A Controlled Trial Of An Opportunistic Intervention To Reduce Suicide Risk Among Alcohol And Other Substance Misusers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$361,000.00
Summary
Hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation are common among people who misuse alcohol and other substances. A general relationship between alcohol-substance abuse and self-harming - suicidal behaviour has been recognised for decades. From the point of view of diagnosed substance abusers there is a correspondingly high incidence of suicide and self-harm. The lifetime risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is higher than for schizophrenia or affective disorder. Despite the public health and pe ....Hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation are common among people who misuse alcohol and other substances. A general relationship between alcohol-substance abuse and self-harming - suicidal behaviour has been recognised for decades. From the point of view of diagnosed substance abusers there is a correspondingly high incidence of suicide and self-harm. The lifetime risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is higher than for schizophrenia or affective disorder. Despite the public health and personal burden associated with suicidality, the general lack of skills and focus on management of self-harm in specialised drug and alcohol services is of great concern. In this study, all patients attending drug and alcohol services will be screened for suicide risk, and offered a comprehensive psychological treatment to reduce suicide risk and the use of alcohol and other substances.Read moreRead less
Early Intervention For Anxiety And Phobic Disorders In Young Children With Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,674.00
Summary
Children with intellectual disability (ID) are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioural and emotional disturbance, including anxiety and fears, than children of normal intellectual ability. Anxiety problems are a source of distress for the child, impair their ability to learn and are a cause of family burden and community cost. Therefore, effective interventions are urgently required. Research with non-disabled children has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching parents to manage their chil ....Children with intellectual disability (ID) are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioural and emotional disturbance, including anxiety and fears, than children of normal intellectual ability. Anxiety problems are a source of distress for the child, impair their ability to learn and are a cause of family burden and community cost. Therefore, effective interventions are urgently required. Research with non-disabled children has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching parents to manage their child's anxiety, however the effectiveness of this approach in children with ID has not yet been established. This project aims to compare the relative effectiveness of two intervention conditions compared to a waiting list group, for highly anxious children aged 4-7 years with ID. One intervention will teach parents to help their child deal with anxiety problems, and develop skills to overcome their own associated emotional upset and family and social problems. The other intervention will provide non-directive counselling and support to help the parents understand the nature and causes of ID, associated anxiety problems in the child, and parent and family stress. The long term outcome of these two interventions will be assessed by following the children and their families for two years. A manual of each treatment is produced. This project aims to provide evidence for a relatively inexpensive, feasible and effective early intervention program for young children with ID at risk for developing anxiety problems that can be easily taught to professionals and is acceptable to parents. Widespread use of this intervention has the potential to reduce the added burden and cost to families and the community of persistent severe anxiety in young people with ID.Read moreRead less
Healthy Lifestyle Intervention For Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Among People With Psychotic Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,806.00
Summary
This study proposes a multi-site randomised controlled trial of treatment to enhance healthy living among people with psychotic disorders, specifically targeting smoking, diet, and physical activity. These issues are highly prevalent, associated with premature death and reduced quality of life among this group. The results will better inform the treatment choices of clinicians, and will potentially improve the match between treatment and client, improving health and wellbeing of this group.
The Development Of Guidelines And An Intervention For Carers Of People With Bipolar Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,018.00
Summary
This project aims to use a consensus method involving expert carers, consumers and professionals to develop easily accessible information specifically to assist family members in understanding and coping with a loved one's bipolar disorder. It will include things they can do to help reduce bipolar relapse and enhance their own quality of life. This information will be expanded to develop a brief supportive intervention aimed at bolstering the coping skills and wellbeing of family members.
