Computer-assisted Clinical Guidelines For The Management Of Manifestations Of Anxiety, Aggression And Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,032.00
Summary
This project focuses on creating a new approach to integration of clinical guidelines and the development of a computer-assisted tool to support medical reasoning in psychogeriatrics. The primary focus of this research is on helping medical practitioners to better manage dementia patients with symptoms of anxiety, aggression and depression living in nursing homes. It has the potential to fundamentally improve the way guidelines are utilised in clinical practice
ASPREE-D; Aspirin In The Prevention Of Depression In The Elderly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,784.00
Summary
The ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) study is a 5 year RCT of aspirin (100mg daily) or placebo in 19,000 healthy people over 70. We aim to augment the existing infrastructure of ASPREE in order to confirm the utility of aspirin for the prevention of depression in the elderly (ASPREE-D). The primary aim of ASPREE-D is to determine if use of low-dose aspirin reduces the incidence of de-novo episodes of depression in healthy individuals over 70 years of age.
Regenerative Neuroscience Strategies For Brain Ageing And Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,079.00
Summary
Dementia is the pre-eminent medical challenge of our times as it affects 34 million individuals and will quadruple by 2050. This research therefore aims to develop new preventative and therapeutic strategies for dementia. Seven different studies are proposed, ranging from new stem-cell treatments for testing in rodents, to human clinical trials looking at the preventative effects of physical and mental exercise. These are linked by a central idea of boosting the brain’s neuroplasticity.
Deep Brain Stimulation In The Treatment Of Severe Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,008,087.00
Summary
Some patients with depression fail to respond to a variety of standard treatments and in this group, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is being evaluated as an alternative treatment option. This study will investigate the use of DBS applied to a novel brain target site in patients with highly treatment refractory depression.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Aripiprazole For Treatment Of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations In Borderline Personality Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,748,148.00
Summary
People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often report hearing voices. There is no consensus about how to treat these symptoms. Our study aims to address this clinical problem by conducting a 12 week trial of antipsychotic medication in patients who hear voices and have a diagnosis of BPD. The study will examine the effect of this medication on the nature of these voices, as well as other aspects of mental illness and brain functioning. The results will directly inform clinical practice.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Magnetic Seizure Therapy In Major Depressive Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,049.00
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the only established treatment for a substantial sub-population of patients who fail to respond to other therapies. However, there are significant complications of ECT including memory related side-effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a new form of treatment for severe depression, magnetic seizure therapy, which appears to have a substantially reduced rate of cognitive side-effects.
Improving Treatment Responses For Co-occurring Mental And Substance Use Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Mental and substance use disorders are two of Australia's most prevalent and burdensome health conditions, and they frequently co-occur. My program of research aims to improve our limited understanding of, and ability to successfully treat, mental and substance use disorders; with a view to improving the lives of the 3 million Australians who suffer from these disorders each year.
Physical Activity For Young People With Depression: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial To Test The Effectiveness Of Incorporating A Brief Intervention Into Routine Clinical Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,678,739.00
Summary
Depression and physical activity in young people are linked: lack of physical activity is a risk-factor for depression and physical activity can improve symptoms of depression. Physical activity is not routinely provided as an intervention, despite its potential to improve immediate treatment outcomes and prevent poor physical health. This study will evaluate an intervention that aims to include a brief physical activity intervention in routine clinical care for young people with depression.
Examining New Treatments And Developing New Treatment Biomarkers For Youth With Severe Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$338,381.00
Summary
Antidepressant medications and psychotherapy have been the mainstays of depression treatment in young people, but given their modest effectiveness, there is a pressing need for new treatment strategies. During this fellowship I aim to examine better treatments for depression, and develop better predictors about who is likely to benefit from them.
Optimising Current Therapeutic Approaches To Schizophrenia: The OPTiMiSE Consortium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,016,659.00
Summary
Despite modern treatments advances (medications and psychological treatments), the prognosis of schizophrenia has only improved marginally and is individually variable. The OPTiMiSE Consortium, consisting of leading experts in schizophrenia research across Europe and a group in Australia, will commence a 5-year research program world-first in scale and scope. We will investigate the biological markers related to treatment response in over 1000 individuals with recent-onset schizophrenia. Schizop ....Despite modern treatments advances (medications and psychological treatments), the prognosis of schizophrenia has only improved marginally and is individually variable. The OPTiMiSE Consortium, consisting of leading experts in schizophrenia research across Europe and a group in Australia, will commence a 5-year research program world-first in scale and scope. We will investigate the biological markers related to treatment response in over 1000 individuals with recent-onset schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a chronic disease and despite modern medication and psychological treatments the outcome is highly variable and often poor. The Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre is part of the European based OPTiMiSE Consortium, the largest ever research program evaluating why individuals with schizophrenia vary in response to different medications. We will examine what characteristics predict which drugs are most helpful to 120 individuals with first episode schizophreniaRead moreRead less