Neurobiology Youth Follow-up Study: protocol to establish a longitudinal and prospective research database using multimodal assessments for current and past mental health treatment-seeking young people within an early intervention service. Issue 6 (18th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nichles, Alissa; Zmicerevska, Natalia; Song, Yun Ju Christine; Wilson, Chloe; McHugh, Catherine; Hamilton, Blake; Crouse, Jacob; Rohleder, Cathrin; Carpenter, Joanne Sarah; Ho, Nicholas; Hermens, Daniel F; Wray, Naomi; Scott, Jan; Merikangas, Kathleen R; Leweke, F Markus; Koethe, Dagmar; Iorfino, Frank; Naismith, Sharon L; Guastella, Adam J; Scott, Elizabeth M; Hickie, Ian B
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 11:Issue 6(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06-18
• Subjects: mental health -- neurobiology -- depression & mood disorders -- anxiety disorders -- schizophrenia & psychotic disorders -- child & adolescent psychiatry; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044731
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Approximately 75% of major mental illness occurs before the age of 25 years. Despite this, our capacity to provide effective, early and personalised interventions is limited by insufficient evidence for characterising early-stage, and less specific, presentations of major mental disorders in youth populations. This article describes the protocol for setting up a large-scale database that will collect longitudinal, prospective data that incorporate clinical, social and occupational function, neuropsychological, circadian, metabolic, family history and genetic metrics. By collecting data in a research-purposed, standardised manner, the 'Neurobiology Youth Follow-up Study' should improve identification, characterisation and profiling of youth attending mental healthcare, to better inform diagnosis and treatment at critical time points. The overall goal is enhanced long-term clinical and functional outcomes. Methods and analysis: This longitudinal clinical cohort study will invite participation from youth (12–30 years) who seek help for mental health-related issues at an early intervention service (headspace Camperdown) and linked services. Participants will be prospectively tracked over 3 years with a series of standardised multimodal assessments at baseline, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. Evaluations will include: (1) clinician-administered and self-report assessments determining clinical stage, pathophysiological pathways to illness, diagnosis, symptomatology, social and occupational function; (2) neuropsychological profile; (3) sleep–wake patterns and circadian rhythms; (4) metabolic markers and (5) genetics. These data will be used to: (1) model the impact of demographic, phenomenological and treatment variables, on clinical and functional outcomes; (2) map neurobiological profiles and changes onto a transdiagnostic clinical stage and pathophysiological mechanisms framework. Ethics and dissemination: This study protocol has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Sydney Local Health District (2020/ETH01272, protocol V.1.3, 14 October 2020). Research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences and to user and advocacy groups. Participant data will be de-identified.