SSRI Online Survey Version 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A prospective computer based survey documenting patients’ experience with SSRI antidepressants
IRAS ID
240241
Contact name
Becky Ward
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London JRCO
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
The present study aims to monitor patients throughout their treatment with an SSRI using weekly online computer based surveys, which no other study appears to have previously done. Volunteers will be recruited through their GP immediately after being prescribed an SSRI using a patient information sheet. The study will consist of a baseline questionnaire prior to starting their SSRI followed by weekly questionnaires for 6 weeks, with optional 6 month and 1 year follow-up surveys. All questionnaires will assess the satisfaction of participants with their antidepressant and any changes in measured variables including depression, openness, insight, psychological well-being, as well as potential side-effects. This study could have important applications by allowing us to identify variables underlying dis/satisfaction or resistance to SSRIs.The key end point will be 6 weeks after the start of the treatment, to allow for comparison between findings of other parallel studies we are conducting involving the use of psychedelics; specifically two survey based studies concentrating on microdosing (i.e. taking very low doses of psychedelics), ceremonial use of psychedelics and another looking at full dosing with any psychedelic. One measure in particular we are interested is participants’ feelings of connectedness to their self, others around them, the environment and the world, as the effectiveness of psilocybin in the treatment of depression is thought to be attributed to an increased connectedness to one’s emotions. In contradiction to this antidepressants have been hypothesized to lead to emotional blunting, i.e. a flattening of one’s emotional range. This present study combined with the upcoming psychedelic survey based studies can contribute to the furtherance of knowledge by enabling between-treatment comparisons that have not been made before and highlight where e.g. psychedelics have advantages and weaknesses relative to SSRIs and vice versa.
Funding is provided by Patrick Vernon.
Summary of research: Unfortunately the data that was collected from this study has been found to be insufficient for use due to the high level of variability in responses limiting the ability to conduct analyses and will therefore not be published.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1508
Date of REC Opinion
2 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion