Quantifying The Predictors And Risks Of Problematic Alcohol Use
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
This Fellowship will identify the health outcomes, pathways to disability and death, and risk and protective factors for these harms among people with alcohol problems. Projects will include a longitudinal study of people with existing alcohol problems, a longitudinal study of adolescent emerging alcohol consumers, and a field study of alcohol problems in night-time entertainment areas. Findings will inform standardised alcohol screening and intervention and expansion of alcohol treatment.
Empowering The Community To Take Action On Prevention And Early Intervention For Mental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$756,030.00
Summary
The vision of this application is to make Australia the world leader in research which empowers the community to take action for prevention and early intervention with mental disorders.
A Randomised Stepped Wedge Trial Of The Scaling Up Of A Community Based Alcohol Education Program In Rural Sri Lankan Villages And Its Effects On Alcohol Use, And Associated Harms, Depression And Social Capital.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$825,364.00
Summary
Alcohol use is major problem in much of rural Asia. In addition to direct effects on health it is major contributor to suicide, domestic violence and poverty. Much of the alcohol consumed is illicit and so consumption is not influenced by regulation or taxation. This is a trial of a community intervention in rural Sri Lanka to reduce alcohol use and alcohol related disorders that uses participatory drama in conjunction with previously trialed educational materials.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a common and frequently undiagnosed neurological disease due to thiamine deficiency. The condition leads to cognitive and neurological disability and mostly affects people with alcohol dependence. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is eminently treatable with thiamine, although we have insufficient knowledge regarding the best dose of thiamine to treat the condition. This project proposes two controlled trials to evaluate treatment effectiveness of thiamine for Wernicke-K ....Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a common and frequently undiagnosed neurological disease due to thiamine deficiency. The condition leads to cognitive and neurological disability and mostly affects people with alcohol dependence. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is eminently treatable with thiamine, although we have insufficient knowledge regarding the best dose of thiamine to treat the condition. This project proposes two controlled trials to evaluate treatment effectiveness of thiamine for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.Read moreRead less
Single-focussed Versus Integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy For Co-occurring Depression And Alcohol Use Problems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$777,500.00
Summary
This study is significant and timely in that it proposes a large-scale randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for people with co-occurring depression and alcohol use problems. To date, very few researchers have conducted research within this population, whose complex presentation makes it difficult for treatment providers to select and deliver effective treatment programs. Thus, although rates of depressive disorders and alcohol use problems are on the increase in our c ....This study is significant and timely in that it proposes a large-scale randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for people with co-occurring depression and alcohol use problems. To date, very few researchers have conducted research within this population, whose complex presentation makes it difficult for treatment providers to select and deliver effective treatment programs. Thus, although rates of depressive disorders and alcohol use problems are on the increase in our community, it is still not clear how best to manage and treat this group of people. Typically, people will often receive treatment for one part of their presentation, for example their depression or alcohol use problem. However, it is uncommon for the two conditions to be treated in an integrated way. This is certainly true for psychological treatments. Research programs to date have explored effective treatments for depression and alcohol use in the absence of the co-occurring condition. Currently it is not known how well people with co-occurring alcohol use problems and depression respond to treatments with a singular focus. Furthermore, it is not known whether integrating both alcohol use and depressive treatment approaches provides any additional benefit. This study is therefore significant, as it is one of the first to explore effective treatment approaches among people with co-occurring depressive and alcohol use problems. Resolution of these issues will better inform the treatment choices of clinicians practicing in both mental health and alcohol-other drug settings. Importantly, this will potentially improve the match between treatment and people with depression and substance use problems, a clinically prevalent population encountered in community settings.Read moreRead less
Technology And Innovation In The Delivery Of Efficient, Effective Treatments For Comorbid Conditions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,140.00
Summary
Treatment for co-occurring depression and alcohol/other drug use is difficult to access, due to a range of individual and service-level problems. This proposal will build on significant Australian research into psychological treatments for co-occurring problems, by developing and determining the most beneficial, flexible, cost effective models of treatment for these increasingly prevalent problems, regardless of location and ability to access treatment services.
The Effectiveness Of A Clinical Practice Change Intervention Increasing Community Mental Health Clinician Adherence To Preventive Care Guidelines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
I am a Health Psychologist focused on the physical health needs of those with a mental illness. Four health risk behaviours - tobacco smoking, risky alcohol use, physical inactivity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, constitute the primary behavioural risks for the most common cause of mortality for those with a mental illness – cardiovascular disease. This project seeks to improve assessment and treatment of these factors through the implementation of strategies to improve clinical ....I am a Health Psychologist focused on the physical health needs of those with a mental illness. Four health risk behaviours - tobacco smoking, risky alcohol use, physical inactivity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, constitute the primary behavioural risks for the most common cause of mortality for those with a mental illness – cardiovascular disease. This project seeks to improve assessment and treatment of these factors through the implementation of strategies to improve clinical practice in community mental health services.Read moreRead less
Healthy, Wealthy And Wise: The Long-term Effectiveness Of An Online Universal Program To Prevent Substance Use And Mental Health Problems Among Australian Youth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,472,709.00
Summary
The proposed study represents a unique opportunity to build on the NHMRC funded Climate Schools Combined (CSC) study, a world-first trial of a combined, internet-delivered school-based approach to preventing substance use, anxiety and depression. Having successfully implemented this trial and followed these students for 3 years, we propose to extend follow-up of this large trial cohort over the critical transition from secondary school into early adulthood.
A Randomised Clinical Trial Of Internet-based Treatment For Binge Drinking And Depression In Young Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$941,787.00
Summary
This project focuses on a common clinical problem that causes substantial functional, economic and health impacts; comorbid depression and binge drinking. These conditions are under-treated and peak in young adulthood. This project offers a low cost, wide reach, youth-appropriate treatment, which will have profound implications for service design and health policy. It relates to current Commonwealth initiatives in e-health and e-Psychology.
Integrating Treatment For Alcohol Use Problems And Comorbid PTSD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$658,073.00
Summary
Comorbid alcohol use problems and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common mental health problems that cause disability and distress. Despite this, there are few randomized controlled trials of interventions. The proposed study is the first Australian randomised controlled trial in this field to address the question of whether treating PTSD and alcohol use problems is superior to treating alcohol use problems alone. The study compares the relative efficacy of a manual guided treatment for ....Comorbid alcohol use problems and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common mental health problems that cause disability and distress. Despite this, there are few randomized controlled trials of interventions. The proposed study is the first Australian randomised controlled trial in this field to address the question of whether treating PTSD and alcohol use problems is superior to treating alcohol use problems alone. The study compares the relative efficacy of a manual guided treatment for alcohol use disorder alone with a simultaneous treatment for alcohol use and PTSD. This study improves on the methodological limitations described in the two existing studies reported in the published literature. Two-hundred and sixty four participants will be recruited from mutiple sites (media, GPs, specialist clinics) and treated in the community at two sites in Sydney. Participants will be eligible if they consume harmful levels of alcohol (NHMRC risky or high risk levels) and have a concurrent diagnosis of PTSD based on recognised diagnostic criteria. Treatment will consist of 16 sessions of manual guided individual psychological therapy that has been found to be very efficacious with each problem alone. The efficacy of treatment will be determined on the basis of reductions in harmful drinking (above NHMRC low risk levels) and in symptoms of PTSD. Participants will be followed up by an independent, blind, clinician three and six months after treatment completion. The findings of this study have the potential to provide valuable information regarding the treatment needs of people with these complex presentations to clinicians and policy developers alike.Read moreRead less