Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in high income countries including Australia. This proposal aims to address youth mental illness through four initiatives 1. Improving the understanding of causes of mental illness in youth 2. Reducing traditional and cyber bullying in schools 3, Investigating immune abnormalities in patients with early psychosis. 4. Conducting clinical trials of novel agents in youth with early psychosis
Connecting The Dots: Novel Social Media Technologies For Long-term Functional Recovery In First Episode Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$432,528.00
Summary
The aim of this program of research is to evaluate the effectiveness of innovative online social media and mobile-based interventions purposely designed to improve long-term recovery in youth mental health (i.e., early psychosis and youth depression). These pioneering interventions have been designed by a large multidisciplinary team through the integration of cutting-edge social media technologies, new psychological models and strong consumer-youth participation.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment Of Auditory Hallucinations In Psychotic Disorders: A Clinical And Neurobiological Investigation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
This research will investigate a novel treatment, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment, for auditory hallucinations of psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia). This work is novel as it will utilise an innovative and sophisticated method to optimise treatment at the individual level. Additionally, by identifying features of patients that predict response to treatment, this research will make major contributions to personalised treatment selection guidelines.
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
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
People with psychotic illness, even with good treatment, do not tend to make functional recovery. They are over represented among the unemployed, the homeless, and have poorer physical health and earlier death than the general population. Despite the significant personal, societal and economic cost of these poor outcomes there has been little research into these areas. This fellowship builds on my work in vocational recovery to broaden knowledge about, and interventions for, functional recovery ....People with psychotic illness, even with good treatment, do not tend to make functional recovery. They are over represented among the unemployed, the homeless, and have poorer physical health and earlier death than the general population. Despite the significant personal, societal and economic cost of these poor outcomes there has been little research into these areas. This fellowship builds on my work in vocational recovery to broaden knowledge about, and interventions for, functional recovery in first episode psychosis.Read moreRead less
Enhancing Social Functioning In Young People At Ultra High Risk (UHR) For Psychosis: RCT Of A Novel Strengths-based Online Social Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,543,657.00
Summary
Psychosis is a devastating mental health disorder that results in great personal suffering and enormous societal costs. Early intervention is seen as the most promising treatment approach with potential to bring about long-term recovery. The aims of this project are to assess the effectiveness of a highly novel strengths-based online social media intervention in preventing psychosocial deterioration and improve social functioning in young people at ultra high risk of developing psychosis.
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
Does Antipsychotic Dose Reduction Lead To Better Functional Recovery In First Episode Psychosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,371,552.00
Summary
Can a person with a first episode of psychosis, once remitted, reduce their dosage of medication and still achieve better outcomes in functioning, physical health and brain volume, than if they had stayed on traditional maintenance doses of medication? This study will examine if using a dose reduction strategy in conjunction with an evidence based suite of psychosocial interventions leads to better social and vocational recovery and improved physical health and brain volume.