Kava For The Treatment Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A 16-Week Double-Blind RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,489.00
Summary
Herbal medicines play a prominent role in traditional medicine to treat affective disorders (mood and anxiety disorders), however scientific studies are needed to truly assess their effectiveness. This clinical trial is examining the anxiolytic efficacy of Kava in treating chronic anxiety. As current response to antidepressant drugs can be inadequate, Kava may offer an additional affordable, safe, and effective option to reduce anxiety.
The Efficacy Of Adjunctive Garcinia Mangostana Linn. Pericarp For Bipolar Depression: A 24-week Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,227,272.00
Summary
Bipolar disorder, especially during episodes of depression, can be highly debilitating. There is scientific evidence now directing research towards new targets to produce new therapies for bipolar depression. The current study aims to utilise an entirely new agent made from the husk of the mangosteen fruit (mangosteen pericarp). Mangosteen pericarp has properties that we believe will assist in reducing symptoms for those with bipolar depression, when taken in addition to usual treatment.
Clinical And Neurobiological Predictors Of Onset Of Major Mental Disorders (mania, Psychosis, Severe Depression), And Associated Functional Impairment, In Adolescent And Young Adult Twins: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,356,103.00
Summary
The Brisbane Twin Study is a prospective twin study tracking the real-time developmental trajectories of the onset of anxiety, mood, psychotic or substance misuse disorders through adolescence and young adulthood. This unique study has now reached the point where reassessment (after 20 years) can be performed. We will now determine the extent to which outcomes are predicted by neurobiological and genetic markers. This information is critical to prevention or early intervention strategies.
Probing Neural Circuits Of Emotion With Ultrafast FMRI And Dynamic Natural Stimuli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,012.00
Summary
Emotion is central to our everyday experience and forms the backbone of our social relationships. Our understanding on emotion, however, mostly relies on strictly controlled task designs, using highly simplified and/or artificial stimuli. In this project, we propose a new platform to study brain activity underlying natural emotional experience. The design and methodology developed in this proposal will provide fundamental outcomes for understanding emotion disturbances in mental disorders.
The Biology Of Risk For Bipolar Disorder: Genetic Effects In A High-risk Longitudinal Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$856,412.00
Summary
Bipolar disorder is a severe mood disorder affecting over 350,000 Australians. Some children of bipolar disorder patients will also become ill, although currently we have no tools to predict which of these genetically at-risk young individuals will eventually develop symptoms. This study will use genetic information plus brain structural changes to predict which at-risk individuals are likely to become ill. This study will help elucidate early clinical and biological markers of bipolar disorder.
Relaxin-3/RXFP3 Signalling And Regulation Of Affective Behaviour _ Studies In Normal/transgenic Mice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,268.00
Summary
Mental illness is a significant social and economic burden worldwide and knowledge of the underlying causes and more effective therapies are required. Our research aims to use pre-clinical animal models to characterize a little studied brain neuronal network implicated in control of arousal and stress, which could lead to improved treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression.
A Brief Couple-focussed Psychoeducational Intervention To Prevent Postnatal Mental Health Problems In Women: A Cluster Randomised Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$703,437.00
Summary
Mental health problems in women after childbirth are of national concern. Interventions to prevent these have had little success. What Were We Thinking (WWWT) is a promising new program for mothers, fathers and newborns. It provides knowledge and skills about soothing and settling babies and enhancing parents’ understanding of their changed needs and how to share the workload fairly. This trial will test whether WWWT improves women’s mental health in the first six months of motherhood.