The Relationship Between Cannabis Use And Symptoms And Relapse In Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$169,604.00
Summary
Cannabis is increasingly widely used and abused by young people. Use in young people with schizophrenia is even more extensive. There is some suggestion that this drug use is a result of their illness, ie to reduce unpleasant symptoms or feelings. Equally the drug may contribute to their psychosis. This study aims to assess the degree to which psychosis may be caused by cannabis use in vulnerable young people.
Cohort Study Of Risk Factors For Young Driver Injuries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$689,830.00
Summary
Injuries impose a substantial burden on young people, both in Australia and internationally. In 1998, 70% of all deaths among young men, and 57% of deaths among young women, aged 15-24 years in Australia were due to injuries. The single largest cause of injury-related fatalities, hospital admissions and emergency department presentations among this age group is transport-related incidents. Technological advances in motor vehicle engineering and road design, and the implementation of various road ....Injuries impose a substantial burden on young people, both in Australia and internationally. In 1998, 70% of all deaths among young men, and 57% of deaths among young women, aged 15-24 years in Australia were due to injuries. The single largest cause of injury-related fatalities, hospital admissions and emergency department presentations among this age group is transport-related incidents. Technological advances in motor vehicle engineering and road design, and the implementation of various road safety measures, such as random breath testing, have led to an overall decline in the incidence of motor vehicle-related injuries in Australia in the past three decades. However, young people still have substantially higher rates of motor vehicle-related mortality than older people. This suggests that if the burden of injuries among young drivers is to be reduced to levels that are at least as comparable with those in other age-groups, then the identification of factors that are specifically associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle injury among young people, must be a priority. The current study aims to determine the role of several postulated risk factors in the incidence of young driver injuries. The specific risk factors to be examined include pre-licence road and driving exposure-experience; type, quality and quantity of driver training; and road risk perceptions and engagement in sensation seeking behaviours. The study also seeks to determine whether factors associated with increased risk of driver injury are the same for different socio-economic groups and for different ethnic and cultural groups. Information obtained in this study should provide reliable evidence about causal factors for motor vehicle crash injury among young drivers. Such information should be useful to licensing and road safety professionals, in the design of practical road safety strategies aimed at reducing the burden of young driver injuries.Read moreRead less
Is High-school Screening For Hereditary Haemochromatosis Acceptable And Feasible?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$728,573.00
Summary
Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) is a preventable adult onset genetic iron overload disorder. In this research project we will offer senior high school students the opportunity to be tested for their risk of developing HH. Testing will be by a painless cheek brush test. Using questionnaires and interviews we will assess the psychological impact on the students. We will also assess whether those who are at increased risk of HH take steps to prevent disease.
Identification And Characterisation Of Amplified Oncogenes In Liposarcoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,293.00
Summary
Liposarcoma is the commonest single subtype of sarcomas, a group of cancers that disproportionately affects the young. The overall mortality for liposarcomas is approximately 50%. Chemotherapy may temporarily controlling disease in under a third of patients, but is toxic and cannot achieve cure. We have identified new potential therapeutic targets, and aim to develop these in the clinic.
Improving Understanding Of Psychostimulant-related Harms In Australia: An Integrated Ethno-epidemiological Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,430.00
Summary
National drug surveys and surveillance systems have detected sharp increases in the use of 'psychostimulant' drugs such as the amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine. The level of harms associated with excessive use of these drugs, such as mental health problems and drug dependence, has also increased, as has the use of these drugs via injection. These increases in the prevalence of use and related harms have also been detected internationally. Previous research on psychostimulant drugs, in Australia ....National drug surveys and surveillance systems have detected sharp increases in the use of 'psychostimulant' drugs such as the amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine. The level of harms associated with excessive use of these drugs, such as mental health problems and drug dependence, has also increased, as has the use of these drugs via injection. These increases in the prevalence of use and related harms have also been detected internationally. Previous research on psychostimulant drugs, in Australia and overseas, has suggested that using these drugs in particular ways might be associated with a greater chance of contracting HIV and other blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis C (eg through sharing needles and syringes or other equipment associated with injecting drugs); sexually transmitted infections and other sexual health problems (eg through engaging in unsafe sex); and of being involved in violent incidents. Despite this previous research, however, little is known about the specific social and cultural contexts associated with psychostimulant-related harms, and this has stymied the development of appropriate responses to prevent such harms occurring. This research project will provide a greater understanding of the individual, social and cultural factors associated with pychostimulant-related harm through an innovative combination and integration of anthropological and epidemiological research methods known as 'ethno-epidemiology'. In order to access a range of psychostimulant-using contexts, research will focus on three sites: street-based drug users in Sydney, club drug users in Melbourne, and home-based recreational drug users in Perth. These groups have been chosen because they have high prevalences of psychostimulant use. The research project will provide important data that will inform future interventions, improve multidisciplinary models for drug research, and build Australia's capacity to conduct cutting-edge public health research.Read moreRead less
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy To Prevent Psychosis Among People With At-risk Mental States.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$619,604.00
Summary
Recent advances in the accurate identification of individuals at high risk of developing a psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia, have inspired the development of interventions designed to delay, ameliorate or even prevent the onset of such disorders. To date, the results of only three randomised controlled trials of such interventions have been published. Although these results have shown that interventions are able to delay the onset of psychosis, and may even prevent psychosis in some cas ....Recent advances in the accurate identification of individuals at high risk of developing a psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia, have inspired the development of interventions designed to delay, ameliorate or even prevent the onset of such disorders. To date, the results of only three randomised controlled trials of such interventions have been published. Although these results have shown that interventions are able to delay the onset of psychosis, and may even prevent psychosis in some cases, it is unclear which treatment should be preferred for this population because the three trials have assessed, respectively, a combination of anti-psychotic medication and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), CBT alone, and anti-psychotic medication alone. Since the trial of CBT alone produced results that were at least as favourable as the two other trials, and since ethical and clinical objections have been raised concerning the use of anti-psychotic medications with young people who may never develop a psychotic disorder, CBT may be the preferred treatment. Far from posing unnecessary risks, CBT has the potential to provide important therapeutic benefits even to those not destined to develop a psychosis. The current study is significant in that it proposes a controlled trial of a form of CBT which has been specially adapted for preventing transition to psychosis among young high-risk individuals, to test whether the previous favourable results for CBT can be independently replicated. It will be compared with a control treatment. Since cannabis abuse is common among young people who are at risk, and is a known risk factor for psychosis, CBT will include elements of treatment for cannabis abuse. The trial will be run in both Newcastle and Orange, NSW, enabling us to compare the effectiveness of CBT in urban and rural settings. This study has the potential to have large impacts on the quality of life of young people at risk of psychosis.Read moreRead less