Fighting Mental Disorders: Using Mental Imagery To Disarm Symptoms And Enhance Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
This proposal will conduct the first pre-clinical and clinical research utilising mental imagery to disarm symptoms and enhance treatment of multiple mental disorders by controlling the strength of mental imagery. This fellowship represents the first attempt to alleviate symptoms by developing a cognitive-neuroscience method to control the strength of traumatic imagery and to show a causative means of enhancing imagery strength to boost the success rate of cognitive therapy involving imagery.
Enhancing The Treatment Of Anxiety: The Role Of Mental Imagery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$246,491.00
Summary
This proposal will conduct the first pre-clinical study augmenting the effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in the treatment of anxiety disorders using mental imagery. There is an urgent need to develop means to increase the success rate of CBT. This study will utilise recent developments in cognitive neuroscience to show that mental imagery plays an important role in the mechanisms of CBT.
Understanding Relapse In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Investigation Of Return Of Fear.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$255,014.00
Summary
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is common and results in significant impairment. There are effective psychological treatments for PTSD, yet relapse following treatment remains high. The proposed research will involve a series of experiments and observational studies to better understand the process that lead to relapse in patients receiving treatment for PTSD. The findings of these studies will assist in modifying treatment to ensure that symptom gains are maintained following treatment.
Improving Behavioural Treatment For Frequent Headaches By Incorporating A New Approach To Managing Triggers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,255.00
Summary
The standard clinical advice is that the best way to prevent headaches is to avoid the triggers, but we have argued that this may lead to decreased tolerance for triggers and therefore more headaches. We have developed an innovative approach to managing triggers which focuses on training people to cope with triggers. The proposed research will evaluate a new treatment for headaches based on integrating our approach to managing triggers into our behavioural treatment program for headaches.
Improving Mental Health And Social Participation Outcomes In Older Adults With Depression And Anxiety
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$791,581.00
Summary
This study will evaluate a comprehensive treatment program for older adults who are suffering depression and anxiety. We expect that this new treatment program will be more powerful than standard cognitive behavioural therapy. Through this treatment we will increase social participation and quality of life and reduce depression and anxiety in older Australians.
The Identification Prediction And Management Of Depression In People With Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$73,852.00
Summary
Depression affects many people with epilepsy but often goes undetected and untreated. This study aims to develop ways of identifying depression in those with epilepsy, as well as examining why some people with epilepsy get depression and others do not. It will also involve trialling a state of the art psychological intervention aimed at enhancing quality of life and improving mood in people with epilepsy.
Sleep And Motherhood: Towards A Sustainable Cognitive Behavioural Program For Better Sleep And Wellbeing During Pregnancy And Postpartum Periods.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,891.00
Summary
Sleep problems are common during pregnancy and postpartum periods, and are linked to poor maternal mental health and wellbeing. Cognitive behavioural sleep interventions are effective, but not currently available in routine perinatal care. This study examines the efficacy of an innovative evidence-based non-pharmacological intervention for better sleep and wellbeing, with high potential for sustainable integration with routine perinatal care.
Investigations Into The Onset And Persistence Of Severe Health Anxiety (hypochondriasis), And The Development Of Innovative Psychological Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$313,096.00
Summary
This program of research will investigate the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural factors that are involved in the onset and persistence of severe health anxiety (hypochondriasis). It will also test the effectiveness of innovative psychological interventions for the disorder.
One-session Treatment For Specific Phobias In Pre-school Children: Improving Access And Long-term Mental Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,745.00
Summary
This project aims to conduct the first randomised controlled trial of a modified-one session treatment (OST) for preschoolers with specific phobias (SP). SPs are highly prevalent (~10%), onset very early in life (~3 years) and predict a host of mental illness later in life. OST for SPs is well-established for older children (>7 years), yet is currently untested with pre-school aged children.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Three Treatments For Anorexia Nervosa In Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,447.00
Summary
This study will be the first to evaluate three promising new treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN) and anorexic type eating disorders in adults. The first treatment is a new therapy called Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. The second treatment, the Maudsley Cognitive Motivational Therapy, was designed specifically to treat AN and the third treatment is called non-specific supportive clinical management. The study will be in the form of a multi-centre randomised treatment trial.