Receiving the most effective treatment as quick as possible is a priority for young people!
Our researchers are using the most advanced neuroimaging and data analysis tools to predict treatment response. Several ongoing research projects aim to better understand how different individuals respond to interventions, and how to deliver the best available treatments as soon as possible. We are confidently moving towards a new age of precision mental health care.
Our researchers participated in a large international collaboration study (27 research centres) to explore effective treatment strategies for people with psychosis. The study concluded that simplifying our current prescription practices could result in more effective treatments for patients. This can potentially lead to changes in treatment guidelines in the future.
PSYSCAN: Translating neuroimaging findings from research into clinical practice
PSYSCAN is an ongoing international collaboration study involving a world-class consortium of experts on Neuroimaging and Psychiatry. The study seeks to improve our ability to predict who is at increased risk of experiencing psychosis, to predict response to treatment, and to deliver personalised interventions. Results of PSYSCAN will be published soon.
Determinants of treatment response in first-episode psychosis: an 18F-DOPA PET study
In this study, Dr. Sameer Jauhar and colleagues found that therapeutic response to medication in people who experience a first-episode of psychosis depends on the levels of the neurotransmitter 'dopamine' in specific brain circuits. In the future, information like this could allow clinicians to provide the right treatment to a patient from an early stage, without losing valuable time.