Antidepressants such as SSRIs are the first-line medicines for these mental disorders, and the second-most dispensed drugs to Canadian children and youth<\/a> with mental disorders.\u00a0<\/p>\n A Toronto Star<\/a> report found a 240 per cent increase in antidepressant prescriptions for people under 18 across Canada between 2009 and 2019, in part due to longer wait times for therapy and counselling. In Manitoba, 14 per cent of children aged six to 19 were diagnosed with a mental disorder between 2010 and 2013, according to the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although SSRI antidepressants are generally effective and well-tolerated, they don\u2019t work for everyone and can cause unwanted side effects in some children and youth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA young person may go through multiple trials to find an antidepressant they can tolerate, which may take months to years. This typically leads to stopping treatment or other serious consequences impacting their lives and loved ones,\u201d said Dr. Abdullah Maruf<\/a>, assistant professor and lead of the Pharmacogenomics Knowledge to Action (PGx-K2A) Lab<\/a> at the University of Manitoba\u2019s (UM) Rady Faculty of Health Sciences<\/a>, College of Pharmacy<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About the study\u00a0 Dr. Abdullah Maruf working in a laboratory at the UM Bannatyne campus\u2019 Apotex Centre.<\/p>\n To address this issue, Maruf\u2019s team leads PGx-SImBA (Pharmacogenomics of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor-Induced Behavioural Activation), a research initiative made up of graduate and PharmD students from the College of Pharmacy, along with research assistants and associates. The study is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Laurence Katz<\/a>, child and adolescent psychiatrist and professor at UM\u2019s Max Rady College of Medicine<\/a>. The team will compare the genetic profiles of children and youth who tolerate these drugs well with those who experience unwanted side effects, focusing on adverse behavioural effects such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, irritability and insomnia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe success of this study could change how antidepressants are prescribed to children and youth,\u201d said Maruf. \u201cBy using genetic testing, we hope to give health-care providers and parents a personalized way to assess the risk of adverse effects.\u201d<\/p>\n The research received funding from the Health Sciences Centre Foundation and the Children\u2019s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. The study cohort is also part of the Pan-Canadian Genomic, Environmental and Mental Health Data (Pan-GEM) study in children and youth. Pan-GEM is part of Genome Canada\u2019s Canadian Precision Health Initiative<\/a>, which received $10 million in funding. Maruf is a co-investigator and Manitoba lead.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n What will research participants be asked to do?\u00a0<\/p>\n Children and youth in Manitoba, aged six to 24 who experienced or did not experience adverse effects from taking antidepressants, will be asked to:\u00a0<\/p>\n Complete a short one-time online survey (with help from a parent if needed).\u00a0<\/p>\n Provide a saliva sample for genetic testing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Participants will receive a testing kit by mail after registering online. All information collected will be kept confidential, and participation is completely voluntary.\u00a0<\/p>\n To learn more or to register as a participant, visit maruf-lab.org\/pgx-simba<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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