Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are commonly experienced in the general population and may significantly impair psychosocial function. In their extreme form these negative affective states develop into clinical depression and anxiety – the most commonly experienced psychiatric disorders today. While these disorders are often characterised as distinct phenomena, they co-occur in up to half the cases with either disorder. 

The aims of our research are to a) identify a profile of markers from clinical, psychometric, psychophysiological, neuroimaging and genetic measures which most sensitively dissociate depression from healthy peers, b) to evaluate the effects of antidepressant treatment on these markers and c) better understand the heterogeneity and the neurobiological basis of depression and related disorders.

Our unit is currently undertaking an International Study to Predict Optimized Treatment - in Depression (iSPOT-D), the largest biomarker study ever undertaken in clinical depression.

Current Projects:

International Study to Predict Optimized Treatment - in Depression 

Towards a better understanding of heterogeneity

Toward a Gene-Brain-Behaviour Model

Predicting treatment response

Emotion perception

Neurobiological bases for depression and anxiety

Emotional Well-being Project