Understanding social phobias and anxiety disorders

Investigating the safety of a new mental illness medication

The Understanding Social Phobias and Anxiety Disorders project investigates the efficacy, safety and tolerability of JNJ-42165279 in subjects with social anxiety disorder. JNJ-42165279 is a drug developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica which works by inhibiting the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase to treat anxiety and depression. However, clinical trials of the drug are currently ongoing to investigate the mood patterns linked to the medication.

Our study is looking at the effectiveness of the drug over a 12-week period, working with people suffering from society anxiety disorder (SAD), with and without co-morbid major depressive disorder (MDD). The outcome of the study is expected to see the reduction of symptoms associated with SAD, as assessed on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS).

The overall goal of our study is to establish the efficacy, safety and tolerability of this novel medication in the treatment of patients with social phobia and/or social anxiety disorder. It is hoped this will provide evidence in support of an eventual Therapeutical Goods Administration/USA Federal Drug Administration application for use of this medication in routine clinical practice. We are working on this study through a Memorandum of Understanding with the North Metropolitan Mental Health Service, which was formed at the beginning of 2015.