CANBERRA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- A nationwide clinical trial in Australia is testing a new treatment for panic disorder, a severe anxiety condition affecting around 5 percent of Australians.
Hosted by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) Clinical Trials Platform among 20 sites, the trial seeks to test a novel combination therapy, HB-1, which targets the body's central stress response system rather than traditional neurotransmitters, a SAHMRI statement said on Tuesday.
Panic disorder causes sudden, unpredictable attacks with symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shaking, and dizziness, it said, adding current treatments often have side effects and don't work well for many, highlighting the need for better options.
The statement cited Toby Whittle, a 24-year-old student teacher from South Australia's Adelaide, who described panic attacks during the COVID-19 pandemic as overwhelming, causing intense shaking and breathlessness, leading him to avoid many activities to prevent anxiety.
"When you're having one of these episodes, all you want is to regain control. A medication that could help achieve that would be a step in the right direction," Whittle said.
The HB-1 treatment combines two medications already approved in Australia for other conditions, and the trial aims to determine if it can safely and effectively reduce panic disorder symptoms while causing fewer side effects, said SAHMRI Principal Investigator Fran Adams.
"What makes this treatment promising is it targets the body's physiological stress system in a different way, which could allow for greater relief without the burden of side effects commonly experienced with medications currently on the market," Adams said.
The trial is recruiting participants aged 18 to 65 who are diagnosed with panic disorder or experience regular panic attacks. ■
