This question aims to understand your perceptions regarding the potential effects of participating in a clinical trial on your mental health.
We want to know your personal perspective, allowing for a wide range of answers that can provide valuable insights into mental health considerations and well-being during the clinical trial process.
I suppose the trial might show up your health challenges or even identify them and also how good/bad it is. My thing is, how would it affect my health and travel insurance??
I guess it would depend on the protocol used in the trial. I'm the type of person who needs to consider every worst case scenario as assessing risks is a way for me to avoid uncertainty and anxiety. Which means that depending on how much information I could have on that process, I could preemptively determine if there were lower or higher risks on my mental health.
As I did experiment a lot I know for sure of 1 or 2 things that could really negatively impact me, but for other cases I would probably not expect that much impact down so I wouldn't add that extra stress
Why would participating in a clinical trial affect one’s mental health?
Mental health is a very broad issue . Would this trial be for those with established issues? Those on efficient or inefficient medication ? A trial that includes workers with sleep issues and stress? If for the extreme then regular support is needed . Transport to a venue is essential plus regular support and a contact via a helpline at the very least. Tricky to change medication and for some who follow patterns like sleeping , eating , going out at certain times - those are vital coping mechanisms . Needs to be in partnership with any carers too.
What would these trials lead to ? The absolute focus is better swifter regular reliable access . Mental illness is psychological and for many there can be a lull but no cure. Talk to the patients . This is your essential source of the best information. What would they want and need ? Not just outcomes but the entire process . The majority of those that haven't either been carers or experienced mental health issues tend to be really out of touch but are all working with high patient loads , limited resources and the frustration of who to prioritise.
A random controlled blinded study would be more challenging to join if I had a serious health condition and knew I had a 50% chance of getting a placebo vs an actual medicine. If the study is one of illness perception, symptoms and management, input on product development or other measures, am always happy to participate.
The “work” involved in being in a study doesn’t put me off at all. Really it would be more the uncertainty of whether or not I’m actually getting treatment, that might cause me to decide not to join.
The researcher needs to be open about the potential risk of participating in such trial. I'll be able to make my decision based on the information provided about the research.
💬 Discussion Topic: How does your background or how you grew up affect how you think about healthcare?💬 Discussion Topic: What Do You Want to Learn About the Pharmaceutical Industry?Which of the following factors do you believe have the most significant impact on your mental health? (Select up to three)💬 Discussion Topics: What motivated you or someone you know to participate in scientific research?💬 Discussion Topic: Would you change your habits and/or environment for treatments that reduced your most challenging symptoms?
