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Single-focussed Versus Integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy For Co-occurring Depression And Alcohol Use Problems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$777,500.00
Summary
This study is significant and timely in that it proposes a large-scale randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for people with co-occurring depression and alcohol use problems. To date, very few researchers have conducted research within this population, whose complex presentation makes it difficult for treatment providers to select and deliver effective treatment programs. Thus, although rates of depressive disorders and alcohol use problems are on the increase in our c ....This study is significant and timely in that it proposes a large-scale randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for people with co-occurring depression and alcohol use problems. To date, very few researchers have conducted research within this population, whose complex presentation makes it difficult for treatment providers to select and deliver effective treatment programs. Thus, although rates of depressive disorders and alcohol use problems are on the increase in our community, it is still not clear how best to manage and treat this group of people. Typically, people will often receive treatment for one part of their presentation, for example their depression or alcohol use problem. However, it is uncommon for the two conditions to be treated in an integrated way. This is certainly true for psychological treatments. Research programs to date have explored effective treatments for depression and alcohol use in the absence of the co-occurring condition. Currently it is not known how well people with co-occurring alcohol use problems and depression respond to treatments with a singular focus. Furthermore, it is not known whether integrating both alcohol use and depressive treatment approaches provides any additional benefit. This study is therefore significant, as it is one of the first to explore effective treatment approaches among people with co-occurring depressive and alcohol use problems. Resolution of these issues will better inform the treatment choices of clinicians practicing in both mental health and alcohol-other drug settings. Importantly, this will potentially improve the match between treatment and people with depression and substance use problems, a clinically prevalent population encountered in community settings.Read moreRead less
Does Inpatient Weight Restoration Prior To Outpatient Family Therapy Improve Outcomes In Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,283.00
Summary
This study examines the effect of length of hospital admission for refeeding, prior to manualised outpatient family therapy on outcomes for patients with anorexia nervosa. Subjects will include sixty children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years admitted to the Children's Hospital at Westmead for medical management of anorexia nervosa. This study aims to randomly allocate and compare outcomes between adolescents with anorexia nervosa admitted for medical stabilisation followed by outpatient famil ....This study examines the effect of length of hospital admission for refeeding, prior to manualised outpatient family therapy on outcomes for patients with anorexia nervosa. Subjects will include sixty children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years admitted to the Children's Hospital at Westmead for medical management of anorexia nervosa. This study aims to randomly allocate and compare outcomes between adolescents with anorexia nervosa admitted for medical stabilisation followed by outpatient family therapy versus adolescents admitted for full weight restoration followed by outpatient family therapy. Physical and psychological outcomes will be measured at admission to hospital, at the end of the hospital treatment and at the completion of outpatient family therapy and 6 and 12 months after the completion of treatment.Read moreRead less
Longitudinal Treatment Outcomes For Methamphetamine Dependence: A Treatment Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,500.00
Summary
Australia has a substantial and growing population of problematic stimulant users, namely dependent or injecting methamphetamine users, with methamphetamine injection accounting for one-third of all injecting drug use. Methamphetamine dependence has been associated with serious physical and mental health problems, including psychosis, depression, stroke and general poor health and wellbeing. Increasing numbers of people are presenting for treatment of methamphetamine dependence and many are expe ....Australia has a substantial and growing population of problematic stimulant users, namely dependent or injecting methamphetamine users, with methamphetamine injection accounting for one-third of all injecting drug use. Methamphetamine dependence has been associated with serious physical and mental health problems, including psychosis, depression, stroke and general poor health and wellbeing. Increasing numbers of people are presenting for treatment of methamphetamine dependence and many are experiencing other psychiatric problems like drug-induced psychosis and depression. Currently little is known about people who present for treatment of methamphetamine dependence, including how many have other serious mental health problems that need treatment in their own right. Nor is it known whether the treatment they receive for their methamphetamine use is effective in reducing their drug use or improving their mental health status. The current study will provide much needed information on people seeking treatment for methamphetamine dependence in Australia, including their psychiatric status, and whether the treatment they receive for methamphetamine dependence is effective in reducing their drug use and related health problems or improving their mental health status. These aims will be met by assessing drug use, psychiatric status, treatment experience as well as general health and well being among a cohort of people entering treatment for methamphetamine use in Sydney. Responses to treatment will be assessed at 3 months and 12 months following treatment entry and outcomes will be compared to a group of methamphetamine users not receiving treatment. This is the first study in Australia to assess the effectiveness of treatment that is provided to methamphetamine users in an everyday treatment setting. It is also the first study internationally to focus on treatment outcome for methamphetamine dependence in a community setting.Read moreRead less
Integrating Treatment For Alcohol Use Problems And Comorbid PTSD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$658,073.00
Summary
Comorbid alcohol use problems and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common mental health problems that cause disability and distress. Despite this, there are few randomized controlled trials of interventions. The proposed study is the first Australian randomised controlled trial in this field to address the question of whether treating PTSD and alcohol use problems is superior to treating alcohol use problems alone. The study compares the relative efficacy of a manual guided treatment for ....Comorbid alcohol use problems and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common mental health problems that cause disability and distress. Despite this, there are few randomized controlled trials of interventions. The proposed study is the first Australian randomised controlled trial in this field to address the question of whether treating PTSD and alcohol use problems is superior to treating alcohol use problems alone. The study compares the relative efficacy of a manual guided treatment for alcohol use disorder alone with a simultaneous treatment for alcohol use and PTSD. This study improves on the methodological limitations described in the two existing studies reported in the published literature. Two-hundred and sixty four participants will be recruited from mutiple sites (media, GPs, specialist clinics) and treated in the community at two sites in Sydney. Participants will be eligible if they consume harmful levels of alcohol (NHMRC risky or high risk levels) and have a concurrent diagnosis of PTSD based on recognised diagnostic criteria. Treatment will consist of 16 sessions of manual guided individual psychological therapy that has been found to be very efficacious with each problem alone. The efficacy of treatment will be determined on the basis of reductions in harmful drinking (above NHMRC low risk levels) and in symptoms of PTSD. Participants will be followed up by an independent, blind, clinician three and six months after treatment completion. The findings of this study have the potential to provide valuable information regarding the treatment needs of people with these complex presentations to clinicians and policy developers alike.Read moreRead less