_edited.png)
POM-D
POM-D (Predictors of Outcomes in Mood Disorders with a Focus on Anxiety) is an ongoing project investigating the link between anxiety symptoms and mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. POM-D is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Barbara Pavlova at Nova Scotia Health.
Why is there a need for POM-D?
Roughly half the population of people with mood disorders (depression or bipolar disorder) will also experience anxiety in their lifetime. People with depression or bipolar who also have anxiety are less likely to respond to treatment for their mood disorder, and tend to fare worse than individuals who do not experience anxiety. As of yet, people with mood disorders and anxiety are not formally treated in a way that is any different from those who do not have anxiety. Of those that do experience anxiety, some have symptoms of anxiety only when they are depressed, while others continue to experience anxiety even when their mood is normal. The latter group may have more trouble recovering from their mood episodes and staying well afterwards. Recognizing this group of people by establishing what factors are associated with persistent anxiety may help to better define this group and allow for better treatment outcomes.
What is the aim of POM-D?
We want to know what predicts whether people with mood disorders (i.e., depression or bipolar disorder) get better and/or stay well. With POM-D, we are aiming to find out whether anxiety makes a difference in how quickly people with mood disorders get better and whether they stay well. We want to find out whether being anxious and remaining anxious when mood improves influences recovery in people with mood disorders. Does persistence of anxiety during periods of normal mood predict unfavourable outcomes in people with mood disorders, and what factors can predict anxiety persistence in this group? We hope that answering these questions will help us identify the group of people who are most likely to stay unwell, so that we can focus our efforts on developing more effective treatments for them.
What does participation involve?
Interested participants will be pre-screened to ensure they are likely to be eligible before participating (see Who is eligible? below). Research visits will occur at enrollment, then monthly, and then once a year after the first year of participation. These visits will include interview and self-report questionnaires and will vary in length. Some visits may be conducted remotely, while in-person sessions will be held at the DCRP in Halifax (in the Abbie J Lane building of the QEII, 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane).
Who is eligible?
This study is recruiting people ages 18 and above in Nova Scotia who have experienced major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. Participants will be screened to ensure eligibility is met before participation begins.
How do I get in touch?
If you are interested in participating in POM-D or would like to find out more, you can get in touch with the DCRP via our contact form, by phone (902 473 5313) or email (pomd@nshealth.ca). To chat with us, you can send us a message on Facebook Messenger.
DCRP personnel for POM-D
Steven Jackson, Research Assistant
Antonya Hall, Research Assistant
Barbara Pavlova, PhD, Principal Investigator