Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in high income countries including Australia. This proposal aims to address youth mental illness through four initiatives 1. Improving the understanding of causes of mental illness in youth 2. Reducing traditional and cyber bullying in schools 3, Investigating immune abnormalities in patients with early psychosis. 4. Conducting clinical trials of novel agents in youth with early psychosis
Modifiable Risk Factors For Serious Mental Illness - An Integrated Program Of Epidemiology, Genetics And Clinical Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,750,000.00
Summary
John McGrath has discovered that vitamin D during brain development is associated with psychosis. Just as the use of folate decreased the incidence of spina bifida, vitamin D supplementation could decrease the incidence of psychosis. Using international samples, McGrath will search for modifiable risk factors for mental illness related to nutrition, infection and stress. He will use the latest methods from genetics to explore modifiable risk factors and undertake clinical trials.
GEM Study: General And Emotional Cognition In First Onset Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$385,659.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness that disrupts cognitive and emotional function. We assessed which cognitive and emotional impairments characterize the first onset of schizophrenia and identified their brain basis in neural circuits. We also assessed whether these impairments predict outcomes over time.