Research Centre: Monash Biomedical Imaging
Location: 770 Blackburn Road, Clayton 3168
Lead Doctor: Professor Alex Fornito
Ethics Committee: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project #43629)

Why do some people develop anxiety or depression while others don’t? This research study examines the relationship between brain function, genetics, personality traits and mental health risk and resilience.

People aged 18–45 who have not been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition, have never taken psychiatric medication, and are not currently taking any are invited to participate. The study includes an online questionnaire, one in-person visit (7–8 hours) with cognitive testing, an interview, and an MRI, followed by a short daily survey (1–2 minutes) for 28 days. Compensation of up to $250 is provided.

Click here to see the project explanatory statement.

• You will be compensated up to $250 for participating in this study.
• You will be helping researchers to better understand how to identify people at risk of psychiatric disorders.
• You will be helping researchers to potentially improve early detection and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.
• You will be helping to advance medical research.

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you may withdraw at any time.
• Your records relating to this study and any other information received will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by the law.

• Healthy adults aged 18 – 45 years old 
• Must not have been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition or taken psychiatric medication
• European ancestry (all 4 grandparents of European descent)
• First language is English
• Normal, or corrected to normal, vision
• Must be right-handed
• Must not have any metal in the body (mouth braces, medical implants, or permanent piercings)
• Must not have a history of frequent and recurring headaches or migraines, past seizures, concussions, or loss of consciousness that lasted more than 3 minutes
• Must not have any neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, functional neurological disorder) or history of neurosurgery (e.g. removal of cyst or tumour, or implantation of a stent)
• Must not have a history of:
  • Exposure to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) within the past 6 months
  • More than 2 weeks exposure to TMS within past year
  • More than 3 months continuous TMS at any point in your life
  • Any prior exposure to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
• Not currently pregnant or trying to conceive
• Have not taken hormone blockers, undergone hormone replacement therapy, or had gender-affirming surgery
• Able to attend 1 study visit at the research site