The Extinction Of Conditioned Fear And Its Implications For Cue Exposure Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,430.00
Summary
This project studies extinction of Pavlovian conditioned fear reactions in rats. Extinction of these reactions is an animal model for exposure therapy used in the treatment of anxiety disorders in people. In exposure therapy, the patient, aided by the clinician, confronts trauma-related cues in the absence of any overt danger. The intention of this therapy is to reduce the ability of the trauma-related cues to provoke the fear reactions that are undermining the patient's quality of life. In Pavl ....This project studies extinction of Pavlovian conditioned fear reactions in rats. Extinction of these reactions is an animal model for exposure therapy used in the treatment of anxiety disorders in people. In exposure therapy, the patient, aided by the clinician, confronts trauma-related cues in the absence of any overt danger. The intention of this therapy is to reduce the ability of the trauma-related cues to provoke the fear reactions that are undermining the patient's quality of life. In Pavlovian conditioning, subjects (typically rats) are exposed to a signaling relation between an initially neutral stimulus (e.g., a noise) and a feared outcome (e.g., foot shock). When later repeatedly exposed to the initially neutral but now feared stimulus (the noise) in the absence of the feared outcome, the fear reactions it acquired progressively decline until eventually it fails to elicit any such reactions. The fear reactions are said to have been extinguished. There has been significant progress in understanding the psychological processes and neural mechanisms underlying the acquisition of fear reactions, but much less is known about the processes and mechanisms underlying the extinction of these reactions. The project has two general objectives. The first is to determine the conditions of extinction training that promote long-term loss of fear reactions. The second objective is to determine how the brain controls this extinction of learned fear. Achieving these aims will be significant for two reasons. First, it will contribute to understanding the mechanisms by which animals (including people) learn to adjust their behaviour to bring it into line with the current relations that exist between events in the world. Second, it will provide important information about how such adjustment is facilitated or impaired across extinction training and, thereby, contribute towards understanding both the successes and failures of cue exposure therapy for fear-related disorders.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.
Fear Relapse: Neural Substrates Underlying Its Inhibition And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,476.00
Summary
Exposure-based therapies are effective for anxiety disorders such as post traumatic stress, but two challenges remain: 1) patients that have learned to inhibit their fear are likely to relapse, requiring further therapy; 2) many drop out of therapy since it is aversive and anxiety provoking. We use an animal model to: 1) identify the neural substrates underlying fear inhibition; and 2) determine the conditions that prevent relapse and encourage participation in treatment.
The Effect Of Oxytocin On The Formation, Expression And Inhibition Of Fear Memories
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,243.00
Summary
Oxytocin is a hormone peptide which reduces amygdala activation to threatening stimuli and reduces anxiety in people and laboratory rodents. These results suggest that oxytocin could be a valuable pharmacological adjunct to exposure-based therapy for anxiety disorders. However, several questions must be answered before its therapeutic potential can be determined. As such, this project examines the effects of oxytocin on fear-related behaviours in rats, and neural fear circuits in the amygdala.
Preventing Anxiety, Depression And Substance Use In Adolescents.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,709,988.00
Summary
Anxiety, depressive and substance use disorders account for three quarters of the disability attributed to mental disorders. Yet we have few models of well-implemented prevention programs for these common disorders. The current proposal addresses this gap by evaluating an innovative internet-based approach to preventing mental health and substance use problems in Australian adolescents.
Anxiety and depression are common during early- to mid-adulthood and a major cause of disability. Few studies track individuals over this age range or assess how their experience of anxiety/depression affects them at midlife when many of life’s work, family and personal achievements coalesce. The PATH to Midlife project extends an existing community survey to understand the patterns of anxiety and depression from early to mid-adulthood and identify the personal, social and economic consequences.
Achieving Better Mental Health For Maltreated Children: Translating Population Data Into Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,706.00
Summary
This project uses linked population data to determine (a) the earliest indicators of risk of harm, and (b) mental health outcomes and health-care costs associated with children receiving child protection services, in partnership with the NSW department of Family and Community Services. The findings will ensure timely and effective responses to the most vulnerable children to mitigate adverse mental health and other outcomes associated with early life adversity.
Reducing Peer Victimisation In Australian Schools Through Targeted And Universal Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,063,531.00
Summary
Peer victimisation is a significant problem for young people in Australia and can lead to devastating long-term consequences including poor self esteem, depression and suicide. The current project aims to identify the most cost effective methods to reduce peer victimisation in schools. This will combine programs applied across the whole school with a more targeted program building resilience in vulnerable children. The results will have important implications for anti-bullying policies in school ....Peer victimisation is a significant problem for young people in Australia and can lead to devastating long-term consequences including poor self esteem, depression and suicide. The current project aims to identify the most cost effective methods to reduce peer victimisation in schools. This will combine programs applied across the whole school with a more targeted program building resilience in vulnerable children. The results will have important implications for anti-bullying policies in schools.Read moreRead less
Closing The Gap: Early Childhood Sustained Home Visiting For Families Of Aboriginal Infants In An Urban Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,244,402.00
Summary
The study aims to determine whether a sustained structured nurse home visiting (SSNVH) program is effective for Aboriginal families. In the context of increased government investment in home visiting programs for Indigenous children, this study will help to answer three critical questions: (1) Does SSNHV result in improved outcomes for Aboriginal infants? (2) Is SSNHV equally effective for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants?(3) What are the issues in adaptation and implementation?
Using Epidemiology To Inform Psychiatric Classification (DSM-V And ICD-11)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,502.00
Summary
Classification systems are vital for scientific progress. The classifications of mental disorders of the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association are both being revised and this Australian team is a principal contributor to both processes. We have access to three national epidemiological surveys (n-30,000) that will inform fundamental issues by developing models of mental disorder typology and identifying practical improvements in the classification systems.