The Effectiveness Of An Early Intervention And Prevention Strategy For Anxiety And Depressive Disorders.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$119,924.00
Summary
Adult anxiety and depressive disorders are common, cause significant distress to sufferers and cost to the community, and generally begin in childhood. Prior research has shown that children who exhibit higher than average levels of anxiety in their late childhood are at risk for developing anxiety and depressive disorders as they grow older. However if at risk children can learn skills to better manage their anxiety, the chance that they will continue to experience significant anxiety problems ....Adult anxiety and depressive disorders are common, cause significant distress to sufferers and cost to the community, and generally begin in childhood. Prior research has shown that children who exhibit higher than average levels of anxiety in their late childhood are at risk for developing anxiety and depressive disorders as they grow older. However if at risk children can learn skills to better manage their anxiety, the chance that they will continue to experience significant anxiety problems is greatly reduced. For example, school-based skills-building programs run by specialist mental health professionals have been shown to reduce the rate of existing anxiety disorder and prevent the onset of new anxiety disorders across middle to late childhood and early adolescence. The proposed study will aim to show that a school-based program, run by school counsellors, can prevent the development of anxiety and depressive disorders in late adolescence. In other words, the aim is to demonstrate whether the benefit of the program can be achieved across the wider school-aged population when conducted wholly within the education sector. This outcome is significant, not only in its potential to reduce distress to a large number of adolescents and their families, but in reducing costs to the community in terms of reduced disability and reduced need for health care and specialist mental health treatment.Read moreRead less
Neurocognitive Correlates Of Transition From Ultra-high Risk Mental State To Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,590,053.00
Summary
Understanding the changes in the brains of young people when they are developing a severe mental illness is the objective of this research. State-of-the-art brain imaging and brain function data will be prospectively collected from more than 500 young people considered at ultra high risk of developing schizophrenia, the most severe of mental illnesses for which no cure exists. We aim to identify early brain changes in schizophrenia, thus allowing for more effective early intervention.
Adolescent Depression: Evaluation Of A Preventive Intervention And Identification Of Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,313.00
Summary
This project will evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based program to prevent depression among adolescents. It also aims to identify factors that predict the onset of depression in those who do not receive the intervention. The intervention focuses on the training of interpersonal problem solving skills and enhancement of optimistic thinking styles within a classroom-based curriculum. This project extends the current research program of the applicant. The intervention has already b ....This project will evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based program to prevent depression among adolescents. It also aims to identify factors that predict the onset of depression in those who do not receive the intervention. The intervention focuses on the training of interpersonal problem solving skills and enhancement of optimistic thinking styles within a classroom-based curriculum. This project extends the current research program of the applicant. The intervention has already been developed and implemented with 1600 young people, with the support of local education authorities. The evaluation uses well-researched measures and includes a control group of adolescents who do not receive the intervention. Around 5% of adolescents experience clinical levels of depression and an even larger percentage show subclinical levels. Depression results in many debilitating consequences such as impaired school, work and social functioning and is also a risk factor in adolescent suicide. The prevention of mental health problems is a priority for Commonwealth and State governments and yet there is minimal research to demonstrate the effectiveness of preventive interventions, particularly in the area of depression. If the present study demonstrates a positive outcome, it will provide important guidelines as to preventive materials that should be included in the school curriculum. It is predicted that: a) the intervention will be associated with lower levels of depression over the 4 year follow-up, particularly for adolescents who are assessed as showing mild symptoms of depression, poor problem solving skills or pessimistic cognitive style prior to intervention b) risk factors for the development of depression in adolescents who do not receive the intervention will include initial mild symptoms of depression, poor problem solving skills and pessimistic attributional style.Read moreRead less
Prevention Of Anxiety And Depression In Children - Development And Evaluation Of A Universal Lifeskills Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,094.00
Summary
The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a universal school-based mental health promotion program aimed at preventing anxiety and depression in upper primary school students. The program will build on validated methods of increasing resilience and optimism in young people (Jaycox et al., 1994; Clarke et al., 1995; Dadds et al., 1997; Roberts et al., 1998, Shochet et al., 1998). No other prevention programs have addressed both anxiety and depression, nor have they integrated their pro ....The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a universal school-based mental health promotion program aimed at preventing anxiety and depression in upper primary school students. The program will build on validated methods of increasing resilience and optimism in young people (Jaycox et al., 1994; Clarke et al., 1995; Dadds et al., 1997; Roberts et al., 1998, Shochet et al., 1998). No other prevention programs have addressed both anxiety and depression, nor have they integrated their programs into the school curriculum. The universal Aussie Optimism Program will teach optimistic thinking styles and positive self-talk, self-efficacy, coping strategies and social problem solving to children preparing for their transition to high school. It will be designed in modular format to fit with Australian primary school terms and the K-10 Health and Physical Education curriculum. It is designed to be implemented by teachers, plus a family module will be developed to be used as an adjunct to the classroom program. The program is targeted at a developmental stage just prior to the increase in depression symptomatology in early adolescence. The program has the potential to promote the mental health of children on a larger scale than previous programs, to reduce the incidence of anxiety and depression in young people and to increase their resilience to life's stresses.Read moreRead less