Increasing Adolescent Resilience Against Depression: Extending RAP To Include A Peer-Interpersonal Relatedness Component
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$76,361.00
Summary
Adolescence is a challenging time and depression may develop due to the stress of school work, parental expectations, peer pressure, or family conflict. The Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP) teaches coping strategies to build self-esteem and deal with stress. Good peer relationships also protect youths from depression: The RAP-PIR project teaches adolescents additional social skills, strategies for managing bullying, and friendship skills. We expect RAP-PIR will help prevent youth depression.
Improved Treatment Of Comorbid Anxiety And Depression In Adolescents: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,250.00
Summary
Anxiety and depression are serious mental disorders that affect large numbers of children and adolescents in our community. In particular, young people with both anxiety and depression may experience severe difficulties including poor physical health, social and interpersonal problems, academic problems, drug and alcohol problems, long-term adjustment problems and suicidal behaviour. Although a range of very effective treatments have been developed to treat anxiety and depression separately, the ....Anxiety and depression are serious mental disorders that affect large numbers of children and adolescents in our community. In particular, young people with both anxiety and depression may experience severe difficulties including poor physical health, social and interpersonal problems, academic problems, drug and alcohol problems, long-term adjustment problems and suicidal behaviour. Although a range of very effective treatments have been developed to treat anxiety and depression separately, there is very little work on the treatment of young people with both these problems. Some studies suggest that youth with both anxiety and depression together do worse in currently available treatments, compared to their peers with only a single condition. The current grant seeks to test whether a new treatment addressing both anxiety and depression concurrently, is superior to standard treatments for adolescents experiencing both these emotional problems. It is predicted that the addition of extra components to standard treatments, will result in considerably greater improvements in these more complex cases.Read moreRead less
A New Approach To Curbing Risky Trajectories Of Adolescent Alcohol-tobacco Use: A Tailored Brief Program For Parents.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,271.00
Summary
Parent-adolescent interactions predict adolescent involvement in alcohol and tobacco use, and parent-oriented programs reduce conduct problems. Nevertheless, parent training is a rare alcohol-tobacco-related prevention strategy. This research will evaluate a brief parent program for adolescents at risk of escalating alcohol-tobacco problems. The technology should be cost-effective and readily complement existing school prevention strategies.
A Multisite Randomised Controlled Trial Of The Adolescent Cannabis Check-up
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$211,250.00
Summary
Recent Australian surveys cannabis use is more common than tobacco use among 14-19 year old (24.6% vs. 20.2%). More than 200,000 14-19 year olds have used cannabis in the last month and 7.1% report daily use. The population prevalence of cannabis dependence increases throughout adolescence, with a rate of 30% among those who use cannabis more than five times per year. Although experimentation is a normal part of adolescent development, regular cannabis use by young people exposes them to the neg ....Recent Australian surveys cannabis use is more common than tobacco use among 14-19 year old (24.6% vs. 20.2%). More than 200,000 14-19 year olds have used cannabis in the last month and 7.1% report daily use. The population prevalence of cannabis dependence increases throughout adolescence, with a rate of 30% among those who use cannabis more than five times per year. Although experimentation is a normal part of adolescent development, regular cannabis use by young people exposes them to the negative effects of cannabis at a time of rapid development and transitions in life roles. There have been no studies reported of interventions suitable for adolescents with cannabis problems who are not seeking treatment but are causing great concern for their families, schools and communities. The Adolescent Cannabis Check-up (ACCU) fills this serious gap by providing adolescents with an opportunity to objectively assess their cannabis use and develop strategies for change in a non-judgemental environment. The ACCU is a 2 session intervention: assessment and a follow-up session of personalised feed-back and brief skills-based therapy. Recruitment may be either direct or via a concerned family member. This novel approach provides parents with telephone coaching, and supporting booklets, on techniques to encourage their young person to participate. A feasibility study of 80 families has found more than 50% were able to do so. That study of 55 adolescents found a significant reduction in levels of cannabis use and an abstinence rate of 24.2% 3 months following participation in the ACCU. This project wll involve a multi-site RCT to compare the impact of the ACCU with a delayed treatment control group, on levels of cannabis use, dependence, and cannabis-related problems. This project would fill a gap in treatment service models and involve families in an initiative to assist young people to develop motivation and skills to abstain from problematic cannabis use.Read moreRead less