Pharmacogenetics: Genetics in Mental Health (GEMS)
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Participant type
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Key Documents
Overview
The purpose of this study is to see if genetic testing could be useful for patients who are currently taking or due to start taking an antidepressant, antipsychotic or mood stabilising medicine as treatment for a mental illness. We also seek to understand how genetic and environmental factors may lead to the onset of mental health problems.
Summary
What is the study about?
Our genes are made up of DNA. DNA is a complex chemical that carries genetic information. It determines how proteins and enzymes are made in the body and is the material passed on from parents to children that results in inherited traits such as eye colour and hair colour. DNA is made of a long chain of chemicals which can change in sequence. These changes can either be inherited or they can happen spontaneously.
Changes in DNA sequence can alter the way the body makes proteins and enzymes, including the enzymes that break down the medicines we take. Some people’s enzymes work faster than usual, whereas other peoples’ may work slower than usual. If this is the case, some medicines might not work as well improving symptoms or it could mean you experience more side effects.
Since your genes can change how your body responds to medicines, it is possible that existing treatments could be more effective, and result in fewer side effects, if your genetics are taken into consideration. In this study, we will do genetic testing on participants to help understand if the genetic testing is beneficial towards improving treatments with medications.
What are you trying to find out?
The purpose of this study is to see if genetic testing could be useful for patients who are currently taking or due to start taking an antidepressant, antipsychotic or mood stabilising medicine as treatment for a mental illness. We also seek to understand how genetic and environmental factors may lead to the onset of mental health problems.
What does taking part involve?
The first step to taking part in this study would be to read the information sheet. If you would like to take part, you must sign an informed consent form. This will be provided for you. The consent form can be obtained either in person or online by teleconference via secure conference platforms.
This study requires two or three visits detailed below:
- Baseline visit: This can be done face-to-face or by telephone or through online methods. During the baseline visit you will be asked about your medical history (e.g., current medication, contact with services) and then complete some questionnaires about your health and wellbeing. This information can be collected in writing or electronically in a document called a Case Report Form (CRF). At baseline, you will be asked to provide either a blood, saliva, or a mouth swab sample for genetic analysis. A single blood sample of up to 30 millilitres (ml) or a saliva sample of approximately 4 ml (1 teaspoon) is taken.
- Pharmacogenetic test: A sub-group of participants in the study will be offered a pharmaco-genetic test. This test provides information on how the genetic profile influences response to medication. We will send a report with the test results to your doctors.
- Follow-up visit: You will be seen again by the local study team about three months after the genetic report is sent to your clinician and discussed with you. This could be done face-to-face or by telephone or through online methods. Here we will repeat some, but not all, of the questionnaires you had at the baseline visit. We may also ask you to do an optional blood test. This blood test is for research so you will not receive results for this test.
- EEG and cognitive tests: The UCL research team will contact you to offer you an EEG test and cognitive testing. These tests are usually organised in a separate visit. If you do not wish to do the EEG or cognitive tests you can still participate in the other elements of this study
Where possible, we will schedule the visits alongside your usual healthcare appointments or come to your home or invite you to attend a meeting with the research team. We would like to inform your GP if you decide to take part in this study.
In recognition of your time participating in the study we provide a £10 voucher at the 3 month follow up. If you agree to do an EEG test, we will offer a £5 voucher. If you agree to do the cognitive tests, we will offer another £5 voucher.
Who is it for?
We are inviting people:
- over the age of 18
- who have a clinical diagnosis of a mental illness (such as depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)
We plan to recruit at least 420 participants.
Why is it important?
Since your genes can change how your body responds to medicines, it is possible that existing treatments could be more effective, and result in fewer side effects, if your genetics are taken into consideration. In this study, we will do genetic testing on participants to help understand if the genetic testing is beneficial towards improving treatments with medications.
We also wish to investigate the influence of genetic variations and environmental factors on brain activity and cognitive functions. This could help us understand how these genetic and environmental factors affect the risk towards common conditions like psychosis or depression.
How can I find out more?
You can find out more information about taking part in this study by downloading the key documents at the top of this page.
If you are interested in taking part in this study, or have questions for the research team, click the button below to email the research team:
Collaborators
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