affects stress and mindfulness.

  Recruiting Equa Health · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT07639697

• Online social therapy for young people on mental health waiting lists

  This study tests whether the ENYOY online platform, plus usual care, can reduce psychological distress in 16- to 25-year-olds on a mental health waiting list.

  Recruiting Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA) · Amsterdam · NCT07594756

• AI-assisted prehabilitation to help oral cancer patients return to work

  This trial will test an AI-assisted prehabilitation program to help adults with oral cancer reduce physical and emotional problems and return to work.

  Recruiting at 4 sites Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan · Taipei and 4 other locations · NCT07562100

• Adaptive peer-supported mobile health for veterans with psychological distress

  This study tests whether matched amounts of peer support help Veterans use mHealth tools to reduce psychological distress.

  Recruiting VA Office of Research and Development · Palo Alto, California and 4 other locations · NCT07507747

• Flourish for middle and high school students affected by cyberbullying

  This pilot will test Flourish, a text- and web-based program, to see if it helps middle and high school students who have experienced cyberbullying and are at risk for suicide.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University of Pittsburgh · Bay Village, Ohio and 1 other locations · NCT07506525

• EMDR Toolbox to reduce psychological distress in people with early-stage cancer

  This trial will test whether the EMDR Toolbox therapy, compared with standard EMDR, can help adults with stage I–II cancer reduce psychological distress.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Lega Cancro Ticino · Bellinzona, Canton Ticino and 1 other locations · NCT07481890

• EMDR group program with optional individual EMDR for people with cancer

  This project will try EMDR group therapy plus optional individual EMDR to reduce PTSD symptoms and psychological distress in people diagnosed with cancer.

  Recruiting Università Cattolica di Milano · Milan · NCT07447089

• Hypnotic communication to ease anxiety and pain during coronary angiography

  This trial will try hypnotic communication to see if it reduces anxiety and pain for adults having elective coronary angiography.

  Recruiting Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro · Ponderano, Italy · NCT07424209

• How common severe diabetes-related distress is in adults with type 2 diabetes at Nice University Hospital

  This project will measure how common severe diabetes-related distress is and try to find what clinical, social, and lifestyle factors are linked to it in adults with type 2 diabetes treated at Nice University Hospital.

  Recruiting Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice · Nice · NCT07392437

• Reducing pain and emotional distress during gynecologic brachytherapy applicator removal

  This project will see if women who receive gynecologic brachytherapy develop PTSD and whether pain, anxiety, or use of propofol during applicator removal are linked to it.

  Recruiting M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Houston, Texas · NCT07335302

• Practice-based evidence for psychotherapy across multiple clinics in Ecuador

  This project will see how routine check-ins track changes in psychological distress for adolescents and adults receiving psychotherapy at participating clinics in Ecuador.

  Recruiting at 10 sites Universidad de las Americas - Quito · Quito, (P)Pichincha and 10 other locations · NCT07257848

• Psychological distress and its effects on treatment adherence, outcomes, and quality of life in people with cancer

  This study will try to see if anxiety and depression change how adults with cancer stick to treatment, their health outcomes, and their quality of life over three years.

  Recruiting First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University · Wenzhou, Zhejiang · NCT07193329

• TAG TEAM: Group CBT for minority stress in trans and gender diverse teens

  This trial tests a group CBT program to help trans and gender diverse adolescents cope with minority stress and improve mood and wellbeing.

  Recruiting Murdoch Childrens Research Institute · Parkville, Victoria · NCT07151079

• Emotional stress and immunotherapy outcomes in liver cancer

  This study will see if emotional distress changes how well immunotherapy works for people with hepatocellular carcinoma.

  Recruiting at 5 sites Guilin Medical University, China · Zhanjiang, Guangdong and 4 other locations · NCT07141056

• Mindfulness training with respiration biosignal feedback

  This project tests whether a breathing-signal feedback feature in the Equa meditation app helps distressed young adults improve mindfulness skills and find the app easy to use.

  Recruiting Equa Health · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT07136948

• Psilocybin microdosing for psychological and existential distress in people with advanced illness

  This trial will test whether taking small, non-hallucinogenic doses of psilocybin can reduce depression, anxiety, and feelings of lost purpose in people receiving palliative care for advanced illness.

  Recruiting at 3 sites Phase 3 Bruyère Health Research Institute. · Brampton, Ontario and 6 other locations · NCT07063862

• Improving mental health in Dutch small and medium-sized enterprises

  This study is testing if an online mental health program can help employees in small and medium-sized businesses in the Netherlands feel better during stressful times.

