Research Studies

The psychiatry department’s pediatric research team regularly conducts research studies to help inform and treat child and adolescent mental health. Our empathic and passionate staff team strives to conduct the best research possible while maintaining a positive experience for our families.

Our research team regularly has new studies starting that need participants. We have a wide variety of studies including both observational (no treatment) and intervention (medication and/or therapy treatment). Below is a list of current studies that are enrolling participants.

Attention in Autism

Principal investigator: Dr. Chelsea Sawyers
Funding: Department of Psychiatry

This study is currently recruiting teens from 13-17 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We are doing this study to help better understand the differences in behavior, emotions, and learning in ASD. During some of the computer games in this study, a special camera will track your eyes as they move across the screen. We will ask you to provide a genetic saliva sample by drooling into a tube. This study will allow us to learn more about the different types of experiences of those with ASD to help inform future therapy options. In this study, you will be asked to visit our lab at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) or our lab at the Collaborative Advance Research Imaging Facility (CARI) 1-2 times for study visits. The first study visit will last about 1 hour and the second visit will last about 2 hours. Families can choose to complete visit 1 and 2 on the same day. Compensation is provided.

To find out if your family is eligible for this study parents or guardians should fill out this 5-minute questionnaire or give us a call at 804-828-3210.

The Child Bipolar Disorder Network (CBN): A Collaborative Treatment Study of Youth With or at High Risk for Bipolar Disorder

Principal investigator: Dr. Ekaterina Stepanova
Funding: Baszuki Family Foundation

12-month study gathering data on symptoms of adolescent (ages 9-21) bipolar and treatment outcomes, involving 3 appointments (intake, 6- and 12-month follow ups) that consist of a thorough diagnostic interview, self-assessment measures and a blood draw. The intake appointment will take 2-3 hours, while the follow up appointments will take closer to 1-2 If you are interested in learning more about this study or participating, please reach out to our team at sebastian.nair@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-8737.

Fostering Wellbeing

Principal investigator: Dr. Annie Wright
Funding: Information Pending

The purpose of the study is to better understand the experience of foster parents including their motivations to become foster parents, experience accessing resources, and perceptions of their foster child’s wellbeing. Participants must be over the age of 18, certified foster parents in the state of Virginia, and currently caring for a foster child ages 3-17. The child has to have been in their care for at least the past month and be anticipated to remain in their care for at least another month from the time of participating.

Validation of Aggression-Impulsive/Reactive (AIR)

Principal investigator: Dr. Ekaterina Stepanova

Funding: VCU Department of Psychiatry

Participate in our study exploring impulsive/reactive aggression in children (ages 4-12), involving two appointments with diagnostic assessment conducted by experts in the field and self-assessment measures. If you are interested in learning more about this study or participating, please reach out to our team at sebastian.nair@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-8737.

Adolescent Social Information Processing (ASIP)

Principal investigator: Dr. Chelsea Sawyers

Funding: Children's Health Research Institute

This study is currently recruiting teens from 13-17. We are doing this study to learn how childhood experiences relate to how the brain works when you see emotional faces. The computer games used in this study will present pictures of faces showing different emotions and a special camera will track your eyes as they move across the screen. This study will allow us to learn more about how different types of experiences in childhood effect someone’s brain when they are processing social information. In this study you will be asked to visit our lab at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) for 1-2 times for study visits and possibly visit our lab at the Collaborative Advanced Research Imaging facility (CARI).  The study visit at VTCC will last 1.5-3 hours and the CARI visit would last approximately 2 hours if you are invited to a follow-up MRI visit. Compensation is provided.

Our research team and faculty members regularly publish findings from their research.  Below are selected publications to showcase some of the work being conducted by our team. 

Cervantes, P.E., Conlon, G.R., Seag, D.E., Feder, M., Lang, Q., Meril, S., Baroni, A., Li, A., Hoagwood, K.E., & Horwitz, S.M. (2023). Mental health service availability for autistic youth in New York City: An examination of the developmental disability and mental health service systems. Autism, 27(3), 704-713. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221112202 

Cervantes, P.E., Matheis, M., Estabillo, J., Seag, D.E.M., Nelson, K.L., Peth-Pierce, R., Hoagwood, K.E., & Horwitz, S.M. (2021). Trends over a decade in NIH funding for autism spectrum disorder services research. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51, 2751-2763. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04746-3

Stepanova, E., Langfus, J.A., Youngstrom, E.A., Evans, S.C., Stoddard, J., Young, A.S., Van Eck, K., & Findling, R.L. (2023). Finding a needed diagnostic home for children with impulsive aggression.  Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 26, 259-271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-022-00422-3

Wright, A.W., Wang, D., & Grotevant, H.D. (2023). Profiles of adoptee adjustments in young adulthood. Adoption Quarterly, 26(3), 251-280. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926755.2022.2156011

Wright, A.W., Yendork, J.S., & Kliewer, W. (2022). Adjustment of Ghanaian youth in institutional care compared to youth in family care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00856-2

Brown, K.W., Aliev, F., Eley, T.C., Dick, D.M., & Sawyers, C. (2023). A multivariate twin study of the genetic association between present moment attention and subjective wellbeing. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 17456. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42810-x