None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in New Zealand. One effective intervention for anxiety is the prescription of a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) as an anxiolytic medication. This project aims to understand how SSRI treatment for anxiety is related to changes in breathing perception, as an impaired ability to monitor bodily state has been proposed to exist within anxiety. We will therefore employ breathing tasks in an observational study, both before and after 6 weeks of SSRI treatment for anxiety, in comparison to a control group who have been on an SSRI for at least three months. These breathing tasks measure a number of important factors, such as perceptual accuracy and self-awareness, symptom reporting, and how an individual learns about their breathing within a changing environment. Participants undergoing treatment for anxiety will be recruited, and individuals who are prescribed a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (e.g. Citalopram, Sertraline) by their physician and will perform the breathing tasks at the beginning and end of this period. These datasets will allow us to apply state-of-the-art computational models of perception, investigating how anxiety can interrupt the brain’s processing of internal bodily states, and how current interventions may target these disruptions.
Interventions
Brief name: SSRI
This observational study will recruit and measure participants with clinical levels of anxiety who have been prescribed a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) by their physician for a period of 6 weeks. Measurements will be performed within a 4 hour session (including breaks), and will involve completing a set of behavioural tasks that consist of answering questions about emotions and body perceptions, two tasks that involve breathing through a sterile system to detect changes i
Brief name: SSRI This observational study will recruit and measure participants with clinical levels of anxiety who have been prescribed a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) by their physician for a period of 6 weeks. Measurements will be performed within a 4 hour session (including breaks), and will involve completing a set of behavioural tasks that consist of answering questions about emotions and body perceptions, two tasks that involve breathing through a sterile system to detect changes in breathing effort, as well as a visual detection task and emotion recognition task (both performed on a computer). The first measurement session will take place either prior to or within the first week of treatment, and this will then be repeated following at least 6 weeks of treatment. A control group of participants will be recruited who have been on an SSRI to help with their anxiety for at least 3 months prior to the study, who will complete two corresponding testing sessions at least 6 weeks apart.
Sponsors
University of Otago
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Both groups: Diagnosed with any clinically significant anxiety disorder AND prescribed with a course of an SSRI by their medical practitioner Male or female aged between 18 and 45 years Ability to provide written and informed consent Ability to adhere to the study protocol Exposure group only: Either have not started or be within the first 7 days of beginning their SSRI medication Control group only: Have been taking their SSRI medication consistently for at least 3 months
Exclusion criteria
Evidence of severe acute or chronic medical disorders, including a neurological disorder, current or past history of a severe brain injury or severe respiratory disorder e.g. severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease etc. Past or current diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug addiction or psychosis Colour blindness Female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding Current significant suicidal ideation Participants must be free of recreational drug and alcohol use at the time of testing
Outcome results
None listed