Early Detection Of Infants And Young Children With Autism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$268,250.00
Summary
Autism is a severely handicapping condition adversely affecting social interaction, communication, behaviour, interests, and activities. Autism requires treatment at an early age (before 4 years). Despite finding that parents notice problems with their child's development within the first 2 years, on average diagnoses are made around 6 years of age. Treatment for autism should begin as early as possible to improve outcome. Diagnosis requires specialist assessment and these services are limited. ....Autism is a severely handicapping condition adversely affecting social interaction, communication, behaviour, interests, and activities. Autism requires treatment at an early age (before 4 years). Despite finding that parents notice problems with their child's development within the first 2 years, on average diagnoses are made around 6 years of age. Treatment for autism should begin as early as possible to improve outcome. Diagnosis requires specialist assessment and these services are limited. Therefore it is not possible to undertake such assessments with all children who have developmental problems. This project therefore proposes to evaluate a method for screening large populations of children for autism, thus enabling timely and more appropriate referral to assessment services. Previous work by the investigators has developed a potential screening tool (DBC Early Screen) for autism in young children under 4 years with developmental delay that has high levels of accuracy in identifying those infants and children who are at risk of autism and require specialist assessment. This project proposes to undertake a community field trial to assess the accuracy and reliability of this early screen and to establish its suitability for wide use as a population screening tool. The preliminary testing of DBC Early Screen demonstrated that a community field trial was feasible. The results of this study will facilitate the referral of infants and young children to specialist autism assessment services, thus enabling the commencement of appropriate early intervention for children and their families from an early age.Read moreRead less
I am a consultant psychiatrist and clinical researcher. Over the last 15 years I have been trying to detect people at risk of development of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders by the prospective identification of the prodromal phase of these diso
Emerging Mental Disorders In Young People: Using Clinical Staging For Prediction, Prevention And Early Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,598,601.00
Summary
Mental disorders are a major cause of disability in Australia, especially for young people. We have developed a clinical staging model covering the earliest symptoms through persistent disorder to chronic disability. We are investigating neurobiological, personal and social factors which increase the risk of progression through these stages, and novel treatment strategies which may prevent or delay onset and relapse, reduce the impact of illness, and promote recovery. Major public health benefit ....Mental disorders are a major cause of disability in Australia, especially for young people. We have developed a clinical staging model covering the earliest symptoms through persistent disorder to chronic disability. We are investigating neurobiological, personal and social factors which increase the risk of progression through these stages, and novel treatment strategies which may prevent or delay onset and relapse, reduce the impact of illness, and promote recovery. Major public health benefits and better understanding of the onset and progression of illness will result.Read moreRead less
Promotion Of Self-help Strategies For Sub-threshold Depression Via The Internet: Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$91,573.00
Summary
Depressive symptoms are common, impair individual functioning, and may develop into a full depressive disorder. Self-help for depressive symptoms is well-liked and often used, but some strategies are not as effective as others. This project will test the feasibility of promoting helpful self-help strategies to those with a high level of depressive symptoms, using the internet. The aim is to reduce the overall level of depressive symptoms and the number developing a full depressive disorder.
The Role Of Stress, HPA-axis Dysfunction And CNS Structural And Functional Change In The Development Of Psychosis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,538.00
Summary
This research will further understanding of the processes underlying the development of serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and may lead to the development of strategies to prevent these devastating disorders. Although there have been advances in the management of psychotic disorders in recent years, their underlying causes remain largely unknown. We aim to investigate the potential roles of stress, HPA-axis function and structural and functional brain changes. The neurodevelopmental ....This research will further understanding of the processes underlying the development of serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and may lead to the development of strategies to prevent these devastating disorders. Although there have been advances in the management of psychotic disorders in recent years, their underlying causes remain largely unknown. We aim to investigate the potential roles of stress, HPA-axis function and structural and functional brain changes. The neurodevelopmental model of psychosis suggests that small structural CNS changes occur very early in life conferring a degree of vulnerability on the affected individual. We propose that the psychological and neurobiological processes listed above interact with the pre-existing vulnerability, resulting in the development of psychotic symptoms. This is in line with the stress-vulnerability model of psychosis. We aim to investigate this model by monitoring the level of stress reported by young people at risk of psychosis over 12 months. We will also obtain measures of their biological response to stress by assessing cortisol levels over time and brain structure and functioning will be assessed. By monitoring these processes in the high risk group, we will be able to identify any changes that occur if a psychotic illness develops. This research also has practical applications in the identification of young people at high risk of developing a psychotic disorder, Moreover it will inform the development of medical and psychological strategies aimed at preventing or delaying the onset of schizoprenia and related illnesses in the high risk population.Read moreRead less
Early Detection Of MCI And Dementia Using Multidimensional Analysis Of Structural MRI By Computational Methods
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,601.00
Summary
Dementia in elderly is a major public health problem, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), is even more common. We propose to use recent computational anatomy algorithms from our group to develop novel multidimensional imaging biomarkers for early detection of brain anatomical changes due to MCI-dementia. We aim at identifying early signatures of MCI-dementia, thus making early treatment possible. The completion of our research will provide clinicians with new methods for the early diagnosis.
