The Effect Of High-dose Vitamin-D Supplementation On Mental Health In A Randomised, Controlled Trial Of 1500 Older Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$81,965.00
Summary
Vitamin D is commonly deficient in Western populations, more so in the winter months and in the elderly. A link between depression and vitamin D insufficiency may exist. This study aims to see if vitamin-D supplementation is a practical health intervention for depressive symptoms and may define a public health strategy. In this study participants receive a dose of vitamin D3 or placebo annually for three years. Self-rated psychiatric assessments are administered.
Social Behaviour In Rats Developmentally Deficient In Vitamin D: Modelling The Negative Symptoms Of Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,927.00
Summary
We are exploring low maternal vitamin D as a biological explanation for a 7-10% increase in the incidence of patients born with schizophrenia in the colder months of the year world wide. Developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency in rats leads to long term changes in brain development and behaviour. The aim of this research is to examine social behaviour in DVD deficient rats as a model of negative symptoms of schizophrenia and establish the neurochemical basis for this altered behaviour
Schizophrenia is a group of brain disorders that affects approximately 1 in 100 people. The symptoms can include delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (e.g., hearing voices), blunted emotions, poor planning ability and reduced motivation. Because these disorders often start in early adulthood, and can be chronic, schizophrenia contributes substantially to the burden of disease across the globe. The causes of schizophrenia are poorly understood, but it is clear that both genetic factors and e ....Schizophrenia is a group of brain disorders that affects approximately 1 in 100 people. The symptoms can include delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (e.g., hearing voices), blunted emotions, poor planning ability and reduced motivation. Because these disorders often start in early adulthood, and can be chronic, schizophrenia contributes substantially to the burden of disease across the globe. The causes of schizophrenia are poorly understood, but it is clear that both genetic factors and environmental factors can contribute to the risk of developing schizophrenia. As part of an integrated program of research searching for novel environmental risk factors for schizophrenia, this application examines the impact of low prenatal vitamin D on brain development. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone mostly derived from the action of bright sunshine on the skin. Our past research (based on population studies, cell culture studies and animal experiments) have provided tantalizing clues about the impact of low prenatal vitamin D on brain development. This project will explore two important areas. We will explore mechanims by which LOW vitamin D may cause LESS programmed cell death (apoptosis). Programmed cell death is a crucial feature in brain development, and any alteration to the orderly sequence of brain development may leave the person vulnerable to adult-onset brain disorders like schizophrenia. Secondly, we will compare the behaviour and brain markers of adult rats born of mothers depleted of vitamin D versus normal mothers. Finally, we will examine the impact of vitamin D on neural tissue cultures obtained from nasal biopsy. If low prenatal vitamin D is a risk factor for schizophrenia, then it may be possible to reduce the incidence of schizophrenia by providing pregnant women with a safe and cheap vitamin tablet (similar to how folate supplements have reduced the incidence of spina bifida) .Read moreRead less
Anti-Estrogens - A Potential Treatment For Bipolar Affective Disorder In Women?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$239,250.00
Summary
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) or Manic-Depressive Illness is a serious mental illness with high morbidity and mortality. The cause of the illness is still unclear and the underlying neurochemical changes are different for the manic phase compared with the depressive phase. The current treatments for BPAD are limited in scope and not biochemically well understood. There are gender differences in the presentation and outcomes for BPAD which adds to the complexity of the illness. We are proposi ....Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) or Manic-Depressive Illness is a serious mental illness with high morbidity and mortality. The cause of the illness is still unclear and the underlying neurochemical changes are different for the manic phase compared with the depressive phase. The current treatments for BPAD are limited in scope and not biochemically well understood. There are gender differences in the presentation and outcomes for BPAD which adds to the complexity of the illness. We are proposing a study to develop a new type of treatment for the manic phase of BPAD and are exploring the use of anti-estrogens in women with mania. The background to our proposed study comes from a few case reports suggesting that anti-estrogen agents such as progesterone and tamoxifen may be useful adjuncts to treatment. We conducted a small pilot study comparing the addition of oral tamoxifen with oral progesterone and placebo in 10 women with mania and found that the women who received tamoxifen made significantly better improvements in their manic symptoms over a 28-day trial. The research study we are now proposing is a larger, three-arm, double blind, placebo controlled, 28-day adjunctive study in women with mania to expand and clarify our pilot study findings. Patients in our proposed study would receive either 40mg per day tamoxifen or 20mg per day progesterone or placebo in addition to standardised lithium medication. We will measure enzyme activity (protein kinase C) and estrogen-progesterone levels to understand more about the mechanisms of action by these new hormone treatments. BPAD is a crippling disorder and if we are successful, then tamoxifen treatment may be an important new treatment. This proposed study will also shed new light on some of the neurochemical mechanisms underlying BPAD as well as opening up the new area of hormone treatments for serious mental illness.Read moreRead less