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Psychiatry

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About the study


The PANDA Study

In order to find out who might fully benefit from antidepressants, we need to compare an antidepressant with a placebo or "dummy pill" The study will include people with depression where their GP is not sure whether the tablets will help or not. In this way we can find out the groups of people in which the antidepressant is helping.

After the initial interview which should take about 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will randomly allocate people to receive one of two study treatments: some people will be given sertraline and some will get a dummy pill or "placebo" for 12 weeks. All people will carry on taking any other medication prescribed by their GP. Taking part in the study will not stop GPs changing the usual medication or offering other medication or therapy if this is considered the best thing to do.

Participants will need to complete further interviews at 2, 6 and 12 weeks' time. This will enable us to follow them through their treatment and capture important information. The interviews at 2, 6 and 12 weeks can take place either at the GP surgery, University or participant's home and will last about 45 minutes.

The researcher will ask participants to complete some questionnaires, on paper and on a computer. Participants will also be asked about their health and well-being, their feelings and emotions and about their experience with study medication.

The PANDA Study Medication

Sertraline is one of most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the UK; it belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRIs). We have chosen it because it is generally well tolerated, i.e. does not have many side effects, and effective. Participants will need to take study medication as instructed each day.

Confidentiality

All information collected about participants during the study will be kept strictly confidential. Only authorised individuals will have access to your data, this will include the study team, people organising the research and regulatory bodies.

Participants will be allocated a study number, which will be used as a code to identify them on all trial forms. Participants will not be identifiable in any published report from this study.

Study Findings

The Panda Study has now finished. Read the results summary on our Study Findings page.