Prof Fitzgerald a psychiatrist investigating the use of a range of non-drug biological treatments for patients with severe and treatment resistant mood (and related) disorders.
Identifying Determinants Of Both The Origins And The Progression Of The Depressive And Bipolar (mood) Disorders.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,235,352.00
Summary
Currently, mood disorders are classified by severity, largely ignoring causes and leading to limited treatments. The Team will clarify how differing depressive and bipolar (mood) disorders are best modelled and pursue their differing causes, so assisting identification of specific treatments relating to their underlying causes. Our studies employ a range of sophisticated technologies, including molecular biology, brain imaging techniques, and mathematical modeling. The capacity of such research ....Currently, mood disorders are classified by severity, largely ignoring causes and leading to limited treatments. The Team will clarify how differing depressive and bipolar (mood) disorders are best modelled and pursue their differing causes, so assisting identification of specific treatments relating to their underlying causes. Our studies employ a range of sophisticated technologies, including molecular biology, brain imaging techniques, and mathematical modeling. The capacity of such research to advance the management of mood disorders address a pressing clinical need.Read moreRead less
Pragmatic Trial Of A Targeted Digital Intervention For Youth With Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviours Attending Outpatient Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,443,572.00
Summary
Existing programs aiming to reduce suicide ideation in youth often fail to impart lasting benefits in helping young people stay well. Our team have developed an online social media-based intervention (called Affinity) that addresses limitations of past programs by allowing 24/7 access to digital therapy, alongside therapist and peer support. This trial will aim to uncover whether Affinity is effective in reducing suicide ideation in young people, relative to a control program.
Validating Novel Biomarkers Relevant To Major Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,550.00
Summary
Depression prevention and treatment are public health priorities; therefore, it is critical to improve and personalise treatments, which can only be achieved by advancing knowledge of its underlying biology. This research project will contribute to validating potentially relevant genes for MDD risk or antidepressant response and to provide the scientific foundation for future strategies to test their products as MDD biomarkers in the clinical setting.
Understanding The Role Of Muscarinic Receptors In The Pathophysiology Of Depression And Bipolar Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,074.00
Summary
The causes of bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, which effect many Australians, remain unknown. We have recently shown decreases in muscarinic receptors in the brain of people with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Muscarinic receptors are important in maintaining the functions of the brain that seem to be affected in people with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Here we seek to understand how changes in muscarinic receptors occur in both disorders.
AusGDB-Depression: An Australian Genetic Database Study Of Functional Genetic Variants And Environmental Factors In Major Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,486.00
Summary
Major depression is the leading cause of disability in Australia, but its causes are unknown. Despite a significant role of genes in this disorder and many genetic studies, researchers have not been able to identify the genes that increase the risk for this disorder. In this project, we will identify, characterize and use genetic functional variants and environmental factors to create a way to predict diagnosis of this disorder.
Depression And Anxiety In Working Adults: The Costs And Outcomes Of Working While Ill
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,292.00
Summary
Depressive and anxiety disorders are common in the working population and costly. Individuals can continue working while ill or take an absence from work. This study will evaluate the economic cost and health outcomes of these two scenarios, using existing and published data to develop descriptive models. We consider who pays and who benefits from the perspective of the individual, their employer and society, to inform policy making, management practices, and clinical care.
A Prospective Study Of Inflammatory Cytokines As Common Factors In The Aetiology Of Both Depression And Osteoporosis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$291,230.00
Summary
Both depression and osteoporosis are common, debilitating and expensive diseases and there is research to suggest that these conditions are related. This study will examine a potential common mechanism, inflammation, which may underlie both diseases. It will focus on circulating proteins which are associated with both depression and fragility fractures, and examine the role they play in both disorders.
Delineating The Anatomical Correlates Of Neurocognitive And Psychomotor Dysfunction In Depression By FMRI
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,340.00
Summary
Severe depression is characterised by slowing of mental and motor abilities. Previous research by our group indicates the role of small frontal and basal brain regions in the regulation of these abilities. This research will extend our previous studies by providing new information detailing the underlying physiology of behavioural and structural abnormalities in patients with severe depression. Emerging research by our group and others suggest that some types of severe depression in later life a ....Severe depression is characterised by slowing of mental and motor abilities. Previous research by our group indicates the role of small frontal and basal brain regions in the regulation of these abilities. This research will extend our previous studies by providing new information detailing the underlying physiology of behavioural and structural abnormalities in patients with severe depression. Emerging research by our group and others suggest that some types of severe depression in later life are due to undetected forms of cerebrovascular disease. If we are able to demonstrate that the key features of severe depression of this type (psychomotor, attentional, memory and executive disturbance and global disability) are related to such brain changes this may lead to a major breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of these disorders. A new type of brain imaging technology called 'functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging' (fMRI) permits simultaneous investigation of the structure and function of small areas of the brain. As the technique does not use radiation and can be performed while the patient is completing mental tasks, it can be used in repeated experiments. Consequently, it permits description of brain changes (areas of activation) that occur during specific mental tasks. Therefore, if we are now able to use this technique to extend our previous clinical and imaging studies we will be able to test whether some forms of late-life depression are due to undetected brain changes.Read moreRead less