Each person is different
Antidepressants work differently for different people. What helps one person might not work the same way for another. We're studying these individual differences.
Get treatment nowImprove future depression care
Join the RELMED study to receive effective antidepressant treatment and help improve depression care across the UK.
You'll also receive up to £125 compensation for your time and contribution.
In Partnership With
Who can take part?
We are looking for volunteers who would like to help advance depression treatment research from home.
You may be eligible if you:
- Are aged 18 or over
- Are currently experiencing low mood or depression
- Are registered with a GP in England
- Have not taken antidepressants in the past six weeks
- Want to start treatment with antidepressant medication
- Are not pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy
Interested in participating? Register your interest below.
Final eligibility is confirmed after registration and initial assessment.
How it works
Your participation journey from start to finish.
1
Registration & Screening
Fill in a short online form and some questionnaires. We'll check if you're eligible and get in touch.
2
Optional: EEG Lab Visit
You can visit our lab for an EEG. You'll wear a cap that records your brain activity. You'll receive extra payment and a printout of your brainwaves.
3
Online Computer Tasks
Complete simple computer tasks or games and questionnaires at home. These help us understand how you learn and how you're feeling.
4
Treatment
You'll receive one of two antidepressants delivered to your home. At first, you won't know which one you're taking, and during the first two weeks only, you may be given a placebo (a harmless "dummy" pill). After eight weeks, we'll let you know exactly which medication you're on. Both antidepressants we use—escitalopram and bupropion—are known to be effective, but they work in slightly different ways.
5
Follow-Up
Over 6 months, you'll complete a few more online check-ins to track your progress. At the end, we'll help you gradually stop the medication. We'll be in touch with you throughout.
Time Commitment
7-8 hours total over 6 months, completed at your convenience from home.
Optional EEG assessments: two 3-hour in-person sessions.
Compensation
You will be compensated for your time, receiving £50–£125 depending on which study components you participate in.
The science behind RELMED
Everyone is different. Just like we all have unique fingerprints, we each respond to medications differently. RELMED uses science to understand these differences and help improve future treatment.
Learning from life
We learn from every experience—not just in school, but from daily life, relationships, and challenges. These experiences shape how we feel and what motivates us. We're studying how these individual patterns relate to depression.
Helping future patients
Your participation helps us discover patterns that could one day help doctors choose the right medication from the start, sparing future patients from trying different options to find what works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the RELMED study, participation, and what to expect.
Our Sites & Team
The RELMED study is a multi-centre collaboration across the UK.