QIMR Berghofer researchers are seeking 5,000 adult volunteers diagnosed with, or treated for, an anxiety disorder for a study designed to improve diagnosis, management and treatment, and are appealing to health professionals to help find suitable participants for the study.
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition, and affects an estimated 3.4 million Australians, and around one in six (17.2%) people aged 16-85 years will experience an anxiety disorder in any given year.
The QIMR Berghofer Living with Anxiety (LwA) study aims to pinpoint the genes influencing a person's risk of developing and recovering from these complex, and often devastating conditions.
While anxiety disorders are often initially, and effectively, treated with psychological therapies, antidepressants are also commonly prescribed as a second line, or concurrent treatment.
"Genetic variations influence our ability to metabolise and respond to medicines, which can take time, and may involve 'trial and error' to determine the optimal treatment/antidepressant for an individual," explained lead investigator and Head of the Psychiatric Genetics Group, QIMR Berghofer, Professor Sarah Medland.
"During this period, a patient often experiences adverse reactions and side effects before the 'right' treatment is determined.
"Large-scale investigations, such as the LwA study, can potentially contribute to minimising adverse reactions to medication through advancing pharmacogenomic testing," Prof Medland concluded.
Co-investigators are Professor Nick Martin, also from QIMR Berghofer, and Professor Ian Hickie of the University of Sydney.
The LwA study researchers are appealing to healthcare professionals to identify suitable patients for the study.
Given anxiety often co-exists with other mental health issues, such as depression, the LwA researchers are encouraging this cohort to also volunteer for the study.
Consenting participants will complete an online survey and may be asked to provide a saliva sample.
People who would like to volunteer for the LwA study can head to livingwithanxiety.org.au or email lwa@qimrb.edu.au. KB
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