A New Blood Test to Help Diagnose and Treat Mental Health Conditions
This research study is being conducted at Royal Columbian Hospital to look at new ways to diagnose and treat mental health conditions such as depression, psychosis, and schizophrenia.
- What is the Study About?
This study examines or looks for proteins in your blood cells. Researchers believe these proteins might indicate signs of mental health conditions in the body, which could eventually help doctors tell the difference between disorders and better understand how people respond to medications. The goal is to create more personalized treatment.
- Who Can Join?
You may be eligible if you are getting care for depression, psychosis, or schizophrenia at Royal Columbian Hospital’s psychiatric clinics.
We are also looking for control participants with no suspected or diagnosed depression, psychosis, or schizophrenia.
- What Will I Do if I Participate?
You will have up to three visits over six months. Each visit will take about 1 to 1.5 hours. During each visit, you will:
- Answer questions about your mental health
- Give two small blood samples
You will not be paid, but you will receive a $20 gift card after each visit to thank you for your time.
If you take transit, you will receive a free daily public transit pass, and if you drive, we will pay you back for parking costs.
- Your Privacy
Your personal information will be kept private. We use special codes instead of names and store all information safely.
You can leave the study at any time, for any reason. It will not affect your medical care.
- Who is Doing the Study?
The LEADING-MH study is being done by researchers at the Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH). The study is led by Dr. Steven Reynolds. Equally important, there are three patient partners involved who have lived experience with depression and anxiety, either as a patient or a caregiver.
- A Word from One of Our Study Patient Partners
“Hello! Thank you for thinking about joining the LEADING-MH Study. I’m Katie, a patient partner on the study who understands the need for improved mental health diagnosis and treatment.
Last year, my father visited the emergency room over five times before I flew across the country to have him admitted to the hospital. His symptoms baffled specialists, and it took weeks of tests like CTs and MRIs, x-rays, ultrasounds, heart and brain studies, bloodwork, and more to eventually diagnose him with major depressive disorder, with anxious tendencies and psychotic features. Over a two-month hospitalization, he tried multiple psychiatric medications and underwent electroconvulsive shock therapy to control his psychosis, depression, and anxiety.
If bloodwork could help diagnose and treat mental health conditions, my father and family would not have had months of trauma, uncertainty, and despair, and our hospitals could have used those tests, expertise, and time for other patients. Please consider joining the LEADING-MH study to improve the mental health journey of people like us.”
We truly appreciate your time. If you have any questions, or would like to participate, feel free to contact us – all details are below.
– The LEADING-MH Team
- Contact and Consent Form
To join the study or contact the study team:
- Phone: 236-332-6575 (available 24/7 — text, call, or leave a message)
- Email: LeadingMH@fraserhealth.ca
Read the full consent form here.