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Participate in a clinical trial

Why participate in research?

People who give up their time to participate in research make it possible for QCMHR to find better ways of preventing and treating mental illness. 

By participating in research, you are making an important contribution to how we treat mental health conditions and reducing the burden of illness. 

Research studies that are currently looking for volunteers are outlined below.

Learn more about our current clinical trials
Cadence COaST

Weight gain is a major health problem among people with schizophrenia; there is a lack of effective treatments for obesity in schizophrenia. We are looking for volunteers to determine if receiving a weekly injectable Type-II diabetic medication, semaglutide can assist in reducing the body weight among non-diabetic people taking clozapine.

Study details:
• 36-week single-blind clinical trial
• Weekly injection of semaglutide or placebo (titrated over 20 weeks, i.e., 4 weeks per titrated dose 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.5mg, 2.0mg)
• Physical health measures (blood pressure, heart rate, height, and weight) and assessment of adverse drug reactions
• Validated mental health and psychological clinical measures will be conducted at Baseline, Weeks 20 and 36
• All assessments completed by Cadence Team 
• Adjunct treatment; no restrictions or impact on current treatment
• Semaglutide/placebo trial medication provided at no cost
• Reimbursement: $290 in Coles/Myer gift cards ($50 at baseline, weeks 20 and 36). ($20 at weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 28 and 32)

Inclusion Criteria:
• Aged 18 - 64 years (inclusive).
• Have received oral clozapine for at least 18 weeks
• Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder or bipolar affective disorder
• Not been treated for diabetes or have an abnormal HbA1c/fasting glucose at baseline
• Body weight has not fluctuated by more than ±5% in the previous 3 months
• BMI ≥26
• Participants must have the capacity to consent and be able to follow the study instructions and procedures
• Participants must be a consumer of a public mental health service in South East QLD

Semaglutide will be slowly increased to minimise any side effects but possible side effects of semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Participants will be monitored weekly by experienced research staff for side effects.

The trial has been reviewed and approved by Metro South Human Research Ethics Committee.

Contact:
For more information please contact us at info@qcmhr.uq.edu.au or on 07 3271 8704

Want to participate?

 

To find out if you are eligible for one of our clinical trials, please email your full name, contact number and the trial you are interested in, to info@qcmhr.uq.edu.au

 

 

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HEAD OFFICE

Level 3, Dawson House
The Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment
Research and Education, Wacol, QLD 4076
P: +61 7 3271 8660

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands in which QCMHR operates and their continuing connections to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and stand together with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.