Breathing perception and its relationship to anxiety: Measuring the effects of antidepressants on behaviour
Do you worry a lot? Are you being prescribed an anti-anxiety medication? Or would you like an assessment of your anxiety?
We are investigating the effect of anti-anxiety medication on reducing anxiety symptoms, as well as breathing perception and its relationship to anxiety. This research will help us understand how the treatment works, and how we can best use it in the future to help people cope with their anxiety.
Are you eligible?
- Aged between 18 and 45 years.
- Have a new prescription for an anti-anxiety medication that is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as sertraline or citalopram.
- Have full colour vision.
- Not suffering from any chronic medical disorders, including any current or past history of a severe brain injury or breathing disorder e.g. severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease etc.
- No past or current diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug addiction or psychosis.
- Not pregnant or breastfeeding.
What does the study involve?
- 1 × eligibility and introduction session (30mins – either by phone or in person)
- 2 × assessments (3 hours each) – before and after taking your anti-anxiety medication for 6 weeks
You will be reimbursed in recognition of costs incurred associated with participating ($150 total).
Interested?
Please contact Dr Olivia Harrison for further information, or see our participant information sheet.
Email olivia.harrison@otago.ac.nz
Participant information sheet (PDF)
Whether or not you take part is your choice. If you do want to take part now, but change your mind later, you can pull out of the study at any time.
Ethics approval: 20/CEN/168/AM01
Clinical trial registration: ANZCTR12620000952943
Ketamine and Brain Imaging in Patients with Treatment Resistant Anxiety
Do you have a diagnosis of generalised anxiety (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD) that has not responded well to several of the medicines that we use to treat anxiety?
Ketamine is a medication that has been used for over 40 years for a number of purposes. At very high doses, it is used as an anaesthetic; at lower doses it can relieve pain. There is growing evidence that low-dose ketamine can lead to an improvement in the symptoms associated with anxiety.
In this clinical trial, we are seeking to validate ketamine as a viable treatment for the more severe versions of this disorder.
Are you eligible?
- Aged between 18 and 45 years
- Meet the criteria for treatment-resistant generalised anxiety or social anxiety disorder in a screening interview
- Your anxiety is rated as moderate or severe and has not responded to two standard treatments (medications)
- You meet study safety requirements
What does the study involve?
4 visits to the clinic over approximately one week:
- Visit 1 (1 and a half to 3 and a half hours) – computer task and test dose of ketamine if needed
- Visit 2 (2 hours) – assessments and MRI
- Visit 3 (4 and a half hours) assessments and administration of study drug, EEGs and MRI
- Visit 4 (2 hours) – assessments, EEG and MRI
You will be reimbursed with vouchers to the value of $200.00 for recognition of the costs incurred associated with participating.
Interested?
Please contact Associate Professor Bruce Russell for further information, or see our participant information sheet.
Email bruce.russell@otago.ac.nz
Participant information sheet (PDF)
Whether or not you take part is your choice. If you do want to take part now, but change your mind later, you can pull out of the study at any time.
Ethics approval: 17/STH/143