A Comparison Of An Integrated Psychological Intervention With 'befriending' In First-presentation Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$356,113.00
Summary
The project aims to test the efficacy of two treatments to determine whether 'integrated' psychological treatment leads to better outcomes for those individuals presenting for treatment for the first time. Neuroleptic medication is the main treatment for the positive symptoms (i.e., delusions, hallucinations and thought disorder) which typify the psychoses, including schizophrenia. Yet, there are reasons why other approaches should be investigated. Firstly, not all patients respond to medication ....The project aims to test the efficacy of two treatments to determine whether 'integrated' psychological treatment leads to better outcomes for those individuals presenting for treatment for the first time. Neuroleptic medication is the main treatment for the positive symptoms (i.e., delusions, hallucinations and thought disorder) which typify the psychoses, including schizophrenia. Yet, there are reasons why other approaches should be investigated. Firstly, not all patients respond to medications. Secondly, medication may not totally alleviate the positive symptoms, and thirdly, other aspects of the condition are not helped to any extent by medication. These aspects include negative symptoms (e.g., lack of motivation and asociality), depression, social anxiety and functioning in the various life domains, e.g., school, work and socialization. In the last 15 years a viable psychological treatment known as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has emerged. This appears to be effective in the treatment of hallucinations and delusions and has an effect over and above that produced by medication. However, such treatments have not yet been applied to treating those symptoms in first presentation psychotic patients when they are in the acute stage of their illness. It is important to determine whether CBT produces positive effects in this group and whether used in conjunction with medication it can produce greater and more rapid reductions in the level and severity of positive symptoms. Whilst CBT is expected to produce positive changes in delusions and hallucinations, the applicants believe this needs to be integrated with CBT interevention focussed on other aspects of a patient's presentation, such as negative and depressive symptoms, and also on improving functioning in various life domains.Read moreRead less
Visualisation Of Functionally Activated Circuitry In The Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$347,036.00
Summary
We are seeking to develop a method to precisely determine which parts of the brain are involved in the carrying out of different brain functions. The main advantage of our new method will be that we will be able to directly visualise the circuitry involved in a specified brain function. The brain is like a vast computer, with literally billions of connections between different parts, and it is these connections which are used to form functional circuits, which ultimately result in the brain cont ....We are seeking to develop a method to precisely determine which parts of the brain are involved in the carrying out of different brain functions. The main advantage of our new method will be that we will be able to directly visualise the circuitry involved in a specified brain function. The brain is like a vast computer, with literally billions of connections between different parts, and it is these connections which are used to form functional circuits, which ultimately result in the brain control of bodily function. Up until now, there has been no direct way of being able to directly visualise which of those billions of connections are involved in the formation of a circuit for any particular brain function. We plan to use a genetic approach to help to visualise functionally activated brain circuits. We know that some genes are turned on in the nerve cells which are activated during a brain function. We will use this knowledge to generate a new line of genetically engineered mice. In these mice, the genes which are turned on during brain activation will in turn be used to turn on special markers which will light up the activated circuits. This will be of great signficance in our understanding of brain function. It should also help us to understand what happens to these circuits in different diseases of the brain, such as following stroke, in senility, and Alzheimer's disease.Read moreRead less