Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Research
Current Research Studies Frequently Asked Questions Research Team Members
Did you know research studies enroll children and adolescents with certain psychiatric disorders?
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin offer children and their parents the opportunity to participate in clinical research studies. These studies are done to evaluate new treatments in people. Carefully conducted clinical studies are the fastest way to find new treatments that work for people with certain disorders.
Research is important because it has led to important discoveries that make our lives better. Some examples of research our team has participated in include evaluating the safety and effectiveness of new mood stabilizers (reduces mood swings in bipolar patients) and atypical antipsychotic (reduces symptoms of mania and psychosis) medications. We also have helped define the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorders in preschoolers, children and young adolescents and psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia) in adolescents. In the past, these disorders have been thought to be primarily diagnosable only in older adolescents and adults. The research we do helps all care providers by answering important questions about psychiatric treatment of children. Our research team continually conducts new studies that could benefit children and adolescents with serious psychiatric disorders and their families.
It is important for children and their parents to understand that research is not the same as clinical treatment. The treatment you receive as a study participant may or may not help you. Our researchers and staff make every effort to ensure your research participation is safe and a pleasant experience. You will have close supervision and access to study staff if you have questions or concerns. If you meet all criteria and decide to enroll in a study, a plan will be put in place for your return to your own physician, with treatment recommendations, upon completion of the research study.
The Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Human Research and Review Board reviews and approves each study before the research can begin. The members of this board include physicians, attorneys, community business people, teachers and nurse practitioners. They follow federal and state laws in their review of research studies. Their role is to ensure all studies are ethical, protect the rights of the participants and have scientific merit.
If you are interested in learning more about the research conducted by our team, contact our Screening Line at (414) 266-3126.
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