Help us discover better treatments and improve healthcare – get involved in research

Posted: 17/05/23

Did you know that you can play an important role in helping us discover better treatments and improve healthcare for everyone?

Clinical Trials Day is celebrated on May 20th each year. It’s a chance to learn about the incredible work happening in clinical trials, and to give thanks to the amazing people who take part in them.

Research is a vital part of improving care for the people who use our services. It helps to ensure that the Trust is providing the best possible care, based on the latest evidence.

Over the past few years, our research has helped to develop new treatments for depression and anxiety, and to improve the quality of life for people with dementia.

Our research team is made up of experienced researchers, who work with patients, their families, and other people to ensure that research is conducted in a way that is ethical and helpful to all involved.

We are looking for volunteers, just like you, to take part in clinical trials.

Here’s three clinical trials that you might be able to take part in:

 

Autism Depression Trial (ADEPT-2)

We are inviting adults (18+) who have received a diagnosis of Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who experience low mood or depression to take part in a research study called the Autism Depression Trial (ADEPT-2).

The study aims to find out whether Guided Self-Help supports autistic adults who experience low mood or depression.

Guided Self-Help is a psychological therapy, or ‘talking therapy’, for people struggling with depression. The person is provided with written materials, and receives sessions with a therapist to guide their use of those materials. We have developed written self-help materials especially for autistic people to use.

People who take part will receive either Guided Self-Help using our materials specifically developed for autistic people, or the usual NHS support for depression. It will be randomly decided who receives which therapy, meaning you’ll have a 50/50 chance of receiving Guided Self-Help.

What will I need to do?

If you take part, you will be sent questionnaires to complete before the treatment starts, and then at 16, 32 and 52 weeks after you join the study. We will ask about your low mood, other symptoms, and how you use healthcare services.

To thank you for your time, we will offer you a £10 gift voucher for each questionnaire that you send back to us.

How can I find out more or volunteer to take part?

Find out more about the ADEPT trial.

For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

 

National Centre for Mental Health – are there factors which make some people more likely to become ill?

We are working with the National Centre for Mental Health, trying to understand why some people experience difficulties with their mental health and cognitive disorders.

To do this we need your help. We need thousands of adults (18+) with schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression or dementia to help with our research. Taking part takes less than an hour, and can be done in your own home.

The purpose of this study is to collect information and samples for genetic, biological, psychological and clinical research. This will allow us to look for genes and other factors which make some people more likely than others to become ill. We hope that our study will improve understanding of these conditions and help find better treatments in the future.

What will I need to do?

If you take part, you’ll be invited to a meeting with a member of the research team. We can meet at a local health clinic, or in your own or a family member’s home. We will discuss the details of the study, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have. You will be asked to sign a consent form stating that you agree to take part in the study.

The researcher will then complete a brief assessment with you, which will take less than an hour. They will also ask to take a small blood sample from your arm (a maximum of 50ml, which is about 9 teaspoons of blood).

To thank you for your time, we will offer you a payment of £25, available as a gift voucher or paid to you by cheque.

How can I find out more or volunteer to take part?

Sign up to the National Centre for Mental Health’s trial here.

For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

 

Evoke+ study – can new medicine help people with early Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that, with time, can cause dementia. The disease develops slowly and affects memory and other brain functions. As the disease gets worse, the person may need help with basic activities in their daily life.

The Evoke+ study is trying to find out if a new medicine called semaglutide can help people with early Alzheimer’s disease. This will be done by comparing the effects that semaglutide has on people’s memory and other brain functions, compared with a “dummy” medicine called a placebo. (You’ll have a 50/50 chance of receiving the placebo.)

Previous studies in animals and humans suggest that semaglutide may have a positive effect on the brains of people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and this study will explore that more.

What will I need to do?

First, you will go through a screening process to make sure that you can take part in the Evoke+ study. If you do, your study doctor will explain exactly what will happen.

Blood samples and measurements will be taken during the study to monitor your health.

The Evoke+ study will last for up to 3 years, in order to get a clear understanding of the effects of the medicine over time.

How can I find out more or volunteer to take part?

Read more about the Evoke+ study.

For more information, please contact [email protected]