Motivation For Starvation: Understanding The Neurobiology Of Anorexia Nervosa
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$773,142.00
Summary
Anorexia nervosa is a debilitating psychiatric disorder which is currently untreatable. It is characterised by disrupted reward and cognitive processing. This project, which will ultimately inform treatment strategies, utilises the activity-based anorexia rat model combined with innovative behavioural paradigms and sophisticated techniques to manipulate and record from neural circuits. This will furnish a comprehensive understanding of the neurobiology involved in pathological weight loss.
Personalising The Delivery Of E-mental Health Interventions For Eating Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$632,429.00
Summary
This Investigator Grant aims to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an eHealth prevention and treatment program using a stepped-care approach. Findings are expected to show that eating disorders can be effectively and efficiently treated and prevented through low intensity, cheap, and widely available digital interventions, and by doing so it will directly address the unmet needs of people with or at risk for an eating disorder in a practical, scalable, and cost-effective manner.
An Investigation Of The Aetiology Of Eating Disorders: Interactions Between Genes And Environmental Risk Factors.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$225,000.00
Summary
Eating disorders, along with substance abuse, carry the highest risk of premature death, from both natural and unnatural causes, out of 27 mental disorder categories. Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, affect about 6% of Australian women. Despite increased levels of research into the aetiology of eating disorders over the last 20 years, little knowledge exists as to which risk factors cause women to attempt weight loss to the point of increa ....Eating disorders, along with substance abuse, carry the highest risk of premature death, from both natural and unnatural causes, out of 27 mental disorder categories. Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, affect about 6% of Australian women. Despite increased levels of research into the aetiology of eating disorders over the last 20 years, little knowledge exists as to which risk factors cause women to attempt weight loss to the point of increasing their risk of premature mortality. A review of twin studies in eating disorders concludes that there is increasing evidence to suggest that genetic factors play a role in the development of eating disorders. In addition, a recent series of studies, examining risk factors before the age of eating disorder onset, have found the following events to specifically predict the development of an eating disorder as opposed to another psychiatric condition: negative self-evaluation, parental alcoholism, low parental contact and high parental expectations, critical comments about weight, shape or eating during childhood, and childhood obesity. To date, no studies have attempted to integrate the findings from twin studies with the findings from early risk factor studies. Specifically, the ways in which genes interact with the environment to increase the chances of genetic vulnerability to an eating disorder being expressed have not been examined. The proposed project seeks to investigate precisely these interactions between genes and the environment, by examining a large number of female twins, aged 29-37. An enhanced understanding of how genes interact with the environment to either increase the chances that a woman will develop an eating disorder, or alternatively to protect a woman from developing an eating disorder, will benefit our understanding of how to target prevention and treatment strategies.Read moreRead less
Olanzapine For Young PEople With ANorexia Nervosa: An Open-label Feasibility Study To Test Recruitment, Treatment Acceptance, Adherence, Safety, Outcome Measures And Patients' Experience To Prepare For A Randomised Placebo-controlled Trial (OPEN)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,799.00
Summary
Olanzapine seems to be a helpful and safe medication in anorexia nervosa (AN), but it is not approved for AN. We will perform a preliminary study with 70 patients with AN (15 in Australia and 50 in the UK, age: 12-24 years) who can safely take olanzapine and have not gained sufficient weight or experienced improvement in their AN symptoms under specialist care. We will the acceptability and feasibility of olanzapine in AN. Patients will be examined after 8 and 16 weeks, 6 months and 12 months.
A Randomised Controlled Trial To Examine The Effectiveness Of Oxytocin To Improve Treatment For Anorexia Nervosa
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,854.00
Summary
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a major public health problem. Nutritional rehabilitation programs exist but can be costly and protracted, and patients struggle to engage with these demanding therapies. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of oxytocin nasal spray to improve outcomes in patients with AN participating in a nutritional rehabilitation program using a randomized placebo-controlled design. If shown to be effective, this will have national and international significance.
Taking A LEAP Forward In The Treatment Of Anorexia Nervosa: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,818.00
Summary
Extreme levels of exercise to reduce weight and improve mood are common in people with anorexia nevosa and are associated with poorer outcomes. Our study aims to test a novel therapy help people reduce their use of exercise andfind healthier and safer ways of managing weight and low mood. The therapy will be compared with a widely used control therapy - that however has only limited efficacy. We hope the exercise therapy will result in improved outcomes for this debilitating illness.