  Recruiting VU University of Amsterdam · Amsterdam, North Holland · NCT06979089

• Psychological support program for forcibly displaced youth

  This study is testing a new psychological support program for young people who have been forced to leave their homes to see if it helps them feel better compared to regular care.

  Recruiting Karolinska Institutet · Stockholm · NCT06878092

• Improving mental health support for refugees through a psychological intervention

  This study is testing a new way to help refugees and asylum seekers with their mental health by improving a support program that includes extra sessions and reminders to see if it makes a difference.

  Recruiting University of Zurich · Zurich · NCT06776523

• Online support for men adjusting to prostate cancer

  This study is testing if an online therapy program can help men dealing with emotional challenges after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

  Recruiting Linkoeping University · Linköping · NCT06766526

• Acupuncture for Adolescents with Psychological Distress and Insomnia

  This trial tests whether Dense Cranial Electroacupuncture Stimulation plus Body Acupuncture helps teens with anxiety and sleep problems more than Minimal Acupuncture Stimulation.

  Recruiting The University of Hong Kong · Hong Kong, Hong Kong · NCT06638450

• Self-Help Plus program for university students experiencing distress

  This study is testing a self-help program to see if it can help university students who are feeling anxious or depressed improve their mental health and well-being.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University of Padova · Bari, Bari and 2 other locations · NCT06606249

• Change My Story: a narrative game plus task-shifted therapy for young people with HIV

  This pilot will test whether the Change My Story interactive narrative game combined with task-shifted Problem Solving Therapy helps 16–24-year-olds living with HIV in Nigeria who have depression or psychological distress improve mood and medication adherence.

  Recruiting Massachusetts General Hospital · Ibadan, Oyo State · NCT06389565

• Exploring the link between psychological distress and treatment outcomes in lung cancer patients

  This study looks at how stress and emotional struggles affect the success of cancer treatments in people with advanced lung cancer.

  Recruiting Shanghai Chest Hospital · Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · NCT06218901

• Evaluating the effects of PRISMA on mental health in pretrial detainees

  This study is testing a new therapy program called PRISMA to see if it can help improve the mental health of people held in pretrial detention.

  Recruiting University of Zurich · Zurich, Canton of Zurich · NCT06197711

• Digital intervention for preventing suicide in cyberbullied teens

  This study is testing a digital program called Flourish to see if it can help teens aged 12-17 who have been bullied online feel better and prevent thoughts of suicide.

  Recruiting University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT06002191

• Using LSD to help relieve distress in terminally ill patients

  This study is testing if LSD can help reduce pain, anxiety, and depression in people who are terminally ill and improve their overall quality of life.

  Recruiting at 4 sites Phase 2 University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Basel and 3 other locations · NCT05883540

• Online compassion training for breast cancer survivors and their caregivers

  This study is testing if an online compassion training program can help reduce depression and anxiety in breast cancer survivors and their caregivers when they do it together compared to doing it alone or just receiving health education.

  Recruiting Phase 2 University of Arizona · Tucson, Arizona · NCT05676255

• Assessing cognitive and quality of life issues in advanced cancer survivors treated with immunotherapy

  This study is testing a new therapy to see if it can help advanced cancer survivors who have received immunotherapy improve their mental health and cognitive challenges.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel · Brussels, Brussels Capital and 1 other locations · NCT05667857

• Improving diabetes care for Latinos using e-health tools

  This study is testing whether using online tools and support can help Latino patients with type 2 diabetes manage their condition better and feel less stressed.

  Recruiting San Diego State University · Chula Vista, California · NCT05570734

• Group treatment for older adults with psychological distress

  This study is testing a group therapy program for older adults over 75 who are feeling anxious or depressed to see if talking about life's big questions can help improve their emotional well-being.

  Recruiting at 6 sites Göteborg University · Gothenburg and 6 other locations · NCT05503485

• Behavioral intervention to help reduce stress for Black transgender women

  This study is testing a new program designed to help Black transgender women reduce stress and improve their mental health through community support and education.

  Recruiting Emory University · Atlanta, Georgia · NCT05436106

• Web-based program to support first-time parents

  This study tests a web-based program designed to help first-time parents feel more confident and improve their baby's health by providing support and resources.

  Recruiting Taipei Medical University · Taipei · NCT04981730

• Evaluating the impact of self-help CBT in primary care behavioral health

  This study is testing if adding guided self-help therapy to regular mental health care can help patients feel better and improve their daily lives.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Linnaeus University · Varberg, Halland County and 3 other locations · NCT04900064

• Understanding psychological distress in cervical cancer patients and their partners

  This study looks at the emotional struggles faced by cervical cancer patients and their partners over time to better understand what affects their mental health.