Mental health problems begin in childhood. I am a behavioural scientist funded to tease out the early markers of risk. I am specifically focusing on the behavioural and genetic aspects of abnormalities of emotion processing and how best to intervene early
The Mechanism, Predictive Value And Impact Of Apathy In Patients With Alzheimers Disease And Their Caregivers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$542,370.00
Summary
Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia have been consistently associated with increased patients’ distress, and are considered by caregivers as the most difficult symptoms to manage. Apathy is the state of loss of motivation and emotional withdrawal that occurs in a high proportion of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These patients require more management and support, given their reliance on others to schedule their activities and initiate behaviours even when they are still capabl ....Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia have been consistently associated with increased patients’ distress, and are considered by caregivers as the most difficult symptoms to manage. Apathy is the state of loss of motivation and emotional withdrawal that occurs in a high proportion of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These patients require more management and support, given their reliance on others to schedule their activities and initiate behaviours even when they are still capable of performing the activities. In spite of the high frequency of apathy in dementia and the high potential of negative effects on patients and caregivers, little is known about the cause of this phenomenon, its potential influence upon the long-term progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and on its impact upon caregivers’ emotional well-being. The main aim of our proposal is to examine the mechanism, clinical relevance and impact of apathy in Alzheimer’s disease. More specifically, we will determine whether apathy predicts more severe depression, increasing motor problems, and a faster progression of cognitive and functional problems. Using state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques we will examine the association between apathy and abnormalities in specific brain regions. Finally, we will examine whether caregivers of patients with apathy have relatively more severe emotional problems, a higher care giving burden and poor quality of life.Read moreRead less
Developing Tools And Methods To Improve The Mental Health Of Aboriginal Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,270.00
Summary
Aboriginal children are thought to experience a disproportionately high burden of mental health-related harm. Little is known about the nature and extent of this harm, or how to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children. This fellowship seeks to determine the clinical validity of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire amongst urban Aboriginal children. Subsequently, work will be undertaken with communities to develop an intervention to improve child mental health.
The Development, Assessment And Treatment Of Early Indicators Of Psychopathy In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,130.00
Summary
2.7 Significance - Lay description Conduct problems and antisocial behaviour cost Australian society millions of dollars every year directly through the mental health and criminal justice systems, indirectly through their association with substance abuse and other mental health problems, and associated disruptions to health, relationships, and personal and occupational functioning. Remediation is not effective once a chronic pattern has been established. Recently, research has shown that early s ....2.7 Significance - Lay description Conduct problems and antisocial behaviour cost Australian society millions of dollars every year directly through the mental health and criminal justice systems, indirectly through their association with substance abuse and other mental health problems, and associated disruptions to health, relationships, and personal and occupational functioning. Remediation is not effective once a chronic pattern has been established. Recently, research has shown that early signs of psychopathy in children predict chronic antisocial behaviour and lack of responsiveness to traditional treatments. The current research uses a combination of experimental, longitudinal, and treatment outcome studies to examine: the effectiveness with which early signs of a callous-unemotional temperamental style, hypothesised to be an early indicator of psychopathy, can be measured in children, causal factors and correlates of callous-unemotional traits, whether such traits pose a risk for chronic antisocial behaviour, the effects of callous-unemotional traits on responsiveness to traditional family-school based treatments, and the effectiveness of an innovative method for treating it in the early years. The project leads directly to a range of clinical assessment and treatment strategies for children at risk for chronic antisocial behaviour. The project has the potential to substantially improve the effectiveness of current treatment approaches to conduct problems in children that focus on family and school management.Read moreRead less
The applicant is a clinical psychologist. Research focuses on developing, evaluating and disseminating psychological interventions for co-existing mental health (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, anxiety) and alcohol and other drug problems (e.g. alcohol, c
Deficits Of Insight And Judgment In Alzheimers Disease: Diagnostic Strategy And Clinical Significance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,983.00
Summary
During the next three decades the number of persons older than 85 years will more than double, and the health care need of this burgeoning population are assuming greater importance. Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of dementia in Australia will increase from 172 000 cases in 2000 to 588 000 in 2050. This rapid increase in number of dementia cases will result in an increasing burden for caregivers, and in financial terms, for the working-age population. One of the main clinical problem ....During the next three decades the number of persons older than 85 years will more than double, and the health care need of this burgeoning population are assuming greater importance. Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of dementia in Australia will increase from 172 000 cases in 2000 to 588 000 in 2050. This rapid increase in number of dementia cases will result in an increasing burden for caregivers, and in financial terms, for the working-age population. One of the main clinical problems suffered by individuals of dementia is psychological and behavioural changes such as poor insight, irritability and apathy. These problems account for a large proportion of medical expenses, predict early institutionalization, and are associated with poor quality of life of caregivers. Unfortunately, little is known about the true frequency of problems of insight in dementia, about their impact upon caregivers, and about how to best diagnose the problems of loss of insight and judgment in this condition. Our study will examine the frequency and clinical correlates of poor insight and judgment in dementia, it will establish whether these problems predict other common behavioural problems of Alzheimer’s disease such as apathy and dangerous behaviours, and will demonstrate the reliability and validity of a specific instrument to measure insight and judgment in dementia. This will facilitate the early recognition and adequate treatment of behavioural problems in patients with dementia; it will improve patients’ quality of life, and will have a positive impact on both caregivers’ psychological well-being and on clinical practice.Read moreRead less