Prof Fitzgerald a psychiatrist investigating the use of a range of non-drug biological treatments for patients with severe and treatment resistant mood (and related) disorders.
Postpartum Depression: Action Towards Causes And Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,699.00
Summary
We will recruit women into a large international study to identify genetic variants that increase risk of perinatal depression using a mobile app. Women who screen positive will be asked to provide a spit sample for DNA.
Trajectories Between Childhood Internalising Behaviour Problems And Adolescent Depressive Symptoms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$55,000.00
Summary
Depressive symptoms are known to escalate sharply through the adolescent years. Adolescents who experience an episode of depression are very likely to experience further mental illness as adults. Efforts to prevent depressive illness may be advanced by research delineating the factors and processes implicated in the early emergence of depressive symptoms. To advance such an understanding this project will analyse data collected, in part, through NHMRC support to Australian Temperament Project (A ....Depressive symptoms are known to escalate sharply through the adolescent years. Adolescents who experience an episode of depression are very likely to experience further mental illness as adults. Efforts to prevent depressive illness may be advanced by research delineating the factors and processes implicated in the early emergence of depressive symptoms. To advance such an understanding this project will analyse data collected, in part, through NHMRC support to Australian Temperament Project (ATP) researchers. The ATP data will be used to examine factors associated with the development and progression of depressive symptoms from childhood to adolescence. The ATP data set includes detailed longitudinal data collected from multiple sources (parents, teachers and youth) concerning child and adolescent temperament, behavioural problems, mother-child relations, health, depressive symptoms, school achievement, school adjustment, social skills, peer relationships, parenting practices, stressful life events, and sociodemographic factors. Of an original sample of 2443 enrolled in the cohort in 1983 (aged 4-8 months) a subsample of 1,350 adolescents should complete the data collection due in 2000 (age 17-18). Through the analysis of ATP data proposed in this application, models will be developed to explain the risk and resiliency processes in childhood and early adolescence influencing the development and course of adolescent depression, for different subgroups of adolescents. To achieve this objective, analyses will: 1. identify groups who have differing trajectories from childhood internalising behaviour problems to adolescent depressive symptoms; 2. compare groups to identify factors that contribute to the progression from internalising behaviour problems to depressive symptoms, while also identifying factors which appear to impede such progression and; 3. compare groups to identify factors associated with transient versus persistent depressive symptoms in adolescence.Read moreRead less
I am a mental health researcher who designs and tests the effectiveness of methods to encourage help seeking, to intervene early and prevent the development of psychiatric disorders, and who develops technological tools to assist consumers to manage their
Understanding The Role Of Muscarinic Receptors In The Pathophysiology Of Depression And Bipolar Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,074.00
Summary
The causes of bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, which effect many Australians, remain unknown. We have recently shown decreases in muscarinic receptors in the brain of people with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Muscarinic receptors are important in maintaining the functions of the brain that seem to be affected in people with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Here we seek to understand how changes in muscarinic receptors occur in both disorders.
A Double-blind Sham Controlled Trial Of RTMS In Treatment Resistant Major Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$371,491.00
Summary
Treatment Resistant Depression is clearly a major health issue - depression is common, results in marked morbidity and mortality and a large percentage of patients do not respond to, or cannot tolerate standard treatment. The development of new treatments for this condition is undoubtedly required. International efforts are underway to try and establish the efficacy of high frequency left Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (HFL-TMS) to the point where the technique may be approved by regulatory a ....Treatment Resistant Depression is clearly a major health issue - depression is common, results in marked morbidity and mortality and a large percentage of patients do not respond to, or cannot tolerate standard treatment. The development of new treatments for this condition is undoubtedly required. International efforts are underway to try and establish the efficacy of high frequency left Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (HFL-TMS) to the point where the technique may be approved by regulatory authorities and clinically introduced. However, clearly the response rate to HFL-TMS is suboptimal for its widespread use. The overall goal of this research program is to develop repetitive TMS (rTMS) methods to the point at which they are highly relevant and applicable to clinical practice. None of the substantial international studies is focusing on novel applications such as sequential bilateral rTMS (SBrTMS). The planned outcome of this study is that it may change the focus of rTMS application and practice nationally and internationally. If we can follow our well received initial study of this technique with a substantial comparative trial as planned here, it will provide enough evidence for the more widespread adoption and testing of SBrTMS as a viable alternative to HFL-TMS. Ultimately, this or a modification of it, may become the rTMS administration method of choice. Additionally, we will have a sufficient sample size to start to explore meaningful predictors of clinical response including biological, psychosocial-personality variable predictors.Read moreRead less