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Trial Phase
Trial Status
Paid Participation
40 Bipolar Disorder Trials near California
Power is an online platform that helps thousands of Bipolar Disorder patients discover FDA-reviewed trials every day. Every trial we feature meets safety and ethical standards, giving patients an easy way to discover promising new treatments in the research stage.
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Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
120 Participants Needed
Lumateperone for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
500 Participants Needed
ABBV-932 for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
72 Participants Needed
Peer-Delivered Suicide Prevention for Serious Mental Illness
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
69 Participants Needed
Lumateperone for Bipolar Mania
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
350 Participants Needed
Lumateperone for Bipolar Mania
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
350 Participants Needed
ALTO-100 for Bipolar Depression
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
200 Participants Needed
VNS for Bipolar Depression
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
6800 Participants Needed
aiTBS for Depression
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
60 Participants Needed
NMRA-335140 for Bipolar Depression
Trial Details
Key Eligibility Criteria
60 Participants Needed
Why Other Patients Applied
"I've been struggling with alcoholism and depression on-and-off for about 12 years. I have heard of people have good outcomes for various mental health issues after using psilocybin but would not be willing to try it without a doctor's care. So I'm applying to a trial. "
"I have tried many different drugs in the past. I just want to find something that works. I just want to be happy and content with life. I'm always having "episodes" where I just shut down and cry and get mad. I need to find a drug that helps me live a happier life. I have everything I ever wanted, yet still can't stay happy. Hopefully this trial helps me and other people in these situations. "
"I have struggled living with bipolar disorder for nearly 20 years. I am always hopeful to find new treatments or medications that might really help my symptoms, and I feel strongly pulled to help contribute to bipolar research/science any way that I can. Finally use this brain for some good! :)"
"I really would love to be normal. A functioning part of society. It is very hard to hold a job with this condition. I need to be steady. I do NOT like my current meds or ones I've tried before, so new therapies are of interest to me. "
"I am hoping to find some medication to finally help me & my mood disorder. I have tried multiple other options over the years but without much luck of controlling the depression or mania."
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Bipolar Disorder clinical trials in California pay?
Each trial will compensate patients a different amount, but $50-100 for each visit is a fairly common range for Phase 2–4 trials (Phase 1 trials often pay substantially more). Further, most trials will cover the costs of a travel to-and-from the clinic.
How do Bipolar Disorder clinical trials in California work?
After a researcher reviews your profile, they may choose to invite you in to a screening appointment, where they'll determine if you meet 100% of the eligibility requirements. If you do, you'll be sorted into one of the treatment groups, and receive your study drug. For some trials, there is a chance you'll receive a placebo. Across Bipolar Disorder trials in California 30% of clinical trials have a placebo. Typically, you'll be required to check-in with the clinic every month or so. The average trial length in California for Bipolar Disorder is 12 months.
How do I participate in a study as a "healthy volunteer"?
Not all studies recruit healthy volunteers: usually, Phase 1 studies do. Participating as a healthy volunteer means you will go to a research facility in California several times over a few days or weeks to receive a dose of either the test treatment or a "placebo," which is a harmless substance that helps researchers compare results. You will have routine tests during these visits, and you'll be compensated for your time and travel, with the number of appointments and details varying by study.
What does the "phase" of a clinical trial mean?
The phase of a trial reveals what stage the drug is in to get approval for a specific condition. Phase 1 trials are the trials to collect safety data in humans. Phase 2 trials are those where the drug has some data showing safety in humans, but where further human data is needed on drug effectiveness. Phase 3 trials are in the final step before approval. The drug already has data showing both safety and effectiveness. As a general rule, Phase 3 trials are more promising than Phase 2, and Phase 2 trials are more promising than phase 1.
Do I need to be insured to participate in a Bipolar Disorder medical study in California?
Clinical trials are almost always free to participants, and so do not require insurance. The only exception here are trials focused on cancer, because only a small part of the typical treatment plan is actually experimental. For these cancer trials, participants typically need insurance to cover all the non-experimental components.
What are the newest Bipolar Disorder clinical trials in California?
Most recently, we added Collaborative Decision Skills Training for Serious Mental Illness, KarXT for Bipolar Disorder and ABBV-932 for Bipolar Disorder to the Power online platform.
Is there hope for people with bipolar?
Absolutely—bipolar disorder is very treatable: with mood-stabilizing medicines plus evidence-based talk therapy and a regular sleep–wake routine, more than 70 % of people achieve long symptom-free stretches and many return to work, school, and satisfying relationships. Sticking with treatment, watching for early warning signs, and using supports such as the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance greatly increase those odds, so a full, meaningful life is a realistic goal rather than wishful thinking.
