GAMMA-F study

GAMMA-F study


Watch a short video explaining what the GAMMA-F study is about.

Investigator: Professor Stephen Wood, head, clinical neuroscience

This study aims to help young people with psychosis to get the right treatment for them as early as possible.

For around 30 per cent of young people experiencing psychosis, standard medications don't work. However, at present we don't have a way of predicting who will respond well to these medications and who won't. As a result, finding the right treatment can be a long and difficult process.

We are investigating whether an electroencephalogram (EEG), an easy and non-invasive scan that measures brain activity, could help us predict this.

If we could easily predict which people with psychosis won't benefit from standard medications, we can help young people with psychosis get an alternative treatment as early as possible and improve their quality of life.

What does the study involve?

Before you start in the study, a member of the research team will go through the screening and consent process with you.

Once you have given your consent, you will be interviewed at a time and place suitable for you. The interview will be conducted by a member of the research team, and they will ask you questions about your symptoms and current medications and other substances. The interview will take up to two hours.

The interview will be followed by an electroencephalogram (EEG) assessment which will take place at Orygen in Parkville, and will take about an hour for the whole process.

The interview (but not the EEG)will then be repeated about eight weeks later.

At each study visit, you will be asked to do some self-report questionnaires, which usually take about 10 minutes.

Some participants will also be invited to take part in a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) which will take place at the Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Facility at the University of Melbourne, Parkville campus and will take about an hour.

Reimbursement

Participants will be reimbursed for their time and for expenses they incur in order to take part in the study such as parking or transport costs.

Eligibility

We are recruiting two groups:

  1. Young people aged 15–25 years who are receiving treatment for their first episode of psychosis, and
  2. Young people aged 15–25 years who do not have a current or past mental health diagnosis and do not have a family history of psychosis.

Recruitment

Participation in the study is completely voluntary and Orygen researchers will ensure participants have all information about the study before they provide consent.

Young people who are interested in participating in the study should complete the form below.

SEP v1.2 290921  HREC/77011/MH-2021