UC Davis Health
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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Participate in a Study | Mood Disorders Research Program | Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences | UC Davis Health

Participate in a Research Study

Participating in a research study is a unique opportunity to receive expert care and contribute to the future of mental health treatment. Our studies focus on children, teens, young adults and adults with mood disorders—including depression and bipolar disorder.

What to Expect

If you qualify for a study, you’ll visit a UC Davis research location regularly. These visits may include:

  • Meeting with a research psychiatrist
  • Completing mood assessments and questionnaires
  • Receiving study medications, device-based interventions (like TMS), or undergoing tests like MRI scans

All study-related care is provided at no cost. This includes evaluations, lab tests and follow-ups. Some medications may be provided at no cost but this varies depending on the study.

Benefits of Participation

  • Access to academic-based mental health experts
  • No-cost assessments, treatment (excluding some medications), and monitoring 
  • Your participation helps advance treatment for others

Things to Consider

  • Study visits may take longer than standard clinic appointments
  • Some studies involve placebo (inactive treatment) groups
  • Medication dosing and outside treatments may be limited during participation
  • Post-study follow-up care may be limited in duration

We’ll walk you through all the details during the informed consent process before you enroll in any study.

Who Can Join?

Eligibility is determined through:

  1. Phone Screening – A 20–30 minute call with a research coordinator.
  2. Consent Process – We explain study details and answer your questions.
  3. In-Person Assessment – You’ll meet our team for a full evaluation.
  4. Study Matching – If eligible, we’ll match you with an appropriate study.

If you’re not eligible for a current study, we’ll refer you back to community providers or the behavioral health clinics at UC Davis Health, based on availability.

Hours and Flexibility

We schedule most appointments Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and do our best to accommodate school and work schedules.

Explore Current Studies

We are recruiting participants for clinical research studies on treatment-resistent depression and bipolar disorder.

Read about our studies
Referral, Intake and Evaluation Process

When you first contact us, you’ll receive: 

  • Estimated wait times for clinical evaluations at the:
    • Children’s Behavioral Health Center (for individuals under 18)
    • Behavioral Health Center (for individuals 18 and older)
  • An overview of the Mood Disorders Research Program, if you’re interested in participating in research.

Families or individuals seeking a clinical evaluation will:

  • Complete a brief phone screen.
  • Based on your interests and needs:
    • If you want ongoing care, you’ll be referred to one of our behavioral health clinics (based on availability and insurance).
    • If you’re seeking a one-time second opinion, you’ll be scheduled for a consultation only.

Families or individuals interested in research studies will be:

  • Asked to call the study-specific contact number, which are listed on our study pages.
  • Asked for permission to share contact information with the research team.

If you choose to move forward with research:

  • A research coordinator will schedule your research intake.
  • During this visit, we’ll gather your background info and check if you may be eligible for any current studies.

If you are a good match for one of our studies, you’ll be scheduled for a baseline screening assessment to:

  • Confirm study eligibility
  • Begin formal evaluation process 

Before enrolling in any study, you’ll complete an informed consent process that:

  • Reviews all study details and procedures
  • Gives you time to ask questions and feel confident in your decision

If you’re not eligible or decide not to enroll in a research study: 

  • You may be referred back to one of our behavioral health clinics for clinical care (based on availability and insurance).
  • Or provided with referrals to providers in the community.

Opportunities for Clinicians and Trainees

We welcome clinicians and trainees who wish to be involved in our research program.

Explore opportunities