What is the first red flag of bipolar disorder?
There isn’t one universal “first” symptom, but the earliest red flag doctors see most often is a sudden decrease in the need for sleep—sleeping only a few hours yet feeling unusually energized and unable to shut your mind off. If this change lasts several days, especially when paired with racing thoughts, extra talkativeness, big ideas, or risky spending, it’s time to get a mental-health check-up because catching bipolar disorder early greatly improves treatment success.
What is the strongest medication for bipolar?
There isn’t a single “strongest” pill for bipolar disorder; doctors match the medicine to the phase and the person. For acute mania, lithium or valproate often combined with an atypical antipsychotic (e.g., quetiapine, olanzapine) typically works fastest; for bipolar depression, lamotrigine or quetiapine lead, and for long-term prevention lithium remains the gold standard when tolerated. The best regimen is the one that controls your symptoms with acceptable side effects, so choice and dose are always individualized by a psychiatrist who can monitor blood levels and overall health.
Why do people with bipolar go off their meds?
People stop bipolar medication for three main clusters of reasons: 1) medication factors—unpleasant side-effects (weight gain, tremor, mental “fog”) or complex dosing that make daily use feel worse than the illness; 2) illness factors—mood swings that create denial (“I’m fine now”) or the euphoric energy of mania that makes pills seem unnecessary or even unwanted; and 3) practical/social factors—cost, stigma, substance use, or a poor fit with the prescribing clinician. Recognizing which cluster is at play helps patients, families, and doctors tailor solutions—whether that’s adjusting the drug, adding psycho-education or reminders, or improving access—rather than assuming the person is simply being “non-compliant.”
What is unhealthy coping for bipolar people?
With bipolar disorder, “unhealthy coping” is anything you do to feel better in the moment that ends up disrupting one of three stabilisers: (1) your medication plan, (2) a regular sleep-and-daily routine, or (3) clear, substance-free judgement. Habits that break those stabilisers—skipping meds, drinking or using drugs, staying up late gaming or doom-scrolling, isolating yourself, or chasing risky thrills like overspending—tend to push mood swings harder and make recovery slower; replacing them with steady sleep, sober living, social support, and professional treatment keeps the illness on a shorter, safer leash.
Can untreated bipolar disorder lead to psychosis?
Yes. When bipolar mood swings are allowed to build unchecked, they can become so intense that a person loses touch with reality—research shows psychosis occurs in roughly 6 in 10 people with bipolar I and 2 in 10 with bipolar II, usually during extreme mania or depression. Staying on mood-stabilizing medication, keeping a regular sleep schedule, and seeking immediate care if hallucinations or fixed false beliefs emerge greatly reduce this risk and shorten episodes.
How does a person with bipolar think?
Thinking in bipolar disorder depends on the phase: during mania the mind races with big, fast ideas and bold confidence, while during depression thoughts slow down, dwell on negatives, and decision-making feels heavy; between episodes most people return to their usual, clear thinking, though some lingering trouble with focus or memory can remain. Recognising these predictable swings—and getting help early with medication, therapy, sleep, and support—makes it easier to manage symptoms and respond to a loved one with understanding instead of frustration.
Which hormone causes bipolar disorder?
No single hormone causes bipolar disorder; it is a brain-based mood condition shaped by genetics, life stress, and how different body systems interact. Shifts in thyroid hormone, the stress hormone cortisol, or female sex hormones can nudge symptoms better or worse—which is why doctors often check thyroid levels and watch times like postpartum or menopause—but fixing those levels alone doesn’t cure the disorder.
What is end stage bipolar disorder?
“End-stage” (or late-stage) bipolar disorder is an informal term doctors sometimes use for people whose illness has become chronic, treatment-resistant, and functionally disabling: mood swings remain frequent or severe despite multiple therapies, and there may be memory problems, physical health issues, and difficulty living independently. While this stage signals a need for more intensive care—such as combination medications, electro-convulsive or other neuromodulation therapies, cognitive/functional rehabilitation, and strong social supports—it is not a hopeless diagnosis; working closely with a mental-health team can still reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
What current research is being done for bipolar disorders?
Today’s bipolar-disorder research falls into five main streams: scientists are mapping hundreds of risk and “treatment-response” genes, testing rapid-acting medicines such as ketamine and psilocybin, refining brain-stimulation tools like transcranial magnetic stimulation, using smartphone and wearable data to predict mood swings and stabilize sleep-wake cycles, and running early-intervention trials in high-risk teens and young adults. Together, these projects aim not just to explain why bipolar illness occurs but to deliver faster, more personalized treatments and even prevent new episodes before they start.