Groundbreaking study into depression

17 April 2009

Medical researchers from Sydney University's Brain Dynamics Centre have launched a world-first study that could lead to a dramatic improvement in how people are treated medically for depression.

More than 2000 people are being recruited from around the globe to take part in the study, titled "iSPOT-D: International Study to Predict Optimised Treatment – in Depression".

The study, sponsored by Brain Resource, will work with people who have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) to identify genetic, brain and cognitive markers that can predict specific responses to a range of antidepressants including sertraline, escitalopram and venlafaxine.

"This ground breaking study, which is being conducted at 20 research centres around the world, may change the way in which personalised medicine is implemented in depression," says University of Sydney Professor Lea Williams and director of the Brain Dynamics Centre.

Principal Investigator on the Study, Dr Anthony Harris said, "At the moment, there are no objective predictors of how someone will respond to antidepressants in MDD, and successful treatment relies greatly on trial and error.

"Currently there is a one-size-fits-all approach to making treatment decisions and anti depressants are presumed to be effective for all patients."

The Brain Dynamics Centre is seeking adults who have been diagnosed with MDD and are about to commence treatment or who are changing their medication.

Initially, participants will be assessed twice – before starting medication and eight weeks after medication.

The assessments will include answering clinical questions, completing tasks on a computer (for thinking and emotion), and brain imaging. There will also be a telephone follow up after 12 months. The clinical information will be graphed and reports sent to the participant's GP to help assess how the individual is going on and off medication.

(Source: University of Sydney: April 2009)

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Article Comments

Comment from: Trish | 17/04/2009 11:04:49 AM
Great to hear any news of scientific research into depression. I am presently taking Cipramil but in the past had an MRI of brain (something else, not depression) . Let me know if this can aid your study. Cheers Trish Clark

Comment from: Jo | 17/04/2009 1:35:13 PM
I have been taking Paroxetine for almost a decade, 2 tabs a day (enough to get Canberra involved every time I have a script written). Coming off it with changes in my personal life. Interested to know if this is "all it was" i.e. environmental v hard wiring, particularly to know if my daughter is susceptible. Her father takes sertraline, so she can be considered pre-disposed from both parents. anything that will help us to understand whetehr she is prone genetically will be valued. Let us know if you would like to see any of us in your research. We are in Adelaide.

Comment from: lisa | 17/04/2009 5:28:16 PM
Depression also runs in my family.Personally I've found that being low in iron contributed to my depression (I'm a vegetarian).After taking iron supplements(chelated)my mood greatly improves. I have also taken a course of the herb golden seal which cleanses parasites from the blood - healthy blood equals healthy thoughts.Hope this helps.

Comment from: debbie | 17/04/2009 7:20:39 PM
thanks for the tip about iron Lisa. I'm a vegetarian and have been taking cipramil for depression for the past 2 years. I'm just starting to reduce my medication so am going to try the iron tablets as well. thanks again.

Comment from: susan | 23/04/2009 10:47:34 AM
I have had severe depression for 8 years and I am taking cipramil, trileptil and lamictal. I decided to take a multivitamin, but the biggest change has been stopping all alcohol and since then I have been so great,I should like to get off medications but I don't think it will ever happen