A New, Low-cost E-health Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorder Using Mental Imagery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$895,032.00
Summary
This project offers the first large-scale test of phone-based Functional Imagery Training (FIT), a new, low-cost way to help people change behaviours using mental imagery, regardless of where they live. The trial addresses Alcohol Use Disorder—a common problem with substantial health and social impacts, comparing FIT with verbal motivational treatments, and testing effects on alcohol use and quality of life over 12 months. Cost-effectiveness and predictions of outcome are also examined.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of A New Intervention For Alcohol Craving
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$780,673.00
Summary
Alcohol problems continue to pose a significant burden across many areas, including the physical and mental health of the individual, and the wider implications for families, health systems providing care, and society as a whole. Despite the existence of a variety of therapies including in- and outpatient programs and anti-craving medications, people continue to struggle with this problem. Increased craving for alcohol is a major factor in ability to adhere to treatment, rate of progress, and lo ....Alcohol problems continue to pose a significant burden across many areas, including the physical and mental health of the individual, and the wider implications for families, health systems providing care, and society as a whole. Despite the existence of a variety of therapies including in- and outpatient programs and anti-craving medications, people continue to struggle with this problem. Increased craving for alcohol is a major factor in ability to adhere to treatment, rate of progress, and long-term maintenance of change. Whilst current medications target craving, they provide only short-term symptom relief, and not all people find them effective. Cravings are both distracting and distressing during treatment, and increased craving often predicts treatment drop-out and relapse. This project evaluates a new treatment for alcohol misuse: CARM - Craving for Alcohol: Reduction and Management. This 8-session enhanced Cognitive-Behaviour Treatment (CBT) focuses on teaching people new skills to manage and reduce cravings, and is based on a new theory of craving that has strong research support. The study compares 4 groups: CARM; a more traditional CBT treatment for alcohol problems [motivational interviewing, problem solving for high-risk situations, and relapse prevention]; plus two brief interventions [Motivational Interviewing plus Self-Monitoring, and Self-Monitoring alone] both followed by CARM after an 8 week delay. All participants are able to set their own goals of abstinence or reduced use. Expected outcomes: all participants will learn effective skills to manage their alcohol use, resulting in significant reductions in alcohol consumption and fewer problems from alcohol use; however, those receiving CARM will find it easier to manage cravings during treatment, and will make faster progress and show less treatment drop-out. It is also anticipated that participants in CARM will show better long-term maintenance of treatment gains.Read moreRead less
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Treatment For Alcohol Use Problems And Social Phobia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,333.00
Summary
Social Phobia and harmful Alcohol use often go together and suferers experince additional distress, disability, and worse results from treatment. Previous clinical trials tested adding treatments for the separate disorders together which may have confused patients. This project test integrated evidence based CBT treatments for the separate problems compared to treatment for alcohol alone. Reduced drinking, decreased social anxiety and increased quality of life are the expected results
Progressing Life Course Research In Psychiatric Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$331,674.00
Summary
Mental health and alcohol disorders are major public health problems which cause long-term disabilities, poor health and early mortality. Addressing these problems requires a better understanding of the early factors leading to these disorders. This research program represents a unique opportunity to increase our knowledge of the origins of these disorders and significantly contribute to improved mental health and alcohol prevention policies and programs.
Reducing The Key Alcohol And Other Drug Related Harms In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,370.00
Summary
I am a leading alcohol and other drug researcher with an established national and international reputation for high quality research and translation. Over the next five years I will tackle the three key issues in the alcohol and other drug field: injecting drug use, methamphetamine use and harms and high risk drinking by young people, by developing, implementing and testing new interventions.
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
Genetic And Environmental Determinants Of Tobacco And Alcohol Use Trajectories Into Adulthood:a Prospective Twin Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$172,875.00
Summary
Problems associated with the long-term use of tobacco and the abuse of alcohol permeate society. The development of effective programs for both the prevention and cessation of tobacco use and alcohol abuse requires an understanding of the natural history of the use of these substances. Most studies of the natural history of tobacco and alcohol use have followed individuals through secondary school and into the early 20s. These studies tell us about the psychosocial influences on these behaviours ....Problems associated with the long-term use of tobacco and the abuse of alcohol permeate society. The development of effective programs for both the prevention and cessation of tobacco use and alcohol abuse requires an understanding of the natural history of the use of these substances. Most studies of the natural history of tobacco and alcohol use have followed individuals through secondary school and into the early 20s. These studies tell us about the psychosocial influences on these behaviours but not about the role of genes on initiation and escalation of substance use. Yet recent advances in the neurophysiology of nicotine and alcohol receptivity and molecular genetics research suggest that genes play at least some role in determining the use of alcohol and tobacco. This proposal is for funding to continue a study designed to investigate the natural histories of alcohol and tobacco use among a sample of 1400 young Australian twins from adolescence to adulthood (early 30s). The study involves a telephone survey of these twins about their smoking and drinking behaviours, and among other things, their attitudes about smoking and drinking, the use of tobacco and alcohol by family and friends and presence of smoking bans at home and work. Because this study explicitly examines the influence of social and psychological factors on tobacco and alcohol use we will be able to determine the relative contribution of genes and psychosocial factors in tobacco and alcohol use. The proposed study is unique in its use of twins, its longitudinal design and its integration of genetics into psychosocial models of behaviour. The results of this study will help to clarify the role of genes in the development of tobacco use and alcohol abuse. Importantly the results of this study will help to identify those social and psychological factors that increase the likelihood of a genetically susceptible individual becoming dependent on nicotine and-or abusing alcohol.Read moreRead less
Brain damage resulting from long-term alcohol abuse is localized to discrete regions of the brain and selectively impairs key neuropsychological functions. Alcohol misuse affects processes that control excitability in the brain, leading to the over-stimulation of brain cells. When this continues for long periods the cells are likely to die and most alcoholics misuse alcohol for most of their adult lives. We will study the human brain s capacity to use and respond to glutamate, its major natural ....Brain damage resulting from long-term alcohol abuse is localized to discrete regions of the brain and selectively impairs key neuropsychological functions. Alcohol misuse affects processes that control excitability in the brain, leading to the over-stimulation of brain cells. When this continues for long periods the cells are likely to die and most alcoholics misuse alcohol for most of their adult lives. We will study the human brain s capacity to use and respond to glutamate, its major natural excitant, in the regions that are selectively damaged by alcoholism. How these capacities are affected by heredity, and by diseases commonly associated with alcoholism such as cirrhosis of the liver, will also be explored. If we can understand how selective brain damage occurs in alcoholics we will be better able to devise new drug therapies to combat and prevent it. As well, localized brain damage is a feature of many neurological diseases, so the study will provide a general model of disease mechanisms.Read moreRead less
Evaluation Of Internet-Based Treatments For Comorbidity Of Alcohol Disorders And Depressive Mood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$710,333.00
Summary
Depression and alcohol problems often co-occur and contribute significantly to non-fatal disease burden in Australia. Psychological treatment for these illnesses is effective, but many Australians lack access to appropriate services. This study addresses this problem by offering treatment via the internet. This randomised controlled trial will compare three online treatments for comorbid alcohol use and depression.