Participate in Research

The UW Department of Psychiatry has a strong and diverse research component. Our research faculty are currently recruiting subjects for the following studies:

PTSD Research Study Participation for Mothers

The Women’s Mental Health Program is looking for 25-45 year old women who have or do not have symptoms of PTSD and a 6-8 year old daughter to participate in a research study.

Participation includes clinical interviews and questionnaires about mental health and behavior of both mother and child. You and your daughter will have the opportunity to complete study activities at UW-Psychiatry, or you may have the opportunity to complete study activities while undergoing an MRI scan.

The study will provide up to $150 for participation at UW-Psychiatry, or up to $275 for participation in the MRI scan. Participation will be over the course of two study visits, totaling six hours.

Please contact the Women’s Mental Health Program at 608-265-0767 or womensmentalhealth@psychiatry.wisc.edu for more information and to see if you qualify for participation

Study of sleep and anxiety in girls – Brains, Emotion, and Sleep Together (BEST) Study

Ned Kalin, MD, Hedberg Professor and Chair of Psychiatry is leading a study investigating the relation between sleep and anxiety in girls. The study is currently recruiting girls age 8-11 to participant in a paid research opportunity. Eligible girls with and without anxiety can earn up to $800 for participation in multiple study sessions. For more information visit the study’s website, or call the HealthEmotions Research Institute at (608) 263-2338, or send an email to beststudy@psychiatry.wisc.edu with your name, contact information, and the best time to reach you, and a member of our study staff will contact you.

Cognitive Emotional Development in Adolescence (CEDA) Study

If you have a son or daughter between the ages of 10-16, he or she may qualify for a research study at the UW Department of Psychiatry. This study will examine brain function and other biological changes in healthy youth, as well as youth with anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Some participants may also have a history of trauma. We are looking for 10-16 year olds and their parent/guardian to participate in this research. Study activities include a clinical interview, MRI brain scan, questionnaires, and biological samples. This study does not involve any radiation, medication, or needles. Youth who have metal in their bodies, including braces, are not eligible to participate. Your child will receive up to $1,030 for participation in all research activities over three years. Please visit our website to learn more and to fill out a brief web screening survey. Email us at braveyouthlab@psychiatry.wisc.edu with any questions.

Study on Abnormal Sleep Behaviors

Do you sometimes have abnormal behaviors during sleep, such as screaming, eating, walking, talking, or engaging in various other activities, with no recall or some recall in the morning? If yes, you might qualify to participate in this study.

This study uses high density EEG to investigate the normal patterns of brain activity during sleep, and how these patterns change in sleep disorders called parasomnias. If you take part in this study, there would be 3 sessions over 3 separate days. The first session lasts 1-3 hours and is during the day. The second and third sessions will include an overnight sleep recording and a sleep deprivation night in the sleep lab. These visits are usually completed within about 2-3 weeks. No drug would be administered. You will be paid up to $500 for these visits. We can also assist with transportation to the lab. If you have recently had an overnight sleep study for clinical reasons, you may only need to come to the lab for one overnight visit. For more information, contact Dr. Valomon at: sleepwalking@psychiatry.wisc.edu

Participate in Research on Cognition, Attention, and Memory

The laboratory of Professor Brad Postle, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, is looking for participants for research studies that aim to better understand cognition, attention and working-memory.

Study details:

• The various studies involve computer tasks used to observe cognition, attention and working-memory.
• Sessions last between 1-4 hours, depending on the study.
• Studies involve one or more sessions on different days, depending on the study.
• Studies are located at either the UW-Madison Department of Psychology or Psychiatry.
• To be eligible to participate in one or more of these studies, you must be between the ages of 18 and 35, and you must be neurologically healthy (no history of disorder).
• Compensation depends on the specific study.

If you wish to participate in one or more of these studies, please email the Postle Lab at postlelab@psych.wisc.edu to indicate your interest.

• We will record your name and email, and you may be contacted via email by a researcher in the lab.
• The researcher will inform you of the task details, research techniques and compensation specific to the sub-study.
• Your participation is voluntary.