Psychiatric Morbidity, Quality Of Life And Coping Styles Of Patients With Early Stage & Advanced Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$281,018.00
Summary
Prostate cancer affects thousands of men each year. Advances in treatment are continuing, but side-effects frequently create disruptions to daily living. If the quality of care for prostate cancer patients is to be further improved, there is much to be learned about the psychosocial impact of the disease and its treatment across its different phases. There has not been a systematic prospective study of psychosocial adjustment in men with prostate cancer. In this study, we longitudinally follow t ....Prostate cancer affects thousands of men each year. Advances in treatment are continuing, but side-effects frequently create disruptions to daily living. If the quality of care for prostate cancer patients is to be further improved, there is much to be learned about the psychosocial impact of the disease and its treatment across its different phases. There has not been a systematic prospective study of psychosocial adjustment in men with prostate cancer. In this study, we longitudinally follow two separate groups of men with prostate cancer, those with early disease and those with advanced illness. We focus on the particular side-effects of urinary incontinence, impotence and bowel symptoms and the potential these have to affect the patient's sense of wellbeing. We use a standardised interview and questionnaires to assess for the presence of psychiatric disorders and psychological problems, overall quality of life and coping styles in these men. We seek to recognise the predictors of men who may have coping problems. A statistical approach termed pathway analysis will help us understand the relative contributions of different factors associated with these problems. The outcome of this systematic, longitudinal study will be a body of knowledge concerning risk factors for poorer psychosocial adjustment and optimum coping strategies for managing the impact of prostate cancer and its treatment, thereby empowering a range of targeted interventions to be developed to enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of these men.Read moreRead less
INVESTIGATING THE VALIDITY OF PRENATAL INSULTS AS RISK FACTORS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$201,100.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is one of the most devastating of human mental disorders affecting about 1% of the population. The cause of this disorder is not known but it seems certain that it will involve genetic and environmental factors. An adverse environmental factor could be a reduced supply of oxygen and nutrients to a baby during pregnancy. In guinea pigs we aim to investigate whether disruption to the normal supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus disrupts the normal fine structure and chemical ma ....Schizophrenia is one of the most devastating of human mental disorders affecting about 1% of the population. The cause of this disorder is not known but it seems certain that it will involve genetic and environmental factors. An adverse environmental factor could be a reduced supply of oxygen and nutrients to a baby during pregnancy. In guinea pigs we aim to investigate whether disruption to the normal supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus disrupts the normal fine structure and chemical make up of the brain and gives rise to long-lasting structural and neurochemical changes in adolescent animals, which resemble changes found in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. We will also assess whether behavioural responses of compromised animals are altered in tests that parallel disturbances seen in patients with schizophrenia. Such abnormal brain development could create an underlying vulnerability in the brain, predisposing individuals with risk factors such as genetic inheritance to develop the symptoms of schizophrenia in later life perhaps only after the complete formation of nerve pathways involved in higher brain functioning. If guinea pigs that have been subjected to low oxygen levels during pregnancy show sustained changes in the structure and neurochemistry in regions of the brain that are altered in patients with schizophrenia it would suggest that these long lasting disturbances could result from problems during pregnancy. Thus, this would support the idea that abnormal brain development during pregnancy is one of the underlying causes of schizophrenia.Read moreRead less