Exactly what is involved in participating in a research study varies from study to study and should be clearly explained to you before you agree to participate.

Participating in a clinical trial is always voluntary, which means you are never obliged to take part, and you can withdraw from the study if you want to, whenever you want to.

Participating in a trial of a new treatment or intervention is different from receiving regular treatment, so it’s important to review all information the study team provides before enrolling to participate in a trial.

Whether or not you can participate in each study depends on the type of clinical trial it is. Each study will outline who they are recruiting to participate in the study, and this may depend on things like age group, mental health concern or condition, and where you live. To find out if you or your child can participate in a study, check the eligibility criteria, and if you are still unsure, contact the team running that study.

Before you enroll in a trial, you may need to complete some tests or questionnaires to ensure you or your child is the right person for the trial. These tests can also be useful to generate a baseline knowledge of your child’s health status, especially if the trial requires regular monitoring throughout the duration of the trial.

Other than that, what’s involved in a research study varies depending on what the researchers are investigating, however they often include:

Interviews, questionnaires, and/or surveys to help the researchers collect information about the different characteristics of the participants, and to track any changes the participant has experienced throughout the study or even after the treatment has finished.
Intervention or treatment trials will deliver the new treatment or therapy the researchers are testing. In child and youth mental health research, this might be a medication or a psychological treatment. The treatment might be delivered by a practitioner, or it might be something that caregivers or educators are involved in implementing with their kids.

Children, Young People and Caregivers