Standalone Internet Anxiety Treatment For Stuttering: A Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$516,339.00
Summary
Anxiety-related mental health disorders, particularly social phobia, are common comorbid conditions among adults who stutter. This project establishes randomised controlled trial evidence for the psychological benefits of our Internet CBT treatment. This project also establishes whether our Internet CBT treatment reduces stuttering severity when combined with speech treatment. The design is an open plan, parallel, pragmatic randomised controlled trial.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of The RECOVER Tailored Psychological Intervention For First Episode Bipolar Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,550,291.00
Summary
Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the most disabling health conditions experienced by young adults, yet there are currently no psychological treatment options specifically developed for early intervention in BD. This project will test if a new psychological intervention called RECOVER, administered to young people who have experienced a first episode of BD, can help prevent this experience from developing into a chronic disorder.
A Stepped Care Approach For The Management Of Childhood Anxiety Disorders: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$936,628.00
Summary
Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental disorder in childhood. Research has led to some good treatments but these don't necessarily suit all families. Stepped care is a format that allows the least complicated treatment to be given to a child first, followed by more intense treatments only when needed. The current study aims to compare this approach against a standard, established treatment. We expect the stepped care approach to result in better outcomes at a lower overall cost.
Taking A LEAP Forward In The Treatment Of Anorexia Nervosa: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,818.00
Summary
Extreme levels of exercise to reduce weight and improve mood are common in people with anorexia nevosa and are associated with poorer outcomes. Our study aims to test a novel therapy help people reduce their use of exercise andfind healthier and safer ways of managing weight and low mood. The therapy will be compared with a widely used control therapy - that however has only limited efficacy. We hope the exercise therapy will result in improved outcomes for this debilitating illness.
The Mental Health Of School-Age Children Who Stutter
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$154,781.00
Summary
Children who stutter face considerable social disadvantages and negative consequences. Adults who stutter have been found to report a significant rate of mental health disorders, yet virtually nothing is known about the presence of such problems in children who stutter. This study will evaluate the prevalence and impact of mental disorders among school-age children who stutter. This research is essential for the provision of adequate speech and psychological treatments for children who stutter.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy To Prevent Psychosis Among People With At-risk Mental States.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$619,604.00
Summary
Recent advances in the accurate identification of individuals at high risk of developing a psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia, have inspired the development of interventions designed to delay, ameliorate or even prevent the onset of such disorders. To date, the results of only three randomised controlled trials of such interventions have been published. Although these results have shown that interventions are able to delay the onset of psychosis, and may even prevent psychosis in some cas ....Recent advances in the accurate identification of individuals at high risk of developing a psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia, have inspired the development of interventions designed to delay, ameliorate or even prevent the onset of such disorders. To date, the results of only three randomised controlled trials of such interventions have been published. Although these results have shown that interventions are able to delay the onset of psychosis, and may even prevent psychosis in some cases, it is unclear which treatment should be preferred for this population because the three trials have assessed, respectively, a combination of anti-psychotic medication and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), CBT alone, and anti-psychotic medication alone. Since the trial of CBT alone produced results that were at least as favourable as the two other trials, and since ethical and clinical objections have been raised concerning the use of anti-psychotic medications with young people who may never develop a psychotic disorder, CBT may be the preferred treatment. Far from posing unnecessary risks, CBT has the potential to provide important therapeutic benefits even to those not destined to develop a psychosis. The current study is significant in that it proposes a controlled trial of a form of CBT which has been specially adapted for preventing transition to psychosis among young high-risk individuals, to test whether the previous favourable results for CBT can be independently replicated. It will be compared with a control treatment. Since cannabis abuse is common among young people who are at risk, and is a known risk factor for psychosis, CBT will include elements of treatment for cannabis abuse. The trial will be run in both Newcastle and Orange, NSW, enabling us to compare the effectiveness of CBT in urban and rural settings. This study has the potential to have large impacts on the quality of life of young people at risk of psychosis.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
Externalising Behaviours In Young People: Predictors, Prevention And Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
This Fellowship aims to reduce the burden associated with externalising behaviours (including aggression, violence, substance use, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)) among young people in Australia. This body of work will provide a comprehensive assessment of the predictors, prevention and treatment of externalising behaviours, so as to inform resource allocation and service delivery.
ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Cognition and its Disorders will advance theory and research in three areas of cognitive science: models of cognitive disorders, the treatment of cognitive disorders, and the neural basis of cognition and its disorders. The Centre's research programs focus on five key domains of cognition, to be investigated individually and collectively: language, memory, person perception, belief formation and reading. Th ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Cognition and its Disorders will advance theory and research in three areas of cognitive science: models of cognitive disorders, the treatment of cognitive disorders, and the neural basis of cognition and its disorders. The Centre's research programs focus on five key domains of cognition, to be investigated individually and collectively: language, memory, person perception, belief formation and reading. The Centre's interdisciplinary research teams will tackle basic questions in cognitive science, and will implement intervention programs that will inform educational policy and practice, with considerable potential impact for the health and social well-being of Australia.Read moreRead less
Alcohol,tobacco, Illicit And Prescribed Drugs: Prospective Cohorts And RCTs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$714,745.00
Summary
This research addresses the important areas of infant, childhood, adolescent, adult, and family well-being and the effects of exposure to tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. The impacts of these substances on psychological, cognitive, vocational, and physical well-being remain poorly researched. A related set of research projects is aimed to build the evidence base for effective intervention to prevent or manage psychological and cognitive sequelae from such exposure.