Prevalence, Nature And Recommendations For Clinical Management And Self-management Of Depression For People With HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,290.00
Summary
By comparing the nature and prevalence of depression in those with and without HIV, and documenting the ways in which general practitioners manage depression in their patients, the project will provide a comprehensive and layered understanding of depression among men, particularly those living with HIV in urban and regional Australia. Project findings will develop the skills and research capacity of general practitioners in the assessment and management of depression.
Improving Outcomes For People With Depression In Community Settings: A Cluster RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$803,554.00
Summary
Depression affects 350 million people worldwide. Given the pivotal role of primary care in the management of depression, effective strategies are needed to assist GPs in the delivery of patient-centred depression care. This study will test the effectiveness of providing GPs with education; as well as feedback about patients’ self-reported depressive scores using a standardised instrument and perceived need and preferences for help. This cluster RCT will be the first Australian trial of its kind.
The Diamond Cohort Study- Examining Depressive Symptoms In Primary Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,886.00
Summary
Depression is the single largest cause of disability for people in Australia. It is mainly managed in general practice-primary care, yet many people experiencing depression go unrecognised by their family doctor or general practitioner (GP). Some people, even when given treatment, remain depressed. Guides on how to manage depression have been mainly based upon people attending psychiatrists and hospitals. In addition, there have been a number of large studies overseas testing new ways of helping ....Depression is the single largest cause of disability for people in Australia. It is mainly managed in general practice-primary care, yet many people experiencing depression go unrecognised by their family doctor or general practitioner (GP). Some people, even when given treatment, remain depressed. Guides on how to manage depression have been mainly based upon people attending psychiatrists and hospitals. In addition, there have been a number of large studies overseas testing new ways of helping people with depression. Unfortunately, they do not seem any better than usual care by a GP. We are currently funded by the NHMRC for diamond 1 to follow 800 people to investigate the factors from the patient's and doctor's point of view that are likely to aid recovery from depression, and to detail the way in which people are cared for in the primary health care system. There is increasing research showing that depression is a chronic and relapsing condition and that a one-year follow-up, whilst longer than most previous studies, will capture only a small glimpse of the health service use and relapse patterns of the patients enrolled in our study. In this application, we request funding to continue to follow participants. diamond 2 aims to explore the patient characteristics and health service use patterns of patients who experience persistent major depression with patients who experience a single episode of depression within a 3-year period. We will use the data gathered to develop models that predict recovery-relapse-persistence of depression. Such models will enable us to develop guidelines and design interventions that better target those at risk of continuing and disabling illness. This work will be of international significance and has the potential to influence the entire primary mental health care system and contribute to substantial system change.Read moreRead less
Detection And Management Of Depression In General Practice Patients With Chronic Manifestations Of Ischaemic Heart Disea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,797.00
Summary
This research will investigate the impact of ischemic heart disease on the prevalence and severity of patients with depression. This will be done via a 12 month general practice based program of 1) systematic screening for depression 2) informing general practitioners of best-practice guidelines for management of depression in these patients, and 3) providing the treating general practitioner with patient-specific, psychiatric advice.
Reducing Depression And Suicide Amongst Older Australians: A Clustered Randomised Clinical Trial In Primary Health Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$765,050.00
Summary
Like many industrialised nations, Australia's population is ageing. By the year 2051, the population aged 65 years and over is projected to triple in size, while those over 85 will increase five-fold. The social, financial, and health consequences of a rapidly ageing society cannot be ignored. Accompanying this population explosion will be greater numbers of individuals experiencing age-related physical disorders and disabilities that give rise to social and psychological problems, including dep ....Like many industrialised nations, Australia's population is ageing. By the year 2051, the population aged 65 years and over is projected to triple in size, while those over 85 will increase five-fold. The social, financial, and health consequences of a rapidly ageing society cannot be ignored. Accompanying this population explosion will be greater numbers of individuals experiencing age-related physical disorders and disabilities that give rise to social and psychological problems, including depression and suicide. Suicide rates are very high in later life, with the ratio of men who kill themselves in late old age greater than that found in their youthful counterparts. Depression is most often linked to suicidal behaviour in this age group, with research suggesting that the treatment of this mental disorder may directly lead to a reduction in suicide in the aged. Approximately 80% of older adults will visit their general practitioner at least once per year in Australia, while up to 70% of older people will consult their GP in the month prior to their death by suicide. This suggests that GPs are in the best possible position to detect and manage depression and suicide risk in later life. Unfortunately, depression is consistently reported to be underdiagnosed and undertreated in this setting. The purpose of this study is to determine whether an educational programme targeting Australian GPs can enhance doctors' detection rates of depression and suicide risk, thereby leading to a reduction in depression and suicidal behaviour among those older patients visiting their surgeries.Read moreRead less
The Diamond Cohort Study - Better Management Of Those At Risk Of Persistent And Disabling Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,563,309.00
Summary
Diamond began in 2005 to follow over 500 people with depressive symptoms to document and describe the nature and course of depression and its’ management over a decade of a participant’s life. Our findings will help us to understand the factors associated with depression recovery, relapse and persistence. We will inform clinical practice by developing a tool to assist GPs to identify those at risk of persistent and disabling depression, to enable better treatments.
