- About the Study
This study is conducted by The University of Western Australia’s Young Lives Matter Foundation in conjunction with Meeting for Minds SYNERGIES. The GLAD project involves people with lived experience of mental illness (PLEX) as research partners. SYNERGIES is a new way of approaching research, bringing together researchers and PLEX, so that those who stand to gain the most from the benefits of the research are involved as respected contributors.
One in seven Australians experience depression in their lifetime. People who are depressed often find they sleep poorly, experience a change in appetite, have low energy, poor concentration and have lowered self-esteem. Often, they find it hard to enjoy life or be productive.
Recovery from depression is possible and treatment for depression includes psychotherapy (talking therapy), cognitive behavioural therapy and/or medications. Finding the right medication and dose can be challenging, often requiring several attempts. Approximately two thirds of people do not get better with the first medication they are prescribed and one third of people do not recover even after four different medications are tried.
Pharmacogenomics is a new, simple genetic test, which can determine the way a person’s body will respond to medication. The GLAD Study is looking at how pharmacogenomics can help to find the right antidepressant medication for people with treatment-resistant depression. Pharmacogenomic test results will tell us what medications are more suited for you, based on your genes. This may improve the likelihood of recovery from depression.
By comparing antidepressant treatment response and change in depression symptoms for participants whose antidepressant medication has been selected based upon their pharmacogenomic test results to those receiving standard antidepressant therapy, we may be able to tell whether pharmacogenomic testing provides a benefit for people treatment-resistant depression.
2. Information for Participants
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to take part in the study, you will:
- Be aged 18 to 70
- Live in Western Australia
- Have moderate to severe treatment resistant depression
- Be willing to consider antidepressant medication treatment
What Participation Involves
The GLAD Study will test if prescription of medication guided by pharmacogenomics is better than the choice that your doctor would make, informed by the best available guidelines. All participants will have pharmacogenomic testing and will then be randomly allocated to the pharmacogenomic-informed treatment group or standard treatment group.
There are 7 study sessions over a period of approximately 24 weeks. Some sessions will include questions about your health and current medications and others will comprise an interview to determine your depression symptoms.
- Contact Us
If you have any questions about the GLAD Study or would like further information, please reach out to us at eoi-clinicaltrials-hms@uwa.edu.au
