Making the leap: From experimental psychopathology to clinical trials

Abstract

One important aim of experimental psychopathology research is to inform development of new interventions derived from basic science. However, testing whether a newly developed intervention is in fact effective requires moving from experimental studies to clinical trials, and this transition can pose many problems. These problems stem not only from the inherent complexity of even the simplest clinical trial but also from differences between experimental psychopathology and clinical trial research that may not always be obvious to researchers immersed in only one of these specialist areas. In this paper, we explore some of these complexities and discuss when a clinical trial may, or may not, be the best next step in the translational process. We then consider some of the ins and outs of clinical trials methodology, from design and planning through to reporting, with the aim of providing a guide for experimental psychopathology researchers thinking of making the leap from their experimental studies of mechanisms to clinical trials of novel interventions. We hope that this can help increase the chance of successful clinical translation and novel treatment development from basic science.