Improving Internet-delivered Psychological Therapies For Depression And Anxiety
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
Depression and anxiety affect 3 million Australians. While effective psychological treatments exist, even the best only help 50% recover, and relapse is common. My research aims to improve the treatment of adult depression and anxiety, through developing more effective, efficient and accessible internet-delivered psychological therapies and identifying the conditions that promote optimal long-term outcomes.
WEB-BASED COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR WOMEN WITH POSTNATAL DEPRESSION
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$713,714.00
Summary
Postnatal depression (PND) affects more than 1 in 10 women, with serious consequences for maternal mental health and infant development. This project will evaluate our newly developed Web-based psychological intervention for PND and compare it to traditional face-to-face psychological treatment. Poor uptake of traditional treatment relates to fear of stigma, access and expense. The potential public health impact of Web-based treatment is enormous given the 300,000 annual births in Australia.
Transdiagnostic Internet Therapy For Internalizing Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,348.00
Summary
Anxiety and depressive disorders account for 58% of the burden of mental disorders, or 7.5% of the burden of human disease. Internet treatments for the individual disorders are effective but require careful diagnosis. We intend to develop and prove the effectiveness of a transdiagnostic Internet treatment program that will be easily used by primary care clinicians. We will disseminate and evaluate the developed and proven program to general practitioners and psychologists.
Evaluation Of Internet-based, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy For The Treatment Of Anxiety Disorders In Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,750.00
Summary
Anxiety disorders affect around 5-10% of adolescents and are associated with a range of adverse consequences if left untreated. The majority of young people with anxiety disorders do not seek nor receive treatment. This may be due partly to the perceived stigma of attending a mental health clinic and logistic problems of attending therapy. A challenge is to identify ways in which treatment can be made more accessible to adolescents in need, particularly those in rural and remote areas. Contrary ....Anxiety disorders affect around 5-10% of adolescents and are associated with a range of adverse consequences if left untreated. The majority of young people with anxiety disorders do not seek nor receive treatment. This may be due partly to the perceived stigma of attending a mental health clinic and logistic problems of attending therapy. A challenge is to identify ways in which treatment can be made more accessible to adolescents in need, particularly those in rural and remote areas. Contrary to original beliefs, evidence shows that the internet can be used to deliver effective psychological therapies for a range of mental health problems, including anxiety disorders. So far this research has focused on adults, but adolescents may be in a particularly strong position to benefit from these forms of therapy, being experienced users of internet resources. This research investigates the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) in the treatment for anxiety disorders in adolescents. Recently we have piloted CBT for anxious children that combines clinic and internet therapy, with half the therapy sessions in the clinic and half over the internet. Pilot data show that clinic + internet therapy produced significant reductions in anxiety and is almost as effective full clinic-based therapy. The proposed research builds on our pilot work by evaluating the effectiveness of a more extensive internet-based therapy in which all sessions are completed using the internet and with an older age group. The research also examines the factors that predict which young people will respond most positively to the intervention so that the treatment can be matched to those most likely to benefit from it in the future. The aim is to develop an effective internet-based treatment for adolescents with anxiety disorders that is easily accessed and suitable for use in rural and remote populations, requiring minimal face-to-face therapist contact.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Internet-based Therapy For Panic Disorder.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$202,575.00
Summary
Approximately 9.7% of the adult population have an anxiety disorder with one of the more common, panic disorder, often with agoraphobia, afflicting 2.4% of the community. Around 8% of patients consulting a GP also have panic disorder (PD). A further 10% of the community experience spontaneous panic, but do not have full PD (termed non-clinical panic). People with PD frequently experience clinical depression, about 15% abuse alcohol and non-prescription drugs and PD is associated with an increase ....Approximately 9.7% of the adult population have an anxiety disorder with one of the more common, panic disorder, often with agoraphobia, afflicting 2.4% of the community. Around 8% of patients consulting a GP also have panic disorder (PD). A further 10% of the community experience spontaneous panic, but do not have full PD (termed non-clinical panic). People with PD frequently experience clinical depression, about 