Suicide prevention and management of deliberate self-harm: randomised control trial of an assertive engagement, brief psychotherapy and community linkage model. Suicide is the second commonest cause of death by injury in Australia. Suicide prevention is an important public health priority but rates remain high. People who have previously attempted suicide are most likely to kill themselves. Most suicidal people attend emergency departments where they get inadequate treatment for their psychologi ....Suicide prevention and management of deliberate self-harm: randomised control trial of an assertive engagement, brief psychotherapy and community linkage model. Suicide is the second commonest cause of death by injury in Australia. Suicide prevention is an important public health priority but rates remain high. People who have previously attempted suicide are most likely to kill themselves. Most suicidal people attend emergency departments where they get inadequate treatment for their psychological and social problems and remain depressed and suicidal. This project will test the effectiveness of a new psychological and social treatment to reduce the depression and link suicidal people with community supports. If successful, this treatment could be provided in any emergency department and help decrease suicide rates in Australia.Read moreRead less
The structure and dynamics of social contact for human disease transmission models. The methodological advances of this project will enable new insights in important social research. They will not only add significantly to national capacity in the modelling of complex social systems but they will also yield practical scientific outcomes in a significant policy domain in Australia and overseas. In Australia, response to diseases such as HIV, HCV and TB need new approaches, and the threat of pan ....The structure and dynamics of social contact for human disease transmission models. The methodological advances of this project will enable new insights in important social research. They will not only add significantly to national capacity in the modelling of complex social systems but they will also yield practical scientific outcomes in a significant policy domain in Australia and overseas. In Australia, response to diseases such as HIV, HCV and TB need new approaches, and the threat of pandemic influenza is significant. Read moreRead less
Whether social media literacy mitigates effects of social media in adolescents. This project aims to determine protective and risk factors for problems associated with social media use in early adolescents. In particular, it aims to determine the protective role of social media literacy (the skill to analyse, critique and evaluate social media posts). Although most Australian adolescents use social media, frequent social media engagement and photo-based activities can cause body dissatisfaction, ....Whether social media literacy mitigates effects of social media in adolescents. This project aims to determine protective and risk factors for problems associated with social media use in early adolescents. In particular, it aims to determine the protective role of social media literacy (the skill to analyse, critique and evaluate social media posts). Although most Australian adolescents use social media, frequent social media engagement and photo-based activities can cause body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and compromised well-being. Findings supporting a protective role for social media literacy are expected to inform policy to improve adolescent well-being and pave the way for school-based social media literacy interventions.Read moreRead less
Improving the retention rate for residential treatment of substance abuse by sequential intervention for social anxiety. Alcohol and other drug use is a major social and medical problem, costing the Australian community an estimated $7.6 billion annually. Mental health disorders have been closely linked with increased illicit drug use and physical health problems. Social anxiety (SAD) is highly prevalent amongst individuals presenting with drug and alcohol use disorders. Evidence suggests that ....Improving the retention rate for residential treatment of substance abuse by sequential intervention for social anxiety. Alcohol and other drug use is a major social and medical problem, costing the Australian community an estimated $7.6 billion annually. Mental health disorders have been closely linked with increased illicit drug use and physical health problems. Social anxiety (SAD) is highly prevalent amongst individuals presenting with drug and alcohol use disorders. Evidence suggests that social anxiety symptoms may be responsible for promoting excessive drug use and may be a particularly influential factor in poor treatment retention rates and promoting relapse. Thus, the focus on improving treatment outcomes for individuals with comorbid anxiety and drug use disorders represents an area of considerable importance both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Body image instability, disordered eating and muscle dysmorphia. Body image is a serious public health issue. Dissatisfaction with body shape promotes disordered eating in females who fast and purge to lose weight, and muscle dysmorphia in males who over-exercise and use steroids to gain muscle. We will test the idea that these psychological disorders stem from an unstable body image. Our research will reveal the fundamental risk factors associated with disordered eating and muscle dysmorphia an ....Body image instability, disordered eating and muscle dysmorphia. Body image is a serious public health issue. Dissatisfaction with body shape promotes disordered eating in females who fast and purge to lose weight, and muscle dysmorphia in males who over-exercise and use steroids to gain muscle. We will test the idea that these psychological disorders stem from an unstable body image. Our research will reveal the fundamental risk factors associated with disordered eating and muscle dysmorphia and allow us to identify at-risk individuals on the basis of their body image instability. It will also predict patients' amenability to treatments that target body image, thereby improving outcomes for these individuals.Read moreRead less
