PSA Testing: A Population-based Longitudinal Study Of Decision Making, Psychological Effects And Patterns Of Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$576,977.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men and the second most common cancer- related cause of death. Since being introduced into Australia in 1988 the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test has been widely adopted as a method for detecting early-stage asymptomatic prostate cancer. However there is controversy about the potential benefits and harms of testing for prostate cancer. Little has been documented in Australia about the information men receive when consi ....Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men and the second most common cancer- related cause of death. Since being introduced into Australia in 1988 the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test has been widely adopted as a method for detecting early-stage asymptomatic prostate cancer. However there is controversy about the potential benefits and harms of testing for prostate cancer. Little has been documented in Australia about the information men receive when considering a PSA test, what happens to men after having an abnormal PSA test and the consequences of PSA testing (including physical and psychological effects). The aim of this study is to interview a representative community sample of men aged 50 to 84 years and resident in NSW to describe: (1) the decision-making process regarding PSA testing; (2) the psychological consequences of men's PSA testing experiences; and (3) patterns of care for men who have had an abnormal PSA test. The main outcomes from this study will include substantial information on the experiences of men regarding patterns of PSA participation (frequency of, and reasons for, testing), the clinical management of men who have had an abnormal PSA test, the psychological effects of PSA testing (both positive and negative) and how decisions about testing are being made. This will provide important information to assist GPs, urologists and Australian men make decisions about PSA testing. It will highlight areas of need regarding the information required by men for informed decision-making and the support they require when undergoing PSA testing to ensure positive psychological outcomes.Read moreRead less
Right Care, Right Time, Right Place: Improving Outcomes For People With Spinal Cord Injury Through Early Intervention And Improved Access To Specialised Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,095,436.00
Summary
This novel study’s purpose is to improve the care and quality of life of people afflicted by spinal cord injury. The study will map the early clinical journey from injury to specialized spinal care, identifying factors which impact on health and quality of life up to a year after injury. The focus will be on whether a delay of more than 24 hours to specialized care worsens the outcomes. This will be the first Australian study examining the early care of patients with a spinal cord injury.
Trauma And Recovery: Understanding And Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Refugees
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Refugees report high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, a lack of understanding of the processes underlying refugee mental health has limited the effective treatment of this disabling disorder. My research program will overcome these barriers by uncovering core mechanisms and developing a targeted intervention to reduce PTSD symptoms in refugees. My research will advance knowledge about refugee mental health, and inform best-practice clinical care of refugees.
Step Up: A Technology-enhanced Stepped Psychological Intervention For Strengthening Adaptive Capacity And Treating Post-traumatic Comorbidities In Refugees
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
There is a major translational gap in rolling out psychotherapeutic treatments into readily accessible public health interventions for refugees. This project examines the feasibility and effectiveness of a technology-enhanced stepped psychological intervention designed to build resilience (Step 1) and manage traumatic stress symptoms and related comorbidities in traumatized refugees to ensure they have an enhanced capacity to adapt to the new environment post trauma.
Individual Differences In Coping With A Diagnosis Of ALS: Psychosocial Adjustment And Implications For Psychological Treatment Planning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,523.00
Summary
A high proportion of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis develop subtle personality and behavioural changes similar to those with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. Apathetic symptoms are the most commonly observed personality change. This project aims to establish the contribution of premorbid personality traits on the development and expression of apathy, and in turn, it’s implications for ALS patients’ psychological wellbeing and response to psychological intervention.
Optimising Mental Health And Quality Of Life For Australia’s Military Personnel And Veterans With PTSD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$728,958.00
Summary
Military personnel can experience a range of traumatic events throughout their careers, and many develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result. Effective treatments for PTSD are available but involve seeing a mental health professional weekly for several months, which can be a difficult commitment for many military personnel and veterans to make. This project investigates whether standard treatment for PTSD is as effective when it’s delivered intensively in a shorter period of time.
Developing A Just-In-Time-Adaptive-Intervention For Problem Anger
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$690,124.00
Summary
Problems controlling anger and aggression are very common and highly destructive in individuals who have experienced trauma. Current treatment approaches are limited. This project will first use technology to measure and predict when problem anger is occurring, and then develop a smart-phone delivered intervention designed to reduce problem anger in individuals who have experienced trauma, by providing support when and where an individual needs it most.
Whiplash Injury: Mechanisms, Prediction And Directives For Improved Management Strategies.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,359.00
Summary
Whiplash is a costly condition with many people developing chronic symptoms. This research aims to improve the understating of involved mechanisms, diagnosis and classification of the condition from the time of injury until either recovery or the development of persistent pain. This will facilitate the early identification of those at risk of poor recovery and will lay the foundations for the development of improved early management, particularly in primary care.