AUS researchers seeking 5,000 adults diagnosed with anxiety for groundbreaking ‘Living with Anxiety’ genetics study
Anxiety. It’s a word we hear often, but for 3.4 million Australians, it’s far more than just a fleeting feeling. It’s the country’s most common mental health condition, and now, new research is aiming to change the way we understand and treat it.
In a groundbreaking national study, Aussie researchers are appealing for 5,000 adult volunteers (18+ years) who have been diagnosed with, or treated for, anxiety to take part in the Living with Anxiety (LwA) study.
Their goal? To uncover the genetic clues as to why some people develop anxiety, and why treatments work well for some, but not for others.
According to new research, anxiety affects one in six Australians aged 16 to 85 every year.
Anxiety is not an isolated condition. It’s often closely linked to other serious mental health conditions. Many people living with anxiety also experience:
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Bipolar disorder.
LwA study Co-Investigator, Professor of Psychiatry, and Co-Director of Health and Policy, The University of Sydney Brain & Mind Centre, Prof Ian Hickie AO, is urging Australians to participate in the LwA study, highlighting the importance of understanding anxiety in all its complexity, including how it overlaps with other mental health conditions.
“The LwA study recognises the complexities of mental health, and co-occurrence of other mental health conditions.
“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,” said Prof Hickie.
Watch Prof Hickie’s short video below discussing anxiety and the LwA study. https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/106191601
Anxiety can develop gradually or be triggered by life stressors, and if left unaddressed, can become increasingly debilitating, affecting a person’s quality of life, including their ability to work, socialise and maintain relationships.
Some common symptoms include:
⚡ Racing thoughts or constant worry
⚡ Physical symptoms like nausea, headaches, or muscle tension
⚡ Sleep disturbances or chronic fatigue
⚡ Avoidance of social situations or daily tasks
⚡ Difficulty concentrating or feeling ‘on edge’.
Tuning into these signs early and seeking help can make all the difference in finding the right support and treatment.
University of Sydney lived experience researcher, Alexis, 34, Sydney, shares her personal journey with anxiety – an often misunderstood condition that has deeply impacted both her body and mind. Alexis reflects on how years of mounting stress led to her formal diagnosis in 2020, and how anxiety influenced every facet of her life, from her physical health, to her ability to socialise and function day-to-day.
“People don’t really realise anxiety is actually, a whole body experience.
It’s very physiological.
“I lost 12 kilos. I had gut issues, I was breaking out in skin rashes,” said Alexis.
“I went from being this sociable person – an outgoing extrovert, to being somebody who couldn’t leave the house.
“I couldn’t do simple things like get groceries or meet the delivery guy at the front door,” Alexis said.
Here more from Alexis here: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1062661877/f391e7e51b
Despite how common anxiety disorders are, there’s still so much we don’t understand – why they develop, why they persist, and why some treatments work for certain people but not for others.
That’s why researchers behind the Living with Anxiety (LwA) study are teaming up with Australians who have lived experience of anxiety, aiming to unlock the genetic clues that could lead to better treatments, and ultimately, prevention.
A/Prof Elizabeth Scott, Principal Research Fellow and Academic Lead, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Co-Investigator, LwA study, Sydney explains why deeper research into anxiety disorders is urgently needed, and how the LwA study is working to fill that gap.
“While we understand something about the causes of normal anxiety, we don’t really know anywhere near enough about the causes of anxiety disorders, when they are persistent, or chronic, or recurrent, to be able to provide people with adequate treatment, or to know how to prevent them.
“The LwA study is a way of working with people, with lived experience of anxiety, and their families, to try and understand about the genetics of these disorders, to give us the tools and the ammunition we need to fight anxiety in the future,” said Prof Scott.
Watch A/Prof Scott discussing anxiety and how to participate in the LwA study: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1062584467
Whether your anxiety started in your teens, only recently emerged, or has come and gone throughout your life, your experience matters.
Anxiety can show up in many ways – racing thoughts, sleepless nights, or a constant sense of unease. And while it’s incredibly common, there’s still so much we don’t fully understand about why it happens, or how to treat it effectively for everyone.
That’s why your voice, your story, and your DNA could make a difference.
If you’re aged 18 years or older, and have ever been diagnosed with anxiety or received treatment for it, you can play a vital role in LwA study.
Your contribution could help change the future of mental health care in Australia.
To learn more or to volunteer, head to livingwithanxiety.org.au.
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