Novel biotherapies are needed in youth mental health

G Paul Amminger; M Berger; SM Rice; CG Davey; MR Schäfer; PD McGorry

Journal article

Novel biotherapies are needed in youth mental health

G Paul Amminger, M Berger, SM Rice, CG Davey, MR Schäfer, PD McGorry

Australasian Psychiatry | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1177/1039856217698237

Abstract

Adverse effects and lack of efficacy in a significant number of patients limit pharmaceutical interventions in youth psychiatry. This is exemplified by the fact that no medication is currently approved for the treatment of non-OCD anxiety disorders or major depressive disorder in young people younger than 18 years of age in Australia. Here, emerging biological therapies for youth with mental health problems are discussed. There is an urgent need for more research into biological interventions with acceptable risk-benefit balances. Omega-3 fatty acids, cannabidiol and N-acetylcysteine are currently being evaluated. If initial findings are confirmed, they may offer alternatives with more benig..

View full abstract

University of Melbourne Researchers

Maximus Berger Author

Simon Rice Author

Chris Davey Author

Patrick McGorry Author

Related Projects (2)

LIPID BIOLOGY FOR PREDICTION AND PREVENTION OF PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS AND PERSISTENT DEPRESSION IN YOUNG PEOPLE

My vision for the next 5 years is to establish ω-3PUFAs as a first-line treatment for indicated prevention of psychosis and persistent depre..

MAPPING AND TREATING EARLY CLINICAL STAGES OF MENTAL DISORDERS DURING TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD

The research proposed in this Fellowship is aimed at young people with emerging mental ill-health. The specific goals and targets are to for..

Grants

Awarded by Royal Melbourne Hospital

Funding Acknowledgements

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: G.P.A. was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council Australia (NHMRC) Senior Research Fellowship (ID:1080963); M.B. was supported by a JCU Postgraduate Research Scholarship; S.M.R. was supported by the Mary Elizabeth Watson Early Career Fellowship in Allied Health from the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia; C.D. was supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1061757); P.D.M. was supported by NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship (ID: 1060996)