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 UW Department of Psychiatry 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, MRI brain scans, and questionnaires about mental health and behavior of both mother and child. The study will provide up to $150 for participation in 2 research sessions, totaling about 9 hours of participation.

Please contact the Women’s Mental Health Program at 608-262-0767 or womensmentalhealth@psychiatry.wisc.edu for more information and to see if you qualify for participation.

Stress in Pregnancy

Principal Investigator: Zachary Stowe, MD
Study Contact: Rena Doyle, RN

Purpose of the Study:
The purpose of this research study is to find out how stress during pregnancy and the environment that children grow up in affect childhood development. This research is being conducted because it is known that stress can have an impact on a child’s wellbeing and we want to learn more so that we can improve children’s health outcomes in the future.

About the Research Study:

Volunteers can earn compensation for participating.
Participants will be asked to complete multiple study visit through pregnancy and as the child grows.
Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and interviews and provide biological samples (blood, saliva).
Research activities will take place at the UW-Madison.

Research Volunteers:

Women between ages of 13 -45 years old.
Written and verbal fluency in English
Ability to give informed consent and comply with study procedures, which includes a 7^th grade reading/comprehension level
Preconception stages of family planning and/or currently < 24 weeks pregnant.

For more information, contact The Women’s Mental Health Program, 608-232-3339 or womensmentalhealth@psychiatry.wisc.edu.

Pediatric Anxiety Study – Learning about Emotions (ABLE) Study

Ned Kalin, MD, Hedberg Professor and Chair of Psychiatry is leading a study investigating anxiety in children. Kalin and his team hope to better understand how to detect early risk for the development of anxiety. The study is currently recruiting children ages 8 to 12 to participant in a paid research opportunity. Eligible children with and without anxiety can earn up to $250 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 ablestudy@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.