Emotion Regulation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect 7-12% of Australians in their lifetime. It is a chronic disorder with enormous personal, social and economic costs. In the current climate of increasing mass violence and natural disaster, the health burden of PTSD is expected to rise. This project will help us identify core processes and mechanisms involved in PTSD, and help us to develop more effective and specialized treatments. It will al ....Emotion Regulation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect 7-12% of Australians in their lifetime. It is a chronic disorder with enormous personal, social and economic costs. In the current climate of increasing mass violence and natural disaster, the health burden of PTSD is expected to rise. This project will help us identify core processes and mechanisms involved in PTSD, and help us to develop more effective and specialized treatments. It will also extend our understanding of how the brain inhibits emotion, which has wider relevance for many anxiety disorders in terms of their development and prevention.Read moreRead less
Rumination and Memory Functioning in Depression. By investigating and identifying the cognitive processes underlying symptom maintenance, this research will advance cognitive conceptualisations of depression. The findings will result in the generation and empirical evaluation of psychological treatment procedures for depression by taking a strong science-practitioner approach, ultimately enhancing: (i) the efficacy and cost effectiveness of psychological treatments for depressive disorders, and ....Rumination and Memory Functioning in Depression. By investigating and identifying the cognitive processes underlying symptom maintenance, this research will advance cognitive conceptualisations of depression. The findings will result in the generation and empirical evaluation of psychological treatment procedures for depression by taking a strong science-practitioner approach, ultimately enhancing: (i) the efficacy and cost effectiveness of psychological treatments for depressive disorders, and (ii) the provision of mental health services to the Australian community. In applying rigorous experimental methodologies to answer theoretically driven questions about depression maintenance, these studies represent the interface of empirically sound and clinically-oriented experimental research.Read moreRead less
Controlling Unwanted Thoughts: A Hypnotic Study of Suppression. Controlling unwanted thoughts is central to maintaining good mental health, and failed mental control underpins many mental disorders. This project aims to enhance the capacity to control unwanted thoughts by adopting hypnosis as an investigative tool. By identifying the strategies that assist thought control, the project will directly shape ways to enhance mental health of Australians. Through improved mental health, Australia ....Controlling Unwanted Thoughts: A Hypnotic Study of Suppression. Controlling unwanted thoughts is central to maintaining good mental health, and failed mental control underpins many mental disorders. This project aims to enhance the capacity to control unwanted thoughts by adopting hypnosis as an investigative tool. By identifying the strategies that assist thought control, the project will directly shape ways to enhance mental health of Australians. Through improved mental health, Australia can enjoy fewer demands on health services and increased productivity. Read moreRead less
Developing strategies to ameliorate the aversive effects of ostracism. By investigating and identifying strategies to ameliorate the aversive effects of ostracism, this research will permit exciting advances that will extend existing conceptual models in the ostracism literature. Further, given the prevalence of ostracism across societal, occupational and community domains, these studies will yield outcomes with significant and far-reaching practical implications. By applying rigorous experiment ....Developing strategies to ameliorate the aversive effects of ostracism. By investigating and identifying strategies to ameliorate the aversive effects of ostracism, this research will permit exciting advances that will extend existing conceptual models in the ostracism literature. Further, given the prevalence of ostracism across societal, occupational and community domains, these studies will yield outcomes with significant and far-reaching practical implications. By applying rigorous experimental methodologies to answer theoretically driven questions about the impact of ostracism, these studies represent the interface of empirically sound and clinically and socially-oriented experimental research.Read moreRead less
An investigation of the cognitive processes underlying intrusive traumatic cognition. Intrusive unpleasant thoughts and memories occur in sufferers of anxiety and depression, and are common in normal individuals. Understanding the processes underlying intrusive cognition is critical, especially in the present world climate in which the Australian public is increasingly confronted with threats of terrorism and other negative world events. This research will have the direct benefit of leading to i ....An investigation of the cognitive processes underlying intrusive traumatic cognition. Intrusive unpleasant thoughts and memories occur in sufferers of anxiety and depression, and are common in normal individuals. Understanding the processes underlying intrusive cognition is critical, especially in the present world climate in which the Australian public is increasingly confronted with threats of terrorism and other negative world events. This research will have the direct benefit of leading to improved health of sufferers of anxiety and depression in the Australian community, and has the potential to increase normal individuals' ability to contribute to society by reducing intrusions that can interfere with work productivity, promote absenteeism, and have a negative impact on general wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Behaviour and emotional problems in young children with developmental delay. This research will provide health professionals, researchers and service providers with a reliable and valid measure to assess behaviour in young