Living with Anxiety (LwA) study digital media kit 

FOR IMMEDIATE USE, TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2025

CONSUMER MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE USE: TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2025

                                                                                                        

 

 

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Unravelling the genetic code of anxiety disorders

AUS researchers seeking 5,000 adults diagnosed with anxiety for

groundbreaking ‘Living with Anxiety’ genetics study

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Aussie researchers are seeking 5,000 adult (18+ years) volunteers diagnosed with, or treated for anxiety, for a groundbreaking anxiety study.

 

Anxiety disorders affect 3.4 million Australians, and represent the nation’s most common mental health condition.1

 

The Living with Anxiety (LwA) study aims to identify genes that influence a person’s risk of developing anxiety, and their response to treatment, with the goal of improving diagnosis, management and treatment.

 

"The researchers' appeal for volunteers is coinciding with the publication of their article in MJA Insight+ today, explaining how the LwA study is set to pave the way toward more personalised and optimised anxiety disorder treatments, by pinpointing the genes that predict a person’s response to different treatments.

 

“Anxiety can present in various forms,2 and may significantly compromise a person’s quality of life, including their ability to work, socialise, and maintain relationships,” 1,3-5 said Lead Study Investigator, and head of the Psychiatric Genetics group at QIMR Berghofer, Professor Sarah Medland OAM, Brisbane.

 

“While psychological therapies are usually the first, and most effective treatment option6 for these life-disrupting anxiety disorders,7 medication is also commonly prescribed. Finding the right medication, can however, prove time-consuming and complex.

 

“For some, medication may cause both immediate side-effects – headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, or sleep difficulties – and longer-term complications – weight gain, or sexual dysfunction,”8 Prof Medland said.

 

“Concerningly, around one-in-five people who take medication for their anxiety experience distressing
side-effects,9 which often leads to treatment cessation,10 while up to 65 per cent may fail to respond to prescribed treatments due to their genetic makeup.11

 

“With our large-scale LwA study, we are striving to collect data from a diverse group of Australians with lived experience of anxiety, to pinpoint the specific genes potentially influencing both their journey with the disorder, and response to treatment,” said Prof Medland.

 

“Unravelling the genetics of anxiety disorders will enable the development of new, and more effective,  personalised treatments, better able to target the problem directly.”

 

Anxiety disorders affect one in six Australians aged 16-85 years each year,12 and are often associated with other conditions, such as depression.12 These disorders can significantly impact daily functioning and overall wellbeing.12  In fact, anxiety and depressive disorders are among the most common reasons patients visit their general practitioner (GP).13  

 

“The LwA study recognises the complexities of mental health, and co-occurrence of other mental health conditions,” LwA study Co-Investigator, Professor of Psychiatry, and Co-Director of Health & Policy,
The University of Sydney Brain & Mind Centre, Prof Ian Hickie AO, Sydney said.

 

“Any Australian adults diagnosed with anxiety, along with their family members who also have anxiety, are encouraged to participate. This includes those with co-existing mental health conditions, such as depressive disorders.

 

“Despite the prevalence and impacts of living with anxiety, the exact cause remains unclear. We understand a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors contribute to its development,” said Prof Hickie.

 

“The condition can manifest as physical symptoms, or as emotional and behavioural challenges. 14-16

 

“Understanding how DNA influences one’s response to medications (pharmacogenomics)17 can be advanced through large-scale studies, such as the LwA study, with the long-term aim of helping to streamline the process of finding optimal treatments for all Australians living with anxiety, and co-occurring conditions,” Prof Hickie said.  

 

Study Co-Investigator and Head of Genetic Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer, Prof Nick Martin, Brisbane,
said harnessing insights into a person’s genetic predisposition to anxiety will improve understanding of the biochemical and neurochemical causes, and what is going on in the brain, resulting in the development of more effective treatments.

 

“Knowing anxiety has a strong genetic component can help those living with the condition realise they are not at fault and, in fact, developing the condition may have been beyond their control.

 

“The best way to fix a problem is to unravel its fundamental cause. But for this, we need DNA samples from more than 5,000 Australians diagnosed with anxiety,” said Prof Martin.  

 

“Saliva samples from LwA study volunteers will allow us to compare the DNA from large groups of people diagnosed with anxiety, with those free from the condition, in order to pinpoint the genes involved. 

 

“LwA study volunteers simply need to complete a 30-minute online questionnaire, and those who qualify will be invited to donate a saliva sample,” Prof Martin said.

 

“Every study participant will be offering hope to future generations, by enabling the potential development of more effective, and personalised treatments.

 

“Those wishing to volunteer for, or learn about the LwA study can head to:
livingwithanxiety.org.au or email lwa@qimrb.edu.au,” said Prof Martin. 

 

Small business owner and outdoors enthusiast, Krish, 26, Blue Mountains, has wrestled with anxiety for most of her life.

 

“For a long time, I felt like my mind was constantly spiralling, and I struggled to cope. One thought would trigger another, and quickly escalate into a flood of worries and emotions. But thanks to my parents’ support, and psychological therapy, I’m now in a better place.

 

“While I have no known family diagnosis of anxiety, I attribute some of my anxious traits to my upbringing,” Krish said.

 

“I was raised in a caring, high-achieving household of Indian descent, that was constantly on the move.
I believe this environment resulted in my anxiety.

 

“Fortunately, over time, I’ve learned to manage my anxiety, by recognising my triggers and working on myself. I recently moved from Sydney to the Blue Mountains, to lead a slower life,” said Krish.

 

“Nowadays, I turn to nature and grounding techniques, like hiking and walking barefoot, to help me feel connected and at peace. I do what’s best for me.”

 

Krish has chosen to participate in the LwA study, and urges other Australian adults diagnosed with anxiety, to volunteer.

 

“If you’re aged 18 years and over, and have been diagnosed with anxiety, be part of the change.
Participate in the LwA study to help yourself, and others too.”

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LwA recruitment closes at 5pm on Monday, September 1, 2025.

 

LwA study participants must be aged 18 years and over. Participation is strictly confidential and in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) ethical guidelines and the Privacy Act. Researchers will send a saliva collection kit together with a pre-paid return envelope to eligible participants who have given informed consent and completed the initial survey.

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About QIMR Berghofer

QIMR Berghofer is a world-leading translational research institute, renowned for its efforts in both discovery and real patient outcomes, specialising in mental health, cancer, infectious diseases, and a range of chronic diseases. With the vision to lead the way to significant innovation in health – nationally and globally – QIMR Berghofer aims to improve health by developing new diagnostics, better treatments and prevention strategies. To learn more, head to qimrb.edu.au.18

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Should you suspect that you, or a loved one, may be living with anxiety, speak to your local healthcare practitioner without delay.

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Australian professional patient support services offering 24/7 helpline services include:

• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

• Lifeline: 13 11 14

• MensLine: 1300 78 9978

• MindSpot Clinic: 1800 61 4434

• SANE Australia: 1800 18 7263

• Headspace on 1800 650 890.

 

ends#

 

Issued by VIVA! Communications on behalf of QIMR Berghofer.

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References

1.    National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing [Internet]. Canberra: ABS: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2023 [Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/latest-release].

2.    Anxiety disorders: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); [Available from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders].

3.    Anxiety: healthdirect; 2024 [Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/anxiety].

4.    Kvaal K, McDougall FA, Brayne C, Matthews FE, Dewey ME. Co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive disorders in a community sample of older people: results from the MRC CFAS (Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study). Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008;23(3):229-37.

5.    American Psychiatric A. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5-TR. Fifth edition, text revision. ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.

6.    Anxiety Treatment: Black Dog Institute; [Available from: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/anxiety/treatment/].

7.    Anxiety Disorders: National Institutes of Mental Health; [Available from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders#:~:text=Anxiety%20disorder%20symptoms%20can%20interfere,refuse%20to%20leave%20their%20home].

8.    Antidepressants: healthdirect; [Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/antidepressants#:~:text=headaches%20and%20dizziness,also%20known%20as%20serotonin%20syndrome].

9.    Whooley MA, Simon GE. Managing depression in medical outpatients. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(26):1942-50.

10.   Kopcalic K, Arcaro J, Pinto A, Ali S, Barbui C, Curatoli C, et al. Antidepressants versus placebo for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025;1(1):Cd012942.

11.   Krebs K, Milani L. Translating pharmacogenomics into clinical decisions: do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Human Genomics. 2019;13(1):39.

12.   National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2023 [cited 2024. [Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/latest-release].

13.   General Practice - Health of the Nation - An annual insight into the state of Australian general practice: RACGP; 2024 [Available from: https://www.racgp.org.au/general-practice-health-of-the-nation].

14.   Penninx BWJH, Pine DS, Holmes EA, Reif A. Anxiety disorders. The Lancet. 2021;397(10277):914-27.

15.   Mental illness: healthdirect; [Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-illness].

16.   Anxiety disorders: World Health Organization; 2023 [Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anxiety-disorders].

17.   Genomics and Your Health - Pharmacogenomics: CDC [Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/pharmacogenomics/index.html].

18.   QIMR Berghofer. About QIMR Berghofer 2024 [Available from: https://www.qimrb.edu.au/about].

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