  Recruiting at 6 sites Comprehensive Cancer Centre The Netherlands · Breda and 5 other locations · NCT04475354

NIH-funded research (31)

Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.

• Mobile app to help family caregivers in Thailand manage distress

  A mobile app called CAMMA would help family members caring for adults with chronic illnesses in Thailand feel less depressed and anxious through a culturally tailored mental health support program.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11580924

• Caregiver Mental Health Mobile App (CAMMA) for family caregivers of adults with chronic disorders

  A mobile app in Thailand aims to support family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions by reducing depression and anxiety through an evidence-based mental health program.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11384734

• Phone app to spot and support emotional distress in family caregivers

  Researchers are creating a Thai-language phone app to help family members who care for adults with chronic illnesses notice early stress and get brief mental-health support.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11379719

• Including informal caregivers in a video-based meditation to ease distress for breast cancer survivors

  A caregiver-inclusive online compassion-meditation program is being tested to help breast cancer survivors feel less anxiety and depression.

  NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-11370888

• Coping skills program to help COPD patients and caregivers feel better together

  A COPD-focused program tests whether teaching coping skills to patients and their caregivers reduces stress, anxiety, and distress over 12 weekly remote sessions.

  NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11370552

• Mindfulness app to support youth in the legal system

  A multi-site, youth-focused trial tests a mindfulness meditation smartphone app to boost wellbeing and reduce distress for young people on probation.

  NIH research University of Illinois at Chicago · Chicago, UNITED STATES · NIH-11349688

• Adaptive symptom self-management to ease distress for cancer survivors on immune checkpoint inhibitors

  A study tests a phone-based symptom-monitoring program, with tailored support, to help cancer survivors on immune checkpoint inhibitors feel less distressed and manage side effects.

  NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-11326259

• Mobile self-directed coping program to ease depression, anxiety, and PTSD after serious heart or lung failure

  A self-guided smartphone program that teaches adaptive coping skills to help adults recovering from ARDS, COVID pneumonia, sepsis, or heart failure feel less depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

  NIH research Duke University · Durham, United States · NIH-11324520

• Managing symptoms and distress for people taking oral anti-cancer drugs

  A new program tests a 12-week automated phone symptom check-in plus an optional 8-week counseling add-on to help reduce fatigue, mood symptoms, and other side effects for cancer survivors on oral medications.

  NIH research Michigan State University · East Lansing, United States · NIH-11312625

• Blueprint mobile self-help program to ease stress after heart or lung failure

  This project offers a self-guided smartphone app that teaches coping skills to help people recovering from serious heart or lung failure reduce depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.

  NIH research Oregon Health & Science University · Portland, United States · NIH-11292410

• Peer-supported mobile mental health for Veterans in primary care

  This project will try matching Veterans with the right amount of peer support to help them use VA mental health apps and feel less psychological distress.

  NIH research Syracuse VA Medical Center · Syracuse, United States · NIH-11242343

• Mobile app to help survivors of serious lung and heart conditions manage psychological distress

  This study is testing a helpful mobile app for people recovering from serious heart and lung conditions, aimed at making it easier for them to manage feelings of anxiety and depression on their own, so they can feel better and improve their quality of life.

  NIH research Duke University · Durham, United States · NIH-11225394

• Mobile app to detect and reduce stress for family caregivers of adults with chronic illnesses in Thailand

  This project is making a smartphone app to find early signs of stress and offer support to family members caring for adults with chronic illnesses in Thailand.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11195266

• Online compassion meditation for breast cancer survivors and their caregivers

  This project offers an online compassion meditation program for breast cancer survivors and their caregivers to help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression after treatment.

  NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-11158601

• A Mindfulness App for Youth in the Legal System

  This project offers a mindfulness meditation app to help young people in the legal system feel better and reduce stress.

  NIH research University of Illinois at Chicago · Chicago, UNITED STATES · NIH-11128681

• Improving Care Access for Veterans with Mental Health and Social Needs

  This work looks at how integrated care teams can better help Veterans who are dealing with mental health challenges and social issues like housing or food insecurity.

  NIH research Syracuse VA Medical Center · Syracuse, United States · NIH-11123169

• Helping patients with chronic lung disease and their caregivers manage emotional challenges

  This project helps patients with chronic lung disease and their caregivers learn coping skills to manage feelings of depression and anxiety.

  NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11122361

• Helping cancer survivors manage symptoms and reduce distress during treatment

  This study is testing a helpful phone system that lets cancer survivors share their symptoms each week, so their healthcare team can quickly support them, especially if they're feeling really stressed, making it easier for them to manage their health during treatment.

  NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-11078665

• Helping cancer survivors manage symptoms and emotional distress during oral cancer treatment

  This study is looking at how cancer survivors can feel better and manage their symptoms while taking oral cancer treatment, using phone check-ins and online support from counselors, available in both English and Spanish.

  NIH research Michigan State University · East Lansing, United States · NIH-11067809

• Investigating the causes of attention problems in very preterm children.

  This study is looking at how different things in a child's environment and their biology can affect attention problems in kids who were born very early, so we can find ways to help them do better in school.

  NIH research Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island · Providence, United States · NIH-11058484

• Self-guided mobile mindfulness for emotional recovery after ICU

  A self-guided mindfulness app called Lift that helps adults recovering from serious breathing or heart illnesses reduce depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.

  NIH research Duke University · Durham, United States · NIH-11040055

• Self-directed mindfulness program to ease psychological distress after serious cardiorespiratory illness

  A self-guided mindfulness mobile program called Lift aims to reduce depression, anxiety, and PTSD in adults who recently survived serious cardiorespiratory illness such as ARDS.

  NIH research Oregon Health & Science University · Portland, United States · NIH-11037658

• A mobile app to help survivors of serious lung and heart conditions manage psychological distress.

  This study is testing a friendly mobile app designed to help people recovering from serious heart and lung conditions learn coping skills to manage feelings of anxiety and depression, making it easier for them to improve their mental health.

  NIH research Oregon Health & Science University · Portland, United States · NIH-11036322

• How adolescent racism and discrimination affect later substance use and mental health

  This project looks at whether experiences of racism and discrimination during youth are linked to later substance use, psychological distress, criminal-legal involvement, and treatment-seeking for people who grew up in racially diverse rural communities.

  NIH research Research Triangle Institute · Research Triangle Park, United States · NIH-11035106

• Understanding psychological distress in Black breast cancer survivors

  This study looks at the emotional challenges faced by Black women who have survived breast cancer, comparing their experiences with those of White survivors, and aims to find ways to improve their mental well-being by understanding how their communication with doctors affects their coping and quality of life.

  NIH research Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, United States · NIH-10990189

• Creating a mindfulness app designed for African American adults to help reduce stress and anxiety

  This study is creating a mindfulness meditation app designed just for African American adults to help them manage stress and improve their mental health, especially during tough times like dealing with racial discrimination and the COVID-19 pandemic.

  NIH research San Diego State University · San Diego, United States · NIH-10985947

• Using a mindfulness app to help youth in the legal system improve their mental health

  This study is looking at how a mindfulness meditation app can help young people in the legal system feel better and less stressed, making it easier for them to use these techniques in their daily lives while on probation.

  NIH research University of Illinois at Chicago · Chicago, UNITED STATES · NIH-10972716

• Understanding how to help patients with COPD and their caregivers manage psychological distress

  This study is looking at how living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects both patients and their caregivers, and it offers a friendly program called Coping Skills Training to help them learn ways to handle stress and feel better together.

  NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-10933390

• Mobile app to help family caregivers manage stress in Thailand

  This study is creating a helpful mobile app for family caregivers in Thailand who look after adults with long-term health issues, making it easier for them to spot and manage stress and mental health challenges, so they can feel better and provide better care for their loved ones.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-10918320

• Using online compassion meditation with caregivers to help breast cancer survivors reduce stress

  This study is looking at how having a friend or family member join breast cancer survivors in an online meditation program can help them feel less anxious and depressed after treatment, making it easier for everyone to connect and support each other from home.

  NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-10875297

• Helping Black gender minority women cope with psychological distress from stigma

  This study is looking to create a supportive program to help Black gender minority women who are dealing with stress and sadness from ongoing stigma, and it will involve community input to make sure it truly meets their needs and helps improve their mental health.

  NIH research Emory University · Atlanta, United States · NIH-10757027

Related topics

Quick answers

How many Psychological Distress clinical trials are recruiting right now?

45, as of November 12, 2026. 1 of them was first registered in the last 30 days. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where are these trials running?

In 16 countries. The most sites are in United States (11 trials), Switzerland (5 trials), Sweden (5 trials), Italy (4 trials), Pakistan (4 trials). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.

What phases are they in?

Phase 2: 2, Phase 3: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.

How do I join one?

Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.

Find the studies that fit you

A list is a starting point. Tell us your situation in your own words and we'll rank the studies that match and explain why. It's free and needs no account.

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