Diagnosis, Management And Outcomes Of Depression In Primary Care (DIAMOND) - A Longitudinal Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,125.00
Summary
Depression is the single largest cause of disability for people in Australia. It is mainly managed in general practice, yet many people experiencing depression go unrecognised by their family doctor or general practitioner (GP). Some people, even when given treatment, remain depressed. Guides on how to manage depression have been mainly based upon people attending psychiatrists and hospitals. In addition, there have been a number of large studies overseas testing new ways of helping people with ....Depression is the single largest cause of disability for people in Australia. It is mainly managed in general practice, yet many people experiencing depression go unrecognised by their family doctor or general practitioner (GP). Some people, even when given treatment, remain depressed. Guides on how to manage depression have been mainly based upon people attending psychiatrists and hospitals. In addition, there have been a number of large studies overseas testing new ways of helping people with depression. Unfortunately, they do not seem any better than usual care by a GP. The proposed DIAMOND study will follow, over time, 900 people who receive care in general practice to investigate the factors, from the patients' and doctors' point of view, that are likely to aid recovery from depression, and prevent further episodes. We will investigate in detail the way in which a patient is cared for in the primary health care system. We will be able to describe the care patients receive from both doctors and other professionals, including alternative practitioners. This information will be used to develop a new way to improve the care that GPs provide to people experiencing depression. DIAMOND will give us important information about the impact of new Government policies on care in general practice. This will help to inform health workers, consumers and policy makers about what factors are key for treatment and recovery from depression.Read moreRead less
The Diamond Cohort Study - Long Term Outcomes Of Depressive Symptoms In Primary Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,538.00
Summary
The diamond study follows what happens to almost 800 people with depressive symptoms whom attend general practice for care over 5 years of their life. This study will map the severity of depressive symptoms, life circumstances, use of health care services and treatments and allow us to understand factors associated with relapse and recovery from depression in order to improve care. This will assist us to develop models of care that better suit the needs of people experiencing depressive symptoms ....The diamond study follows what happens to almost 800 people with depressive symptoms whom attend general practice for care over 5 years of their life. This study will map the severity of depressive symptoms, life circumstances, use of health care services and treatments and allow us to understand factors associated with relapse and recovery from depression in order to improve care. This will assist us to develop models of care that better suit the needs of people experiencing depressive symptoms.Read moreRead less
The number of Australians with dementia is increasing and so therefore is the frequency of people with dementia presenting to general practice. There is a recent evidence based clinical practice guideline to inform the diagnosis and management of people with dementia and the support of their carers. Many of the recommendations from this guideline are relevant to Australian general practitioners. Strategies to implement guidelines into practice are needed in all areas of health care, but changing ....The number of Australians with dementia is increasing and so therefore is the frequency of people with dementia presenting to general practice. There is a recent evidence based clinical practice guideline to inform the diagnosis and management of people with dementia and the support of their carers. Many of the recommendations from this guideline are relevant to Australian general practitioners. Strategies to implement guidelines into practice are needed in all areas of health care, but changing clinical practice is complex and a body of research developing methods of identifying barriers to specific practice changes is emerging. This project aims to support GPs in improving the general practice based care of people with dementia, and so improve their quality of life. In addition we aim to contribute to the body of knowledge about how to bring about practice change and implement a clinical practice guideline. We plan to design a strategy for implementing this new guideline into practice, working with GPs to change their practice where needed. We will test the effect of this strategy on the care of people with dementia, on their quality of life and on that of their carers.Read moreRead less