Enhancing The Capacity Of Mental Health Services To Review, Personalise And Intervene Early Through Implementation Of Real-time Outcome Monitoring
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
By monitoring functioning and symptom changes experienced by severe mental illness patients in their living environments, mental health services can identify those experiencing decline earlier and hence deliver appropriate and timely interventions. However, monitoring is currently poorly implemented in Australian mental health services and inadequately supported by national policy. The applicant proposes to address this evidence-practice gap through a mobile phone-based monitoring system.
Practical Application Of Culturally Appropriate Cognitive And Psychological Assesments For Indigneous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
Recently screening tools for assessing brain function and mental health have been developed that were found useful for detecting substance abuse related impairments in Indigenous Australians. The proposed research will focus on investigating the wider practical applications of these tools in Indigenous populations, as well as developing a process for making the tools available for use in primary care practice.
Evaluation Of An Internet-based Cognitive-behavioural Treatment Program For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$329,266.00
Summary
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common and extremely disabling psychatric disorder. While cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for OCD, the delivery of such treatment is limited by its cost and shortage of appropriately qualified professionals. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an internet based CBT program for OCD, which is hoped to result in improved access to a low cost evidence based treatment for all Australians.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of NMDA Antagonist, Memantine, For The Treatment Of Borderline Personality Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$993,067.00
Summary
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) affects 5.9% of Australians and is a poorly understood mental illness with no clear medication treatment. The key symptoms of BPD all stem from impaired cognitive processes. Our early data shows improvement of symptoms with memantine - a cognitive enhancing drug used in Alzheimer’s disease.We plan to conduct a clinical trial; giving either 20mg memantine or placebo to 150 people with BPD across 2 Victorian sites.
A Prospective Cohort Study Of Mortality, Abstinence, Criminality And Psychiatric Comorbidity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,500.00
Summary
Over 70 000 Australians are dependent on heroin. Heroin dependence is remarkably persistent and is, in many cases, a lifelong condition. Long term treatment outcome and abstinence from heroin among this group are poor. Mortality among heroin users is high, with heroin users dying at a rate 13 times that of peers. Despite the extent of the problem, the natural history of heroin users has not yet been studied in Australia. The current study will be the first Australian study of the natural history ....Over 70 000 Australians are dependent on heroin. Heroin dependence is remarkably persistent and is, in many cases, a lifelong condition. Long term treatment outcome and abstinence from heroin among this group are poor. Mortality among heroin users is high, with heroin users dying at a rate 13 times that of peers. Despite the extent of the problem, the natural history of heroin users has not yet been studied in Australia. The current study will be the first Australian study of the natural history of heroin users. The study will follow up a large cohort of heroin users over a three year period. Estimates will be obtained of mortality rates, abstinence rates, criminal careers, and psychiatric problems among heroin users. It will also examine factors that predict abstinence, mortality, criminality and levels of psychopathology, and determine the health costs associated with heroin use careers. The study will provide essential data on how heroin use progresses, and on what factors predict a better outcome for heroin users.Read moreRead less
Molecular And Cellular Characterisation Of Schizophrenia Associated Dysfunction In MicroRNA Biogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,205.00
Summary
We have identified substantial changes in the biogenesis of microRNA in schizophrenia. These small non-coding molecules derived from junk DNA, play a significant role in genetic regulation, with each one capable of silencing hundreds of target genes. This has major implications for schizophrenia, which is known to involve substantial changes in gene activity. The project will identify the molecular basis of this alteration in gene silencing, and its biological implications for schizophrenia.
Understanding The Pathology Of Muscarinic Receptor Deficit Schizophrenia: A Biochemically Defined Form Of The Disorder.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,804.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is a group of disorders with similar symptoms and no way of distinguishing the different disorders. In our brain collection 25% of the subjects with schizophrenia have a particular chemical deficit. Screening gene expression in people with schizophrenia, with and without this deficit will give a global picture of chemical differences between the groups. Understanding the differences between sub-groups of people with schizophrenia will aid the development of better drugs for them.