An Integrative Theory of Flashback Memories. Flashback memories are a core phenomenon in a range of psychological disorders. People who have suffered trauma, for example, experience a sense of reliving the past. This project will conduct the first comprehensive analysis of flashbacks by building on existing theories of autobiographical memory and applying convergent methodologies to study flashbacks. The project will assess the content, retrieval mode, and the brain mechanisms underpinning fl ....An Integrative Theory of Flashback Memories. Flashback memories are a core phenomenon in a range of psychological disorders. People who have suffered trauma, for example, experience a sense of reliving the past. This project will conduct the first comprehensive analysis of flashbacks by building on existing theories of autobiographical memory and applying convergent methodologies to study flashbacks. The project will assess the content, retrieval mode, and the brain mechanisms underpinning flashbacks. These data will lead to the first empirically-driven model of flashbacks that encompasses the psychological and neural bases of flashbacks. This model will advance our understanding of cognitive processes underpinning many psychological disorders.Read moreRead less
Trauma and Unwanted Memories. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a potentially debilitating condition that affects survivors of trauma. Intrusive memories of the trauma is the key problem in people with PTSD. This project will attempt to understand intrusive memories and will clarify why these memories persist. Outcomes from this project will directly assist people with PTSD because it will enhance understanding of a key symptom that maintains the disorder.
Cognitive control in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is associated with significant social and economic burden. There is a pressing need to understand the cognitive mechanisms that drive and maintain this disorder. This research will permit exciting advances that will extend existing models of OCD by (1) elucidating the effects of different strategies for responding to obsessional thoughts,(2) integrating psychological, cognitive, and neuropsychological models of OCD ....Cognitive control in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is associated with significant social and economic burden. There is a pressing need to understand the cognitive mechanisms that drive and maintain this disorder. This research will permit exciting advances that will extend existing models of OCD by (1) elucidating the effects of different strategies for responding to obsessional thoughts,(2) integrating psychological, cognitive, and neuropsychological models of OCD, (3) developing innovative approaches to intrusive thoughts that will benefit the treatment of OCD and (4) shaping the research directions of future Australian researchers. Read moreRead less
Understanding and predicting the role of memory in depression recurrence. Depression exerts an immense social and economic burden on the community. There is an urgent need to understand the factors that increase vulnerability to recurrence. This project will have 5 key benefits; it will: (i) extend theoretical models of depression, (ii) aid the identification of individuals at risk of relapse, (iii) guide the development of evidence-based relapse prevention programs (meeting National Research Pr ....Understanding and predicting the role of memory in depression recurrence. Depression exerts an immense social and economic burden on the community. There is an urgent need to understand the factors that increase vulnerability to recurrence. This project will have 5 key benefits; it will: (i) extend theoretical models of depression, (ii) aid the identification of individuals at risk of relapse, (iii) guide the development of evidence-based relapse prevention programs (meeting National Research Priority 2), (iv) enhance Australia's reputation for conducting cutting-edge experimental clinical research, and (v) shape the research directions of upcoming Australian researchers. The findings will inform policymakers who determine mental health service provision to the Australian community.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
Genes, neuroanatomy and family process: Predicting adolescent anxiety and depression. Whilst significant gains in outcomes have been obtained in other areas of health by focusing on early intervention and prevention, in the mental health field this approach has been limited by the paucity of developmentally targeted treatment and prevention strategies. This study will provide unique information regarding the risk processes that are operating during early and late adolescence, and will inform us ....Genes, neuroanatomy and family process: Predicting adolescent anxiety and depression. Whilst significant gains in outcomes have been obtained in other areas of health by focusing on early intervention and prevention, in the mental health field this approach has been limited by the paucity of developmentally targeted treatment and prevention strategies. This study will provide unique information regarding the risk processes that are operating during early and late adolescence, and will inform us about how the family environment can act to modulate the impacts of biological vulnerability on risk for mental disorder. This project will contribute to our understanding of who, and what, to target in early intervention and prevention strategies.Read moreRead less
Environmental and genetic risk factors for anxiety disorders in children. Anxiety disorders provide one of the largest sources of disability affecting Australian society. The results of this study will lead to critical advances in our understanding of the causes of anxiety disorders. Having greater understanding of factors that place a child at risk for disorder will allow intervention programs to more accurately target those children and families at greatest risk. Given the prevalence of anxiet ....Environmental and genetic risk factors for anxiety disorders in children. Anxiety disorders provide one of the largest sources of disability affecting Australian society. The results of this study will lead to critical advances in our understanding of the causes of anxiety disorders. Having greater understanding of factors that place a child at risk for disorder will allow intervention programs to more accurately target those children and families at greatest risk. Given the prevalence of anxiety disorders and the significant life interference associated with these disorders, improving intervention efforts will give rise to significant enhancement in the mental health of thousands of Australian children. 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
Risk factors for the development of paediatric anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are common and debilitating forms of disability affecting Australian children. This project blends strategic basic research with clinical application to advance our understanding of the causes of these disorders. By examining underlying child- and parent-based mechanisms by which children at greatest risk for these disorders transition to anxiety-disordered status, this project will lead to improved prevention an ....Risk factors for the development of paediatric anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are common and debilitating forms of disability affecting Australian children. This project blends strategic basic research with clinical application to advance our understanding of the causes of these disorders. By examining underlying child- and parent-based mechanisms by which children at greatest risk for these disorders transition to anxiety-disordered status, this project will lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies, which will improve the lives of affected children and their families and significantly reduce the financial burden on the Australian health care system.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