Burden Of Disease: Costing An Effective Package Of Care For Mental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$272,735.00
Summary
The Global Burden of Disease project, a WHO-World Bank-Harvard collaboration, presented an unprecedented picture of global health across the developed and developing world, providing much-needed information for planning health services. Health was measured at the population level, and combined the number of life years lost due to death and disablement to give a total amount of life lost per disorder. One surprise of the project was the importance of mental disorders, accounting for 43% of life y ....The Global Burden of Disease project, a WHO-World Bank-Harvard collaboration, presented an unprecedented picture of global health across the developed and developing world, providing much-needed information for planning health services. Health was measured at the population level, and combined the number of life years lost due to death and disablement to give a total amount of life lost per disorder. One surprise of the project was the importance of mental disorders, accounting for 43% of life years lost due to disability in countries like Australia. Service planning to reduce this burden requires knowledge of cost-effective treatments.This project will trial a method used for combining burden and cost-effectiveness data to design an essential package of services to address the treatment shortfall in mental disorders. This research will assist in our understanding of why burden due to mental disorders persists, and the extent to which current treatment knowledge is able to address this burden within existing budgetary constraints. This will be achieved by: 1) detailing the costs and population outcome of current services in Australia for mental disorders, to determine which disorders are currently adequately treated and which disorders require further intervention, 2) calculating the costs and outcome of best practice interventions from clinical practice guidelines, to understand the extent to which current treatment knowledge can reduce burden due to mental disorders, 3) examining the equity consequences of such a package of ideal interventions, with the understanding that the treatment endpoint is not the same for all disorders. This is a secondary analysis, representing a method for translating existing cost and outcome data for individual treatments into their costs and consequences for health planning at the population level.Read moreRead less
Balance disorders are very common, but particularly in those conditions that involve the brain 'balance centres' are often difficult for doctors to diagnose. When diseases are difficult to diagnose, then recommending helpful treatment is particularly challenging. We will use a group of specialized tests to better understand these balance conditions in order to help patients receive accurate diagnoses and therefore, better treatment.
Balance disorders are very common, but particularly in those conditions that involve the brain 'balance centres' are often difficult for doctors to diagnose. When diseases are difficult to diagnose, then recommending helpful treatment is particularly challenging. We will use a group of specialized tests to better understand these balance conditions in order to help patients receive accurate diagnoses and therefore, better treatment.
Molecular Mediators, Epigenetic Modulators And Therapeutic Targets For Cognitive Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
Brain disorders constitute an enormous, and growing, burden. My research investigates how genes and environment combine to cause disorders of cognition, including dementia, schizophrenia and autism. The research will provide new insights into these disorders, at the level of molecules, cells and behaviour. I will explore how genetic and environmental factors interact, with a focus on mental activity, physical exercise and stress, which affect a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Ocular Motility In Autism And Asperger S Disorder: Dissociation Of Motor Deficits.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$131,235.00
Summary
We will use ocular motor technology to investigate motor dysfunction in autism and Asperger's disorder, to advance our understanding of the neurobiological bases of these disorders. This will help clarify whether neural networks are differentially disrupted in these disorders, as our previous clinical research suggests. This dissociation and the subsequent development of an ocular motor clincal screen may improve diagnosis, and potentially treatment, of these devastating conditions.
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
Clinical And Neurobiological Predictors Of Onset Of Major Mental Disorders (mania, Psychosis, Severe Depression), And Associated Functional Impairment, In Adolescent And Young Adult Twins: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,356,103.00
Summary
The Brisbane Twin Study is a prospective twin study tracking the real-time developmental trajectories of the onset of anxiety, mood, psychotic or substance misuse disorders through adolescence and young adulthood. This unique study has now reached the point where reassessment (after 20 years) can be performed. We will now determine the extent to which outcomes are predicted by neurobiological and genetic markers. This information is critical to prevention or early intervention strategies.