15% abuse alcohol and non-prescription drugs and PD is associated with an increased risk of suicide. Over time people with PD appear to have an increased risk of heart problems. They also have substantial financial burdens through multiple attendances at doctors' rooms and through restricted employment opportunities. Only just over one in four people with an anxiety disorder consults a health professional for their problems, with most going to their GP. It has been estimated that less than 10% of these people seek the services of a mental health specialist such as a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Therefore because of blocks to do with access, cost or embarrassment, many people with mental health problems do not seek face-to-face specialised mental health treatment. People in rural and regional Australia are particularly disadvantaged by limited access to these specialists. We have developed an internet-based treatment program on panic and anxiety for people in the community, and particularly in regional Australia. Early evaluation of this program has found it is more effective than other types of therapist-assisted self-help treatment. The aim of this research project is to compare it to best-practice face-to-face psychological and pharmacological treatment for PD. If the effectiveness of our internet-based treatment is comparable to best-practice face-to-face treatment, its availability will assist the many Australians who suffer from debilitating panic but who are unable to access specialised mental health assistance.Read moreRead less
Exploring The Feasibility And Acceptability Of An Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program For Depression Amongst Chinese Australians To Reducing Practical And Cultural Barriers To Mental Health Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$76,212.00
Summary
I am a psychologist interested in exploring the potential of using internet-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (iCBT) to deliver effective and culturally sensitive treatment to Chinese Australians with depression. My research involves developing and testing the efficacy of iCBT and examining the acceptability of iCBT to both Chinese Australians and their general practitioners. iCBT could be utilised as another strategy for providing services to Chinese Australians and other immigrant groups.
Finding My Way: A Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating An Internet Self-help Program For Cancer-related Distress
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,608.00
Summary
The internet is increasingly utilised by people affected by cancer to obtain information and support. However, to date no randomised controlled study has evaluated the effectiveness of a structured online self-help therapeutic program. Therefore, the present study aims to examine how helpful 'iCanCope' is, an interactive online 6-week self-help coping program, compared to online information only, in improving distress, coping and quality of life after cancer diagnosis.
The Evaluation Of Internet-based Treatments For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$33,371.00
Summary
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common anxiety disorder in Australia and involves a disabling psychological reaction to a stressful event that doesn�t resolve on its own. Effective treatments are available but only 1 in 4 people access such treatments. This project involves the development of evidence-based treatment programs for PTSD delivered via the Internet. The aim of this research is to provide clinically and cost-effective treatments for individuals without access to spec ....Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common anxiety disorder in Australia and involves a disabling psychological reaction to a stressful event that doesn�t resolve on its own. Effective treatments are available but only 1 in 4 people access such treatments. This project involves the development of evidence-based treatment programs for PTSD delivered via the Internet. The aim of this research is to provide clinically and cost-effective treatments for individuals without access to specialised PTSD treatment services.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Clinical Trial Of Internet-based Treatment For Binge Drinking And Depression In Young Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$941,787.00
Summary
This project focuses on a common clinical problem that causes substantial functional, economic and health impacts; comorbid depression and binge drinking. These conditions are under-treated and peak in young adulthood. This project offers a low cost, wide reach, youth-appropriate treatment, which will have profound implications for service design and health policy. It relates to current Commonwealth initiatives in e-health and e-Psychology.
Increasing Access To Early Prevention Of Internalising Problems: An Internet-based Parenting Program For Young Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,860.00
Summary
The proposed research aims to help prevent the development of anxiety disorders in young children. An internet version of an existing face-to-face parent training program will be developed and tested in a clinical trial. The program will target young children at risk of anxiety disorders and will teach parents skills in how to help their child cope with new situations. The internet-based program will be easily accessible to parents and can be widely disseminated in Australian communities.