Impact Of Social Adversity On The Developmental Trajectory To Mental Illness: A Study Of A Whole-population Cohort Of Children At Familial High-risk For Psychotic Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$822,385.00
Summary
The objective of this study is to use the rich multi-generational data collection that we have assembled on the life course of a large whole-population birth cohort and their parents to address specific research questions on the contribution of social adversity to the pathogenesis of mental illness, taking into account the interplay of social adversity with genetic risk and the range of other contributing factors on the developmental trajectory to mental illness.
Causes And Consequences Of Mental Disorders, Cognitive Decline And Dementia Over The Adult Life Course And The Implications For Mental Health Services: PATH Through Life Wave 4
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,214,287.00
Summary
Our longitudinal study examines biological, social, genetic and psychological risk and protective factors for disorders of mind and brain including depression, anxiety, substance use, cognitive impairment and dementia. Three cohorts will be assessed providing 12 years of follow-up. The study is unique within Australia for spanning 6 decades of adulthood. We will also identify what health services people use; and why many people with mental health problems do not access services.
An Investigation Of The Role Of Gene-environment Interactions And Epigenetics In Depression: Nature Combined With Nurture.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$337,602.00
Summary
Depression is one of the biggest public health problems, yet the causes remain largely unknown. This study aims to determine how environmental factors can combine with particular genes to increases an individual’s risk of depression. Environmental factors can also cause modifications to genes which can affect an individual’s health. This study will thus also examine whether women with post-natal depression and their children have different gene modifications than those without depression.
Life Course Trajectories And Neuropsychiatric Outcomes In An E-cohort Of High Risk Children Of Mothers With Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,484.00
Summary
This study investigates how genetic and environment factors operate over the life course to increase risk of adverse outcomes for children of women with severe mental illness. We examine the clustering of neuropsychiatric outcomes in families and individuals, the role of developmental adverse life events in the risk for these outcomes, and the children's physical morbidity and offending profiles. This is an electronic cohort (e-cohort), constructed by record linkage across many databases.
The Effectiveness Of A School-based Parent Education Program In The Promotion Of Adolescent Health: A Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,900.00
Summary
Youth mental health and behaviour problems such as depression, suicidal behaviour, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and illicit drug use are currently priority issues within Australian national and state public health policies. This project has been designed to contribute to knowledge on the effectiveness of interventions that can be used to prevent youth mental health and behaviour problems. Until recent years the development of programs to support families through the transition into adolescence has ....Youth mental health and behaviour problems such as depression, suicidal behaviour, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and illicit drug use are currently priority issues within Australian national and state public health policies. This project has been designed to contribute to knowledge on the effectiveness of interventions that can be used to prevent youth mental health and behaviour problems. Until recent years the development of programs to support families through the transition into adolescence has been neglected. This is remiss, as there is evidence that a range of youth mental health and behaviour problems may be preventable through interventions through this transition. The overall objective of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-level, family intervention designed to promote adolescent health within secondary schools. The intervention will be implemented over the first two years of high school and incorporates both universal components (for all families) and selected components (for families with particular difficulties). The intervention elements have been developed and partially evaluated in work undertaken by the applicant and collaborators over the past five years. To evaluate this intervention a representative sample of 12 Victorian secondary schools will be randomly assigned to intervention and compared to 12 control schools with prior matching on school demographics and student behaviour variables. Intervention processes will be closely monitored and evaluated for impacts on relevant risk and protective factors. Effectiveness will be evaluated by testing whether reductions in youth mental health and behaviour problems were greater for intervention families compared to controls. The evaluation has been designed to test the theory that improvement across the whole secondary school environment can be encouraged by preventing the negative peer influences that can emerge within families experiencing adolescent adjustment problemsRead moreRead less
Financial Innovation and Sustainable Solutions for Electricity Markets. This project aims to investigate financial innovation for electricity markets that are transforming from fossil-fuel fired power generation to a higher share of renewable energy. The project will create new knowledge on impacts of the decarbonisation of power markets, utilising cutting-edge econometric models, innovative financial products and new measures for market performance and financial risk. Expected outcomes of the p ....Financial Innovation and Sustainable Solutions for Electricity Markets. This project aims to investigate financial innovation for electricity markets that are transforming from fossil-fuel fired power generation to a higher share of renewable energy. The project will create new knowledge on impacts of the decarbonisation of power markets, utilising cutting-edge econometric models, innovative financial products and new measures for market performance and financial risk. Expected outcomes of the project include recommendations for facilitating investment into renewable energy, pricing intermittent generation, guidelines for stress tests and sustainable energy policy. This will help regulators and market participants to better ensure the long-term economic sustainability and financial resilience of the sector.Read moreRead less