Depression Clinical Research Program
Optimized Predictive Treatment In Medications for Unipolar Major Depression (OPTIMUM-D)
Project Overview
Some people with depression respond well to antidepressants, but others require a combination of two medications to feel improvement in their symptoms. The current standard practice is to prescribe an antidepressant first, wait 8 weeks for a response, and then prescribe an additional medication to those who did not respond to the first antidepressant. New findings show that we can predict who is likely to need combined treatment based on patterns of depressive symptoms and brain activity.
The OPTIMUM-D study will test whether giving combined treatment immediately improves depression treatment outcomes for individuals who are predicted to not respond to an antidepressant alone. A predictive algorithm will be used to predict treatment outcomes for participants before treatment begins, and therefore select the best treatment course for each individual.
At the end of the study, we hope to answer two questions: Does combined treatment lead to better outcomes than antidepressants alone? And, does choosing treatment based on prediction improve outcomes of depression? If the answer to either question is positive, it could change how depression is treated in clinical practice.
Eligibility
This study is recruiting people between the ages of 18 and 60 years old who are living with depression. People that are pregnant or breastfeeding will not be eligible for this project. All interested individuals will be screened to determine their eligibility before their participation can begin.
If you are interested in participating in OPTIMUM-D or would like to find out more, please get in touch with the research coordinator directly, or via the contact form on this website.
Contact
Dr. Rudolf Uher, Project Lead
Nicole Stinson, Research Coordinator
Additional Information
Sponsors
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Antidepressants (CBT-ADM)
Project Overview
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) are very common illnesses that are usually treated with antidepressant medications or psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). However, it is often difficult to know which treatment will work best for which patient. Depression can be caused by many things such as changes in the way the body and brain work; it is most likely caused by a combination of several factors.
We have discovered several clinical characteristics and blood tests that predict poor outcomes of treatment with antidepressants. It is likely that these same predictors may indicate a higher chance of responding to psychological therapy. This study aims to determine whether depression symptom profile, history of childhood abuse, blood markers of inflammation, or genetic tests can meaningfully predict who will benefit from antidepressants and who will benefit from psychological therapy.
Eligibility
This study is recruiting people 18+ that are living with depression and not currently receiving treatment. Individuals interested in participating will be screened to confirm they are eligible and that this study is suitable for them before participation begins.
Contact
Nicole Stinson, Research Coordinator
General inquiries: depression@nshealth.ca
Dr. Rudolf Uher, Project Lead
Additional Information
Sponsors
Predictors of Outcomes in Mood Disorders with a Focus on Anxiety (POM-D)
Project Overview
We want to know what predicts whether people with mood disorders (i.e., depression or bipolar disorder) get better and/or stay well. We know that many (but not all) people with mood disorders also have anxiety. Some people are only anxious when they are in a mood episode, some people remain anxious even when their mood is normal.
We wonder whether anxiety makes a difference in how quickly people with mood disorders get better and whether they stay well. We want to find out whether being anxious and remaining anxious when mood improves influences recovery in people with mood disorders. We hope that answering this question will help us identify the group of people who are most likely to stay unwell, so that we can focus our efforts on developing more effective treatments for them.
Eligibility
This study is recruiting people 18+ that are living with a mood disorder. Individuals interested in participating will be screened to confirm they are eligible before participation begins.
Contact
Steven Jackson, Research Coordinator
Antonya Hall, Research Assistant
General inquiries: pomd@nshealth.ca, 902-473-1899
Dr. Barbara Pavlova, Project Lead
Sponsors
The Vocal Mind Project (VMP)
Project Overview
Different aspects of the way people speak give important information about how someone is feeling. Both acoustic and content features of speech can contain information about a person’s inner experience. Research has shown that speech analysis is a reliable way to assesses mental illnesses. However, these research practices have yet to be adopted into the clinical environment. We have started the Vocal Mind Project, a research study aimed at measuring the connections between aspects of speech and people’s mood and emotion.
We are looking for a diverse, representative group of people to contribute their voices to a research study looking at how speech reflects mood. Participation involves providing a 10-minute recording of your voice, as well as approximately 5 hours of mental health and language assessment over two separate visits.
Eligibility
This study is recruiting people 16+.
Contact
Jeremy Smith, Research Coordinator
902 473 5313
General inquiries: vocalmind@nshealth.ca
Dr. Rudolf Uher, Project Lead
Sponsors
Person-Centered Measurement-Based Care (PCMBC)
Project Overview
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) are very common illnesses in Canada and globally. Research suggests that asking patients to complete questionnaires on their symptoms and sending feedback to their doctor, called measurement-based care, may improve depression outcomes. Research has also shown that individuals with depression who take an active part in shaping their own treatment, called person-centered care, may also have more positive outcomes.
We would like to study the combination of these two approaches, person-centered and measurement-based care, to see if it can improve communication between patients and their doctors and the treatment of depression. Participants will be placed into one of two groups, which will either involve the patient and clinician receiving feedback forms, or not. The patient and clinician feedback forms will be a collection of information about your depressive symptoms, quality of life, and personal goals for recovery.
Eligibility
This study is recruiting people 18+ living with depression. Interested individuals must have a family doctor or other circle of care clinician that can be involved in their participation (receive feedback to direct care). Participants must have access to a computer and internet connectivity. All potential participants will be individually screened to ensure eligibility.
Contact
Katerina Dikaios, Research Coordinator
902 473 5313
General inquiries: depression@nshealth.ca
Dr. Rudolf Uher, Project Lead
Additional Information
Sponsors