children with developmental delay. This will be the first instrument of its kind worldwide. The study will provide the largest and most comprehensive survey of behaviour and emotional problems in young children with developmental delay internationally to date. It will provide ....Behaviour and emotional problems in young children with developmental delay. This research will provide health professionals, researchers and service providers with a reliable and valid measure to assess behaviour in young children with developmental delay. This will be the first instrument of its kind worldwide. The study will provide the largest and most comprehensive survey of behaviour and emotional problems in young children with developmental delay internationally to date. It will provide information on the types of treatment that are needed for these children and what support is needed for their families. The outcomes of this study have the potential to promote the best possible start in life and long term mental health of this group of at risk and disadvantaged young Australians.Read moreRead less
The role of optimism in collaborative problem-solving in mathematics: Building problem solving capacity. Integration of psychological and educational approaches is the strength of this proposal. The notion that student optimism may be key to strengthening problem-solving capacity in mathematics is new and exciting. Creative thinking, problem-solving, and mathematical proficiency are surely critical resources for Australia's future. Understanding how these human resources are nurtured and enhance ....The role of optimism in collaborative problem-solving in mathematics: Building problem solving capacity. Integration of psychological and educational approaches is the strength of this proposal. The notion that student optimism may be key to strengthening problem-solving capacity in mathematics is new and exciting. Creative thinking, problem-solving, and mathematical proficiency are surely critical resources for Australia's future. Understanding how these human resources are nurtured and enhanced informs pedagogies to increase academic performance. Whilst providing pedagogical insights, this study also informs the building of adolescent well-being, and the stimulating of interest in mathematics in 'ideas workers' for Australia's future-three outcomes advantageous to Australian society and the economy. Read moreRead less
A psychosocial approach to subjectivity and the changing Australian labour market. An examination of the discourses and narratives people draw on to make sense of and adapt to the changing Australian labour market will be undertaken. The meanings that are made and the patterns of adaptation to the changing workplace in terms of fatigue, uncertainty, insecurity, stress and depression, and the effects these have on workers, their families and their places of work will also be scrutinised. Attempti ....A psychosocial approach to subjectivity and the changing Australian labour market. An examination of the discourses and narratives people draw on to make sense of and adapt to the changing Australian labour market will be undertaken. The meanings that are made and the patterns of adaptation to the changing workplace in terms of fatigue, uncertainty, insecurity, stress and depression, and the effects these have on workers, their families and their places of work will also be scrutinised. Attempting to understand these narratives offers the opportunity to think about the production of healthy work narratives and healthy workers, and about possible interventions in policy, work place practices and training.Read moreRead less
Brain development during adolescence and the emergence of depression: A longitudinal MRI study. Traditionally mental health services have focused on established disorders. Whilst significant gains in outcomes have been obtained in other areas of health by focusing on early intervention and prevention, in the mental health field this approach has been limited by the inability to predict who is likely to go on to develop serious mental disorder. This study will provide critical information for und ....Brain development during adolescence and the emergence of depression: A longitudinal MRI study. Traditionally mental health services have focused on established disorders. Whilst significant gains in outcomes have been obtained in other areas of health by focusing on early intervention and prevention, in the mental health field this approach has been limited by the inability to predict who is likely to go on to develop serious mental disorder. This study will provide critical information for understanding the risk processes that are operating during the critical phase of early adolescence, and will therefore make a fundamental contribution to our understanding of who, and what, to target in early intervention and prevention strategies.Read moreRead less
A prospective investigation of self-injury, suicidal ideation and psychological distress in Australian secondary school students. Suicide prevention has been a national priority for the past 10 years. Self-injury is a predictor of suicide, results in considerable distress for family and friends and is associated with significant health care expenditure. In addition the known correlates of self-injury, such as depression and substance use, also pose significant burden to society and are themselve ....A prospective investigation of self-injury, suicidal ideation and psychological distress in Australian secondary school students. Suicide prevention has been a national priority for the past 10 years. Self-injury is a predictor of suicide, results in considerable distress for family and friends and is associated with significant health care expenditure. In addition the known correlates of self-injury, such as depression and substance use, also pose significant burden to society and are themselves predictors of suicide. Understanding the nature and extent of self-injury in Australian adolescents, and the causal relationships between self-injury, suicidal ideation and psychological distress, will improve the care given to those who self-injure, improve their well-being, decrease their chances of further self-injury, and decrease the chance they will die by suicide.Read moreRead less