Interventions Committee for Adult Mood and Anxiety Disorders (ITMA)

Reviews applications concerned with clinical trials of pharmacotherapeutic, psychotherapeutic and combination treatments as applied to mood and anxiety disorders and related mental health problems. Trials will be conducted across a spectrum of settings from laboratories to community-based clinics. Study populations will include adults (18 years and older unless within the purview of the Child and Family committee [ITVC]) or, for older adults, the Interventions Committee for Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Personality Disorders and Disorders of Late Life (ITSP). New treatments and existing treatments to be applied in new combinations and existing treatments to be applied to new populations are typical. Studies may cover the evaluation of efficacy and/or effectiveness.

Specific Areas Covered by ITMA:

• Studies that evaluate the efficacy of a pharmacological agent when applied to a disorder for which an FDA indication does not exist
• Studies that evaluates novel combinations of therapeutic agents - whether pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic and/or somatic
• Studies that develop and evaluate the value of an intervention designed to improve adherence with a treatment regimen
• Investigations of the feasibility and efficacy of providing an intervention in a non-traditional setting (e.g., not a professional office)
• Development of an intervention designed to prevent the onset or recurrence of illness episodes in high risk populations
• Studies that refine and tune existing treatments in order to improve their potential for efficacy and effectiveness when applied to unique populations, e.g., minorities, those with co-existing medical illnesses
• Investigations of the value of interventions delivered via non traditional means, e.g., the Internet, hand held computers, desktop computers, bibliotherapy, DVD.
• Examines mediators and moderators of treatment outcomes, e. g, process research, genetic analysis, fMRI, SPECT, PET - where the primary aims involve treatment outcomes
• Evaluation studies of the comparative efficacy/effectiveness of two or more treatments

ITMA has the following shared interests within the NIMH IRG:

With Interventions Committee for Disorders Related to Schizophrenia, Late Life, or Personality (ITSP): ITSP reviews applications concerned with clinical trials of pharmacotherapeutic, psychotherapeutic and combination treatments as applied to schizophrenia spectrum disorders, personality disorders, and disorders of late life, while ITMA reviews applications concerned with clinical trials and treatments as applied to mood and anxiety disorders and related mental health problems. ITSP may be more appropriate for the review of applications, even those pertaining to mood and anxiety disorders, where the study population is older adults.

With Interventions Committee for Disorders Involving Children and Their Families (ITVC): While ITMA and ITVC both review applications concerned with clinical trials of pharmacotherapeutic, psychotherapeutic and combination treatments as applied to mood and anxiety disorders and related mental health problems and conducted across a spectrum of settings from laboratories to community-based clinics, the study populations differ with ITMA focusing on adult (< 21 years of age) and ITVC on children (0-21 years of age) outcomes as the primary measure.  Applications involving studies population 18 years and older may be reviewed in ITMA if the primary focus is on the adult.

With Mental Health Services in MH Specialty Settings (SRSP): While ITMA reviews applications concerned with the development and evaluation of interventions designed to treat mood and anxiety disorders in adults, SRSP reviews applications of clinical services and service systems with a focus on service sites considered specialty mental health setting (i.e., mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation/reintegration, and mental health-related departments in institutions).

With Mental Health Services in Non-Specialty Settings (SRNS): While ITMA reviews applications concerned with the development and evaluation of interventions designed to treat mood and anxiety disorders in adults, SRNS reviews applications of clinical services and service systems with a focus on service sites considered non-specialty mental health settings, such as primary or specialist medical care, schools, child welfare agencies, criminal justice settings, shelters, and other social service agencies where the primary focus of care is not mental health.

(* These descriptions should to be used as guidelines when determining the appropriate review locus for your application. In many instances, applications involve areas of science and/or methodologies that cross between study sections. In those instances, it is the staff within the NIMH Scientific Review Branch who, in consultation with the applicant if he/she requested a specific section, ultimately determines where an application will be reviewed.)