The applicant is a clinical psychologist. Research focuses on developing, evaluating and disseminating psychological interventions for co-existing mental health (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, anxiety) and alcohol and other drug problems (e.g. alcohol, c
Effect Of Naltrexone Treatment On Mental Health And Other Health Outcomes : A Record Linkage Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$111,625.00
Summary
Research has shown that heroin use is an increasing habit of Australia's youth with morbidity and mortality rates for regular heroin users significantly greater than that for the general population. Despite the introduction of a number of treatment options to combat the problem, the management of dependent heroin use has proved problematic. This application addresses an issue of considerable importance and controversy in recent years, namely, the impact of naltrexone and methadone treatment on m ....Research has shown that heroin use is an increasing habit of Australia's youth with morbidity and mortality rates for regular heroin users significantly greater than that for the general population. Despite the introduction of a number of treatment options to combat the problem, the management of dependent heroin use has proved problematic. This application addresses an issue of considerable importance and controversy in recent years, namely, the impact of naltrexone and methadone treatment on morbidity and mortality among persons who are heroin dependent. The study will be carried out using a unique system of linked hospital records from the Western Australian Health Services Research Linkage Unit at the Department of Health Western Australia (DHWA). Through this system hospital, mental health and death records derived from different sources, but related to the same individual are electronically linked. Hence, record linkage provides an independent method for obtaining information on treatment outcomes which is free from subjective bias. In the current study records from heroin users who entered naltrexone maintenance and a smaller group who entered methadone maintenance will be linked to the DHWA database. Collectively these data will be used to quantify morbidity, hospital episodes, mental health issues and mortality in heroin users following commencement of naltrexone maintenance treatment. Data will also be used to compare positive and negative outcomes for individuals on naltrexone with those on methadone. The results will be used to advocate on behalf of this vulnerable population in a country that prides itself on universal access to high quality health services. It is anticipated that this study will have a substantial beneficial impact on the management of illicit drug use policy and as well as contributing new research methods, findings and international knowledge.Read moreRead less
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Treatment For Alcohol Use Problems And Social Phobia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,333.00
Summary
Social Phobia and harmful Alcohol use often go together and suferers experince additional distress, disability, and worse results from treatment. Previous clinical trials tested adding treatments for the separate disorders together which may have confused patients. This project test integrated evidence based CBT treatments for the separate problems compared to treatment for alcohol alone. Reduced drinking, decreased social anxiety and increased quality of life are the expected results