Depression is a common form of mental distress that affects 1 in 7 Australians in their lifetime.¹  Depression can affect people in many different ways, including poor sleep, appetite changes, reduced energy, concentration and productivity, lower self-esteem; and it can also lead to other health issues. Sometimes, they might think of harming themselves. Often, they find it hard to enjoy life or be productive.²

Recovery from depression is possible with treatment options including psychotherapy (talking therapy), cognitive behavioural therapy and medication. In fact, almost 10% of Australians use antidepressants each year.³ Finding the right medication and the right dose can be challenging, often requiring several trial-and-error attempts. Approximately two thirds of people do not get better with the first medication they’re prescribed and one third of people do not recover even after four different medications are tried.⁴

Pharmacogenomics is a new, simple genetic test which can determine how a person will respond to medication. The ALIGNED Study (AustraLIan trial of GeNotype-guided pharmacothErapy for Depression) is looking at how pharmacogenomics can help to find the right antidepressant medication for people with depression, in order to reduce adverse effects and increase medication tolerability, improving the likelihood of recovery from depression.