Joining a clinical trial may offer a way to contribute to medical research and possibly benefit from new treatments. But it’s important to realize that participating in a study can also offer distinct challenges to your mental health. We explore some of the common mental health concerns (we have encountered) during clinical trials and offer practical tips to help you cope with the challenges of these trials.
Common Mental Health Disorders in Clinical Trials
If you are involved in clinical research, you may face a variety of emotional and psychological challenges:
- Fears about treatment outcomes: It is normal to have some anxiety about whether the treatment will work or whether you will experience side effects.
- The frequent medical visits: Coupled with lots of procedures depending on the illness lead to stress as well as disruption of routine.
- Post-intervention depression: Long-term studies may require participants to stay away from regular routines, which could induce feelings of sadness or isolation.
- Physical side effects take a mental toll: Having to manage physical side effects can impact your mental health.
- Difficult Combination of Everyday Life and Trial Participation: When you are involved in the trial, these tasks must also be performed daily — which can be overwhelming.
- Clinical Trial Anxiety: From personal experience, 1 in 3 to 1 in 5 of clinical trial participants have some level of anxiety or periods of depression whilst on a trial – if it happens to you, take comfort in the knowledge you are not alone. Seeking depression treatment can also be beneficial in managing your well-being during the trial
Practical Coping Strategies
Here are a few evidence-supported techniques to help you manage your mental health throughout a clinical trial:
- Keen on relaxation: Mindfulness workouts can be of benefit to ease nerve-racking. Consider doing 10–15 minutes of meditation or deep breathing exercises every day.
- Join support groups: Connecting with others who are going through similar experiences can be incredibly beneficial. See if your clinical research centre has support groups for trial participants or try find a ‘buddy’ on the trial you are taking part in.
- Incorporate stress-relieving strategies:
- Regular exercise (with your doctor’s approval)
- Adequate sleep (target 7 to 9 hours per night)
- Healthy eating habits
- Diving into hobbies or activities you love
- Communicate directly with the trial staff: Don’t feel shy about discussing what’s troubling you or any mental health symptoms you’re experiencing. They are there to provide support and can give you options and accommodations to better manage things.
- Seek professional help: If you’re finding that mental health problems are often bothering you, it is essential to consult a mental health professional.
Phase-specific Mental Health Considerations
The various stages of a clinical trial pose their own distinct challenges:
- Screening phase: You may worry if you will qualify for the trial. Again, not being selected doesn’t mean anything bad about you as a person – trials tend to have specific criteria they must meet in order to keep you safe and the study valid.
- Early stages of a clinical trial: The uncertainty that surrounds a new treatment can be stressful. Emphasise the potential positive aspects of your contribution and how your participation is helping medical research.
- Long-term trials: Longer trials can get people fatigued or lose motivation. Don’t try to deprive yourself of every bad habit all at once; set small achievable goals and reward yourself for the positive progress you’ve made throughout the trial.
- Post-trial closeout: The completion of a trial may induce bittersweet feelings, particularly if you have developed strong bonds with the research team or other participants. Reduce this transition’s intensity by talking to your support network about how you feel.
Trial Participation vs. Life Balance
Normalcy is very important for your mental health while you go through a clinical trial. Here are some tips:
- Establish a routine: Include trial activities as part of your daily schedule to create structure.
- Say no: If you are feeling burnt out, say no to doing more.
- Stay connected: Even if you can’t socialise in person, make time for friends and family over your phone or video app.
- Take a break between trial appointments: Do something fun that gives you something to look forward to.
Keep in mind that being part of a clinical trial is a big commitment, but not at the expense of your mental health. Focus on being proactive even if that means facing difficult news and making the decision to move forward to find the best option for you.
If you are thinking about joining a clinical study or are already enrolled, talk to your research team about mental health support. They will want to ensure you are not alone with your thoughts while traveling in uncertain waters? Well-being during clinical trial journeys is a priority, and for good reason, you have resources to help you, use them.