Relative efficacy of self-help treatment for insomnia. This project aims to improve available non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia by determining the relative efficacy of various forms of self-help treatment compared to standard, therapist-led, treatment. Sleep disorders have serious consequences and are widespread. Drug therapies are costly and ineffective and, while psychological treatments have a well-established evidence base, they are not utilised by many. Self-help is a potential ....Relative efficacy of self-help treatment for insomnia. This project aims to improve available non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia by determining the relative efficacy of various forms of self-help treatment compared to standard, therapist-led, treatment. Sleep disorders have serious consequences and are widespread. Drug therapies are costly and ineffective and, while psychological treatments have a well-established evidence base, they are not utilised by many. Self-help is a potential solution, but has not been properly evaluated. This project will determine the efficacy of self-help, the best delivery methods, and should result in more individuals with sleep problems receiving better and cheaper help with benefits for them and society in general.Read moreRead less
Antisocial behaviour in young Australian adults: Social and economic influences. Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs. Currently, much of the crime prevention research has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood and adolescence through into young adulthood in the Australian context. By better understanding how factors such as unemployment, ....Antisocial behaviour in young Australian adults: Social and economic influences. Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs. Currently, much of the crime prevention research has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood and adolescence through into young adulthood in the Australian context. By better understanding how factors such as unemployment, alcohol-related entertainment, and sporting participation influence antisocial behaviour in young adulthood, prevention and early intervention programs can be developed to target specific subgroups. In this way spending on criminal justice systems can be reduced and a safer, more harmonious community can be fostered.Read moreRead less
What factors influence the development of antisocial behaviour in Australian adolescents? Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs on our communities. Once entrenched, antisocial behaviour and related problems often continue throughout life. Currently, much of the research in this area has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood to adolescence ....What factors influence the development of antisocial behaviour in Australian adolescents? Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs on our communities. Once entrenched, antisocial behaviour and related problems often continue throughout life. Currently, much of the research in this area has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood to adolescence in the Australian context. By better understanding how antisocial behaviour develops, prevention and early intervention programs can be developed to target specific subgroups. In this way spending on juvenile and adult criminal justice systems can be reduced and a safer, more harmonious community can be fostered.Read moreRead less
Resilience and vulnerability in children with seriously ill siblings. Families of seriously ill children face heavy emotional and practical stresses. Behavioural, emotional and social problems are potential outcomes for the well children in the family, with a range of personal and familial factors likely mediators. The aim of this research is to assess factors associated with resilience and vulnerability among siblings of seriously ill children with a view to informing the work of the Carenet or ....Resilience and vulnerability in children with seriously ill siblings. Families of seriously ill children face heavy emotional and practical stresses. Behavioural, emotional and social problems are potential outcomes for the well children in the family, with a range of personal and familial factors likely mediators. The aim of this research is to assess factors associated with resilience and vulnerability among siblings of seriously ill children with a view to informing the work of the Carenet organization. A survey of parents and well siblings of ill children, plus interviews with target families, will be conducted. Proposed outcomes include a scholarly thesis and a practical booklet of coping resources for families.Read moreRead less
The etiology of social anxiety and its impact on development across the lifespan. Social anxiety is a distressing early-onset disorder often associated with other psychiatric conditions in later life. This study will extend our previous work that has identified factors associated with its onset. We propose that these factors and the social anxiety itself may disrupt psychosocial development, at the time of onset, and throughout the lifespan. We aim to investigate these innovative hypotheses thro ....The etiology of social anxiety and its impact on development across the lifespan. Social anxiety is a distressing early-onset disorder often associated with other psychiatric conditions in later life. This study will extend our previous work that has identified factors associated with its onset. We propose that these factors and the social anxiety itself may disrupt psychosocial development, at the time of onset, and throughout the lifespan. We aim to investigate these innovative hypotheses through a sequence of three studies, with adults, children and adolescents. The results will inform prevention and early intervention regimes, thereby reducing both the incidence of social anxiety and the burden of the disorder.Read moreRead less