Antidepressants In Irritable Bowel: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,546.00
Summary
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common costly disorder in Australia; one in six Australians suffer with the condition. IBS can cause very substantial disability; some become housebound because of the need to have toilet facilities nearby. The currently available treatments for irritable bowel syndrome only provide at best partial relief or are completely ineffective. The literature suggests that individuals who suffer from an irritable bowel may benefit from the use of an antidepressant medication ....Irritable bowel syndrome is a common costly disorder in Australia; one in six Australians suffer with the condition. IBS can cause very substantial disability; some become housebound because of the need to have toilet facilities nearby. The currently available treatments for irritable bowel syndrome only provide at best partial relief or are completely ineffective. The literature suggests that individuals who suffer from an irritable bowel may benefit from the use of an antidepressant medication. Antidepressant medications have been shown to affect the function of the gastrointestinal system, in addition to relieving some of the psychological symptoms, such as depression and anxiety that are common in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome. To date, there have been no proper controlled trials of antidepressant medications in IBS, and there have been no studies at all into the new class of antidepressant medications, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, in treating IBS. In this study we aim to investigate whether antidepressant medications are effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome by directly comparing a tricyclic (older class of antidepressant) with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (new class of antidepressant) and with a placebo. All study participants will be closely monitored during the study. Patients will have their gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological symptoms, disability, quality of life and tolerance to the medication assessed. This will be the first comprehensive study of antidepressant medications assessed and the irritable bowel syndrome to be undertaken. The study will be conducted at the Nepean Hospital and the Royal North Shore Hospital; both of these centres have a well established treatment and research programs into the irritable bowel syndrome.Read moreRead less
First-Line Management Of Youth Depression: A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial Of Fluoxetine And Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,316,648.00
Summary
The study aims to establish how to best treat adolescents and young adults when they present to mental health clinics with moderate-to-severe depression. There is, at present, considerable uncertainty as to whether young people should be started on antidepressant treatment at the same time as psychotherapy, or whether psychotherapy alone be commenced first. The study aims to clarify this important issue by implementing a trial that compares both treatment approaches.
Adjunctive Hormone Therapy For Treatment Resistant Depression In Perimenopausal Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,946.00
Summary
Women entering the menopause have increased rates of treatment resistant depression with poor response to standard antidepressant treatment. We propose to conduct a clinical trial of a novel adjunctive hormone, tibolone, to improve the outcomes for middle – aged women with severe depression.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Low-dose Ketamine In Youth With Severe Depression And Elevated Suicide Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,232,757.00
Summary
Recent research has shown that a single injection of low-dose ketamine has powerful, though short-lived, antidepressant effects. Effective treatments are urgently needed for young people with severe depression. This will be the first controlled study to test whether repeated doses of ketamine, given over 4 weeks, is effective for young patients.
The Efficacy Of Adjunctive S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe) Versus A Combination Nutraceutical In Clinical Depression: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,264.00
Summary
An emerging approach to treat depression is via the use of adjunctive nutraceuticals (nutrient-based natural products). Specific antidepressant nutraceuticals can target a range of key neurological pathways that can treat depression. We are conducting an 8 week clinical trial comparing the efficacy of a range of nutraceuticals- such as folic acid, omega-3, and zinc, in adults with depression who are non-responsive to current pharmaceutical antidepressants.
Reducing Impulsive Behaviour In Repeat Violent Offenders Using A Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (Zoloft)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,337,659.00
Summary
Strong evidence points to a link between poor impulse control (impulsivity) and violent crime. Impulsivity has been shown to be associated with reduced levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. In studies of impulsive individuals, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have reduced impulsive aggression but there has been no systematic study of the benefits of SSRIs for violent offenders at risk of reoffending. This research will investigate whether SSRIs can reduce repeat violent offend ....Strong evidence points to a link between poor impulse control (impulsivity) and violent crime. Impulsivity has been shown to be associated with reduced levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. In studies of impulsive individuals, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have reduced impulsive aggression but there has been no systematic study of the benefits of SSRIs for violent offenders at risk of reoffending. This research will investigate whether SSRIs can reduce repeat violent offending.Read moreRead less
Improving The Treatment Of Young People With Depression: Bridging The Evidence-practice Gap For Medication Guidelines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,267.00
Summary
This research examines and seeks to bridge the gaps between the evidence about what works to treat depression in young people and actual clinical practice, with the aim of improving treatment, especially with antidepressant medication. Information about these evidence-practice gaps and an examination of barriers to using evidence-based treatments will be used to develop and test an intervention to assist clinicians to treat young people with depression in the best possible way.
Neural Predictors Of Treatment Response In Youth Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$519,596.00
Summary
Depression is the single greatest cause of disability and morbidity in young people. In order to reduce its substantial burden on individuals and society, there is a need to optimise the early provision of existing treatments. In this study, we will use cutting-edge neuroimaging technology to identify “biomarkers” in the brain that will help to more accurately determine which available treatments are likely to be most effective and safe for an individual patient.
Refining Treatment Strategies For Youth Depression: Clinical Trials And Biomarker Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,221.00
Summary
Depression is the biggest contributor to disease burden of all illnesses suffered by young people. Despite this existing treatments are often not effective. The Career Development Fellowship will aid efforts to improve treatments for youth depression, by enabling the implementation of important clinical trials, and the identification and development of imaging biomarkers that can help to target treatments at patients most likely to benefit from them.
Depression is the most prevalent health problem in young people, with a prevalence as high as 24 percent. There is evidence demonstrating a link between depression and chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, suggesting that drugs which modulate those factors may have antidepressant properties. This study is designed to establish whether the use of (i) rosuvastatin or (ii) aspirin, two drugs that modulate both the inflammatory and oxidative systems, reduce symptoms of depression in young peopl ....Depression is the most prevalent health problem in young people, with a prevalence as high as 24 percent. There is evidence demonstrating a link between depression and chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, suggesting that drugs which modulate those factors may have antidepressant properties. This study is designed to establish whether the use of (i) rosuvastatin or (ii) aspirin, two drugs that modulate both the inflammatory and oxidative systems, reduce symptoms of depression in young people with major depression.Read moreRead less