A Randomised Control Trial Of A Group-Based Intervention For Substance Abuse In Psychosis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,250.00
Summary
The use of alcohol and illicit substances is common amongst people with psychotic illnesses, and is associated with a poor outcome in terms of severity of symptoms, treatment adherence, work-studies, family cohesion, aggression and quality of life. All this adds significantly to the cost of mental health services and society more broadly. The proposed study aims to refine, pilot, and rigorously evaluate a group-based intervention that targets substance use in such individuals at different stages ....The use of alcohol and illicit substances is common amongst people with psychotic illnesses, and is associated with a poor outcome in terms of severity of symptoms, treatment adherence, work-studies, family cohesion, aggression and quality of life. All this adds significantly to the cost of mental health services and society more broadly. The proposed study aims to refine, pilot, and rigorously evaluate a group-based intervention that targets substance use in such individuals at different stages of their illness, and within a number of different treatment settings. The intervention will be informed by an enhanced understanding of the motivations for substance use in people with psychotic illnesses The specific aims are to: Refine, implement and evaluate, using a controlled experimental design, a novel group-based intervention for reducing substance abuse comorbidity in people with psychotic disorders; Determine reasons for substance use by these individuals, to inform the intervention procedures; Pilot the intervention in a series of different treatment settings, including early episode and rehabilitation programs, and non-government organisations dealing with people with psychotic disorders, to ensure generalisability, adaptability, and acceptability; Augment case managers' knowledge and skills in dealing with comorbid drug and alcohol use Enhance detection, motivation to change, ongoing monitoring and relapse prevention of substance misuse in clients with psychotic disorders. It will also be possible, once the treatment intervention is finalised and evaluated, to expand its use to patients with non-psychotic mental illnesses.Read moreRead less
Breathing Control As A Treatment For Non-Epileptic Seizures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,740,186.00
Summary
Non-epileptic Seizures (NES) are fits that look like epilepsy but are not, and are instead thought to be a psychological response to problems. Treating them psychologically is difficult, however, and doesn't usually work. We have discovered that patients' fits involve hyperventilation, like a panic attack, and can be stopped by teaching them to control their breathing in a similar way. In this study we aim to prove this, by completing a trial of breath control training in NES.
Risk Factors, Mechanisms, And Treatment Of Knowlesi Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,138.00
Summary
The monkey parasite P. knowlesi is an increasing cause of human malaria in SE Asia. My studies on the clinical epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of non-severe and severe malaria in Malaysia have changed policy. I will further define the clinical epidemiology of malaria patients in this area over time, assess risk factors for knowlesi malaria, and evaluate the role of human and parasite factors in disease severity, and treatment for reducing acute kidney injury in knowlesi malaria.
Randomised Control Trial Of Three Treatments For Adolescent Stutterers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,320.00
Summary
Effective communication is an essential of everyday life, and stuttering impairs this function. Those who stutter may find effective communication impossible, and severe cases may be rendered almost mute. Clinically significant anxiety figures prominently in the disorder with almost half of those seeking treatment warranting a comorbid diagnosis of social phobia. The adolescent years are generally regarded as a difficult time of life, at which time the potential effects of disfigured speech can ....Effective communication is an essential of everyday life, and stuttering impairs this function. Those who stutter may find effective communication impossible, and severe cases may be rendered almost mute. Clinically significant anxiety figures prominently in the disorder with almost half of those seeking treatment warranting a comorbid diagnosis of social phobia. The adolescent years are generally regarded as a difficult time of life, at which time the potential effects of disfigured speech can be devastating. There has been much research and development of treatments for children and adults who stutter, proven effective treatments are available for those age groups. However, little is known about how to treat adolescents who stutter, and there has been little research and development to find the best treatment-s for this age group. The present proposal is for a randomised, controlled trial of three treatments that have been shown recently to have promise as treatment methods for this age group of patients. The trial will compare (1) a treatment that involves biofeedback muscle activity during speech, (2) a treatment that involves biofeedback of voice box activity during speech, and (3) a variant of a standard treatment that trains the speaker in a new speech pattern. The control group will receive no treatment. The trial extends for a period of 12 months after the subjects are randomly allocated to a treatment group or a control group. The subjects' speech will be assessed in a variety of situations in the clinic and during everyday life. The prime outcome measure will be percentage of syllables stuttered, and secondary measures will be the time required for treatment and how natural the patients sound after treatment. At the conclusion of the trial, the subjects in the control group will be given the treatment that was shown to be most effective.Read moreRead less
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Early Use Of A Simplified Treatment Regimen Incorporating A Half-dose, Three-in-one Blood Pressure Lowering Pill Vs. Usual Care For Improving Hypertension Control In India.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,095,201.00
Summary
Hypertension affects a large proportion of the Indian population. Effective medications exist to lower blood pressure (BP) and the adverse effects of hypertension. However, complex medication regimes and the need to take multiple drugs can affect patient adherence to drugs, making it difficult to achieve good BP control. This research will investigate whether use of a simplified treatment protocol including a three-in-one BP lowering pill can improve BP control in Indians with hypertension.
Evaluating Flexible Delivery In The Get Healthy Information And Coaching Service–A Partnership Project Between The NSW Ministry Of Health, Healthways, Healthdirect, The University Of Sydney And The University Of Queensland
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$296,116.00
Summary
High rates of participant drop-out are a problem in many health promotion programs. This is the case for the Get Healthy Service (GHS), a telephone health coaching service to assist adults to be active, eat healthy and lose weight. This Partnership Project aims to improve GHS retention rates without compromising the effectiveness of the GHS. Retention strategies will be evaluated in a randomised controlled trial. Results will inform changes to service delivery.
Disruption And Restoration Of Motor Control In Musculoskeletal Pathology: Implications For Physiotherapy Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$210,990.00
Summary
The way in which the nervous system controls muscles and movement may play a role in the development and progression of common musculoskeletal conditions. One of these conditions is patellofemoral pain syndrome which is associated with pain around the knee cap. This condition may result from an imbalance in the activity of the thigh muscles that control movement of the knee cap as the knee bends and straightens. This imbalance is due in part to problems with the control of the muscles by the ner ....The way in which the nervous system controls muscles and movement may play a role in the development and progression of common musculoskeletal conditions. One of these conditions is patellofemoral pain syndrome which is associated with pain around the knee cap. This condition may result from an imbalance in the activity of the thigh muscles that control movement of the knee cap as the knee bends and straightens. This imbalance is due in part to problems with the control of the muscles by the nervous system. Our previous studies have shown that physiotherapy treatment aimed at restoration of the control of the knee muscles results in clinical improvement of the condition. The first part of this project will investigate possible reasons for this muscle imbalance including the effects of pain, swelling and muscle fatigue. Understanding the reasons for the imbalance in muscle activity will help direct and refine more appropriate treatment strategies for this and other musculoskeletal conditions. The second part will assess whether a specific physiotherapy muscle training program for the thigh muscles is more effective in correcting the muscle imbalance than a more generalised thigh strengthening exercise program. The results will help us to better understand why the condition occurs and how we can best assess and treat the problem.Read moreRead less
RESTORE - Individualised Movement Rehabilitation And Movement Sensor Biofeedback For Chronic, Disabling Low Back Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,214,385.00
Summary
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in Australia, with an enormous cost burden for society. Available treatments have resulted in only moderate improvements that typically do not last. We propose to investigate the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of two new treatments that have shown promising early results: i) an individualised movement and cognitive rehabilitation approach (‘Cognitive Functional Therapy’) and ii) biofeedback from wireless movement sensors worn on the spine