Extract

Background and study aims The Nottingham study of neurotic disorder (NSND) was set up in 1983 to look at both the short and long term outcome of common anxiety and depressive disorders. In particular, it examined whether separately classifying individual neurotic disorders (for example into depression, bipolar affective disorder, social anxiety disorder) was actually helpful for either science or in treating sufferers of these conditions. Many patients were found to be have a mixed anxiety/depression disorder and could be considered to suffer from a general neurotic syndrome. The study investigated whether diagnosing a patient as suffering from a general neurotic disorder rather than making a conventional clinical diagnosis made any difference to predicting how the patient responded to treatment, or whether some modes of treatment (different treatments) were more successful than others. Data for the study has been collected on 9 further occasions since 1983, the last time being 12 years after the start of the trial. We are now repeating the assessments after 30 years as neurotic disorders can have some very long-term effects. Who can participate? Adults on no active treatment at the start of the study and diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, neurotic depression or panic disorder. What does the study involve? Participants are asked to attend a single follow up interview lasting about 85 minutes. The questions cover psychiatric diagnosis and symptoms, personality and social functioning, and service contacts. Written permission to access the patients' general practice medical notes is also requested at the beginning of the interview. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? The patients have been followed up many times previously and have been seen by the same investigator, Dr Helen Tyrer, on the last occasion. Many look forward to the updated assessment and all of those approached at 12 years who gave consent to be seen at 30 years have been noted. At 12 years we had very positive views about the study and its progress. 4 patients who said they did not want to be followed up will not be seen at 30 years. We do not think there are any particular risks of the study – all data to be obtained have been asked about before. We will also be carrying out an interview to find out what major events have occurred over the past 30 years. This will include finding out how much each event has affected their mental health, and how it came about. This is part of a formal investigation into nidotherapy, the changing of the environment to better fit a person and their surroundings. Where is the study run from? Imperial College London (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? January 2014 to June 2017 Who is funding the study? 1. Department of Health – Offender Health (UK) 2. Nicola Pigott Memorial Fund (UK) Who is the main contact? Professor Peter Tyrer [email protected]

Inclusion criteria

• Topic: Mental Health; Subtopic: Anxiety, Depression; Disease: Depression, Anxiety

Links

• ictrp
• isrctn