FAQ
Your questions answered
What will happen if I join this study?
If you agree to be part of this study you will be asked to provide a blood or saliva sample. You also will be asked to provide consent for researchers to access your medical records so that they can obtain relevant data about your mood disorder and your treatment for it. You may also be asked to provide information on your demographics and medical history.
How many people will be in this study?
Up to 15,000 participants will take part in this multicenter study.
Where will my blood/saliva samples be kept?
Biospecimens (Blood and saliva samples) that are collected will be processed and stored at the Johns Hopkins Biological Repository.
Will my genetic data be stored anywhere else?
As part of thus study, we will collect information about your health and individual genes. This information will be sent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) designated data repository that includes genomic and other data from studies funded by the NIH. The repository is a “controlled-access” repository, which means your individual de-identified data is only available to researchers who apply to the NIH.
Why does the NIH collect this genetic information?
Collection of this data allows researchers to look for genetic connections that may increase an individual’s likelihood of getting a certain disease (such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease or mental illness) or a condition (such as high blood pressure or obesity). Genetic connections also may affect the progress of certain diseases or conditions, or may affect treatments that work for certain diseases in some people but not others.
Are there any costs to being a part of this study?
There may be risks to your privacy from collecting and storing information about you for this study. However, we take necessary measures to protect your privacy. We will not share any direct identifiers we collect from you with other researchers, and your data will be coded before we share it with others.
Will I be paid to be in this study?
You will receive reimbursement for any additional cost of transportation and parking costs incurred as a result of taking part in this study.
What should I do to enroll in the study?
You can click on the Participate button and provide us with information to contact you. We will then contact you to explain the study further and get your informed consent. Alternatively, if you are getting treatment at one of the ECT centers listed below in Locations, you may ask your treating doctor about the study.
Can I change my mind later and leave the study?
Yes, you can leave the study early; it will not affect your regular medical care. If you do leave the study early, however, the information already collected from you may still be used as needed for this study or follow-up activities.
What is Docusign?
To sign the forms online that are associated with your participation in this study you may use an electronic signature service called DocuSign.
DocuSign is a secured online service that is used to sign electronically in more than 180 countries around the world. DocuSign allows you to use what is called an “e-signature” to sign forms safely and securely from in front of your computer.
What if I have questions about this study?
If you have questions about the study, please send us an email at JHMood@jh.edu. Or, you may call us at (410) 614-1923. Please refer to the GenECT Study.
