Anxiety Clinical Trials

991 recruitingLast updated: June 17, 2026

There are 991 actively recruiting anxiety clinical trials across 69 countries. Studies span Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 1, Early Phase 1. Top locations include Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Los Angeles, California, United States, New York, New York, United States. Updated daily from ClinicalTrials.gov.


Anxiety Trials at a Glance

991 actively recruiting trials for anxiety are listed on ClinicalTrialsFinder across 6 cities in 69 countries. The largest study group is Not Applicable with 662 trials, with the heaviest enrollment activity in Boston, Los Angeles, and New York. Lead sponsors running anxiety studies include Massachusetts General Hospital, Macquarie University, and Monash University.

Treatments under study

Understanding Anxiety Disorder Clinical Trials

Clinical trials have been responsible for every major breakthrough in anxiety treatment, from the development of SSRIs like paroxetine (Paxil) in the 1990s to the recent FDA clearance of new targeted therapies. Today, researchers are testing novel approaches that go beyond traditional antidepressants, including drugs that act on the glutamate system, psychedelic-assisted therapies, and digital therapeutics. For the estimated 40 million adults in the United States affected by anxiety disorders each year, clinical trials represent a path to treatments that may work faster, produce fewer side effects, or help when current medications have fallen short.

Why Consider a Clinical Trial?

Standard treatments for anxiety disorders, including SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines, and cognitive behavioral therapy, are effective for many people but not for everyone. Roughly 30 to 40 percent of people with generalized anxiety disorder do not achieve full remission with first-line medications. Clinical trials offer access to investigational treatments that target anxiety through entirely different mechanisms, potentially helping people who have not responded to conventional options. Beyond access to new therapies, clinical trial participants receive close medical monitoring throughout the study. This often includes more frequent visits, detailed assessments, and care from specialists focused specifically on anxiety research. Participants also contribute directly to scientific progress, helping researchers determine whether new treatments are safe and effective for the broader population. All trial participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time without affecting your regular care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Anxiety clinical trials

It depends on the specific study. Some trials require a washout period where you taper off current medications under medical supervision before starting the investigational treatment. Others allow you to continue your existing regimen and add the study treatment on top. The study team will explain all medication requirements before you enroll.

Clinical trials cover the full spectrum of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, and agoraphobia. Some trials focus on a single diagnosis while others enroll participants with multiple anxiety-related conditions. You can filter trials by your specific diagnosis when searching.

Many anxiety trials use placebo-controlled designs where some participants receive an inactive pill. However, you will always be told before enrolling whether a placebo group exists. In some studies, all participants eventually receive the active treatment through a crossover design. No one will ever secretly switch your current effective medication to a placebo.

Most anxiety treatment trials run between 8 and 16 weeks for the active treatment phase, though some extend to 6 or 12 months to study long-term effects. Screening and follow-up periods add additional time. The full commitment is always outlined in the informed consent document before you agree to participate.

The investigational treatment and study-related procedures are typically provided at no cost. Some trials also cover the cost of related lab work and doctor visits. However, routine care costs not directly related to the study may still be billed to your insurance. Many trials also offer compensation for your time and travel expenses.

Showing 120 of 991 trials

Recruiting

Anxiety Levels in Living Liver Donors

Anxiety Postoperative
Inonu University100 enrolled1 locationNCT07576920
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Therapy Dog Visits for Patients Hospitalized With Traumatic Injuries

PainDepressionAnxiety+2 more
Boston Medical Center80 enrolled1 locationNCT06812247
Recruiting

Evaluation of Patients With Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Healthy Volunteers

DepressionHealthy VolunteersAnxiety Disorders+2 more
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)16,000 enrolled1 locationNCT00024635
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Animal Assisted Therapy in Pediatric Dentistry

Anxiety
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill225 enrolled1 locationNCT05464888
Recruiting
Phase 2

Gaze-Contingent Music Therapy Augmentation of CBT for Pediatric Anxiety

Anxiety DisordersPsychiatric Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)150 enrolled1 locationNCT06595953
Recruiting
Not Applicable

ASHA Bangladesh--An Integrated Intervention to Address Poverty and Depression

DepressionAnxietyEconomic Vulnerability+1 more
University of Massachusetts, Worcester600 enrolled1 locationNCT06295250
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Training in Evidence-based Treatments in Psycho-Oncology

PainDepression, AnxietyDistress, Emotional+2 more
Massachusetts General Hospital115 enrolled1 locationNCT05674357
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Early Exercise-Based Rehabilitation in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Quality of Life (QOL)Exercise TherapyAnxiety Depression+7 more
Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern160 enrolled6 locationsNCT07143539
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Behavioral Exposure for Introceptive Tolerance RCT

AnxietyCardiac RehabilitationExercise Sensitivity+1 more
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey146 enrolled3 locationsNCT05398276
Recruiting
Not Applicable

The Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Intervention on Anxiety, Stress, and Pain in Women Undergoing Colposcopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

colposcopyStressAnxiety+2 more
Osmaniye Korkut Ata University60 enrolled1 locationNCT07650422
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Process-Based Approach Case Series For Anxiety Problems

Anxiety
University of Alabama at Birmingham10 enrolled1 locationNCT07352592
Recruiting

Anxiety and Depression in IBS: A Brain-Gut Axis Study

DepressionAnxietyIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Tang-Du Hospital200 enrolled1 locationNCT07646834
Recruiting
Phase 2

Cannabidiol and Older Adult Cannabis Users

PainDepressionSleep+1 more
University of Colorado, Boulder385 enrolled1 locationNCT06290063
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Development of a Transdiagnostic Intervention for Adolescents at Risk for Serious Mental Illness

Depressive DisorderPsychotic DisordersAnxiety Disorders+1 more
Massachusetts General Hospital70 enrolled1 locationNCT05962879
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Feasibility Study of UP-A-AST Parent Group for Adolescents With Autism and Co-occurring Anxiety/Depression

Depressive DisorderAnxiety DisordersAutistic Spectrum Disorder
Sahlgrenska University Hospital72 enrolled1 locationNCT07637799
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Experimental Evidence of the Impact of Parental Income on Child Mental Health and Neuroimmune Function

PsychopathologyAnxiety DisordersMental Disorders+3 more
Northwestern University500 enrolled1 locationNCT07641244
Recruiting
Not Applicable

CO2 Reactivity as a Biomarker of Non-Response to Exposure-Based Therapy

Post Traumatic Stress DisorderObsessive-Compulsive DisorderSocial Anxiety Disorder+2 more
Jasper A. Smits600 enrolled2 locationsNCT05467683
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Developing a Digital Intervention for Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-injury

DepressionAnxietyNonsuicidal Self-Injury
Northwestern University80 enrolled1 locationNCT07224165
Recruiting
Not Applicable

A SMART Design to Optimize the Delivery of TEMPO for Men With Prostate Cancer and Their Caregivers

AnxietyCancer of the Prostate
St. Mary's Research Center, Canada376 enrolled2 locationsNCT06363266
Recruiting
Not Applicable

Effects of Cartoons and Mobile Games on Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Children With Appendicitis: An RCT

Preoperative AnxietyFearChildren+1 more
Ankara City Hospital Bilkent69 enrolled1 locationNCT07640230