Selective Attention And Fear Avoidance In The Maintenance And Management Of Pain Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,660.00
Summary
Despite advances in the treatment of RA, the condition continues to have a chronic course for the majority of patients. Research has established that the way in which people think about pain and illness influences their responses to symptoms. In turn, these factors can impinge on quality of life and disability. For people with chronic pain problems, those who are fearful of pain and concentrate on symptoms have a poorer outcome in the long-term. In RA, striking a balance between rest and exercis ....Despite advances in the treatment of RA, the condition continues to have a chronic course for the majority of patients. Research has established that the way in which people think about pain and illness influences their responses to symptoms. In turn, these factors can impinge on quality of life and disability. For people with chronic pain problems, those who are fearful of pain and concentrate on symptoms have a poorer outcome in the long-term. In RA, striking a balance between rest and exercise is thought to be crucial. As such, ignoring the pain can lead to overactivity and subsequent joint damage and may be as unhelpful as underactivity. This project aims to investigate the relationship between people's fear of pain and the degree to which they attend to pain. It is suggested that those with very high or very low levels of fear towards the pain will either over-attend or under-attend to pain in comparison to healthy controls and patients with a moderate level of fear. Optimum levels of fear avoidance are expected to be associated with less disability and improved joint function. These findings have implications for the management of RA. Psychological treatments for patients with RA have been found to be effective in reducing pain, disability and improving mood. Treatments usually focus on a combination of changing people's attitudes and behaviours. However, whether strategies that aim to change attitudes or those targeting behaviour are more successful or have specific treatment effects is unknown. The present project will compare a treatment targeting behaviours associated with RA and encouraging a balanace between rest and exercise, with a treatment targeting patient's beliefs about the illness. It is expected that the treatments will have specific effects, which may better allow tailoring of psychological management to patient's individual needs.Read moreRead less
A Comparison Of An Integrated Psychological Intervention With 'befriending' In First-presentation Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$356,113.00
Summary
The project aims to test the efficacy of two treatments to determine whether 'integrated' psychological treatment leads to better outcomes for those individuals presenting for treatment for the first time. Neuroleptic medication is the main treatment for the positive symptoms (i.e., delusions, hallucinations and thought disorder) which typify the psychoses, including schizophrenia. Yet, there are reasons why other approaches should be investigated. Firstly, not all patients respond to medication ....The project aims to test the efficacy of two treatments to determine whether 'integrated' psychological treatment leads to better outcomes for those individuals presenting for treatment for the first time. Neuroleptic medication is the main treatment for the positive symptoms (i.e., delusions, hallucinations and thought disorder) which typify the psychoses, including schizophrenia. Yet, there are reasons why other approaches should be investigated. Firstly, not all patients respond to medications. Secondly, medication may not totally alleviate the positive symptoms, and thirdly, other aspects of the condition are not helped to any extent by medication. These aspects include negative symptoms (e.g., lack of motivation and asociality), depression, social anxiety and functioning in the various life domains, e.g., school, work and socialization. In the last 15 years a viable psychological treatment known as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has emerged. This appears to be effective in the treatment of hallucinations and delusions and has an effect over and above that produced by medication. However, such treatments have not yet been applied to treating those symptoms in first presentation psychotic patients when they are in the acute stage of their illness. It is important to determine whether CBT produces positive effects in this group and whether used in conjunction with medication it can produce greater and more rapid reductions in the level and severity of positive symptoms. Whilst CBT is expected to produce positive changes in delusions and hallucinations, the applicants believe this needs to be integrated with CBT interevention focussed on other aspects of a patient's presentation, such as negative and depressive symptoms, and also on improving functioning in various life domains.Read moreRead less
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
Evolution and development of a lateralised brain: A behavioural ecology perspective. Little research on fish behavioural ecology is conducted in Australia despite our imperilled, unique aquatic ecosystems. Studies examining cerebral lateralisation using our native species as model organisms will help determine how animals classify and process information, providing a novel method of examining how native fishes respond to invasive predators and competitors. Increased understanding of lateralised ....Evolution and development of a lateralised brain: A behavioural ecology perspective. Little research on fish behavioural ecology is conducted in Australia despite our imperilled, unique aquatic ecosystems. Studies examining cerebral lateralisation using our native species as model organisms will help determine how animals classify and process information, providing a novel method of examining how native fishes respond to invasive predators and competitors. Increased understanding of lateralised cognitive function will shed light on its selective advantage as a fundamental aspect of brain function in all animals including humans. This multidisciplinary proposal will facilitate international collaborations, see the return of a home-grown scientist and ensure that Australia remains a world leader in scientific research.Read moreRead less
A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Three Treatments For Anorexia Nervosa In Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,447.00
Summary
This study will be the first to evaluate three promising new treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN) and anorexic type eating disorders in adults. The first treatment is a new therapy called Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. The second treatment, the Maudsley Cognitive Motivational Therapy, was designed specifically to treat AN and the third treatment is called non-specific supportive clinical management. The study will be in the form of a multi-centre randomised treatment trial.
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.
Long Term Follow-up Of Two Randomised Controlled Trials Of Treatment For Depression And Alcohol-other Drug Comorbidity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,925.00
Summary
This study proposes the long term follow-up of participants in two of the first and largest studies of psychological treatment for people with co-occurring depression and alcohol-other drug use problems ever conducted. This is a crucial next step in research on the effectiveness of psychological treatment among this highly prevalent yet often neglected section of the community.
Investigations Into The Onset And Persistence Of Severe Health Anxiety (hypochondriasis), And The Development Of Innovative Psychological Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$313,096.00
Summary
This program of research will investigate the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural factors that are involved in the onset and persistence of severe health anxiety (hypochondriasis). It will also test the effectiveness of innovative psychological interventions for the disorder.
The nature of self-recognition: novel approaches to vexing questions. Mirror self-recognition has often been interpreted as evidence for the presence of some form of self-concept/awareness. Children from age 2 onwards investigate their own bodies after seeing a novel mark on their heads in the mirror (surreptitiously placed in their hair by the experimenter). Younger children and most animals do not respond to their images in such a way (instead, for example, treating it as another individual). ....The nature of self-recognition: novel approaches to vexing questions. Mirror self-recognition has often been interpreted as evidence for the presence of some form of self-concept/awareness. Children from age 2 onwards investigate their own bodies after seeing a novel mark on their heads in the mirror (surreptitiously placed in their hair by the experimenter). Younger children and most animals do not respond to their images in such a way (instead, for example, treating it as another individual). The present experiments probe the nature of self-recognition using novel digital video technology rather than mirrors. This technology allows us to manipulate the contingency and appearance of the image. Five studies investigate the performance of 2 to 4-year-old children, autistic children, chimpanzees and dolphins to determine whether they recognize themselves and what underwrites their performance on the tasks. The innovative use of modern technology is expected to answer some of the most persistent questions in psychology.
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