A critical psychological investigation of nurses' experiences, understandings and perceptions of nursing eating disordered patients. This innovative project will investigate the experiences, understandings and perceptions of nurses working with eating disordered patients in hospital contexts. Nurses currently nursing eating disordered patients will be interviewed in depth using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatum. The interview transcr ....A critical psychological investigation of nurses' experiences, understandings and perceptions of nursing eating disordered patients. This innovative project will investigate the experiences, understandings and perceptions of nurses working with eating disordered patients in hospital contexts. Nurses currently nursing eating disordered patients will be interviewed in depth using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatum. The interview transcripts will then be systematically analysed using a qualitative discourse analytic methodology. The aim will be to identify the specific discursive resources that nurses use to frame and make sense of their experiences, understandings and perceptions of nursing eating disordered patients. The project has clinical and social scientific significance, and will contribute to improved treatment outcomes.Read moreRead less
The dynamic interplay of physical and psychosocial safety in frontline healthcare workplaces in Australia and Malaysia. The healthcare industry is under immense pressure. Urgent attention is needed to reduce strains on workers and costs in healthcare. This project will meet these joint objectives through modelling and developing a system that integrates both physical and psychosocial facets to enhance the psychological and physical health of workers and quality care.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100413
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Neurobiology of parenting and disruptive behaviour disorders in childhood. This project aims to examine the genetic determinants and contribution of parenting to childhood disruptive behaviour disorders. These disorders are often chronic and associated with comorbid conditions in later life, creating enormous personal and social costs for individuals and families, and a burden on the economy. About a third of children do not respond to current forms of early intervention, so clinicians need evid ....Neurobiology of parenting and disruptive behaviour disorders in childhood. This project aims to examine the genetic determinants and contribution of parenting to childhood disruptive behaviour disorders. These disorders are often chronic and associated with comorbid conditions in later life, creating enormous personal and social costs for individuals and families, and a burden on the economy. About a third of children do not respond to current forms of early intervention, so clinicians need evidence of the interaction between parenting practices and the developmental aspects of these disorders This project will examine oxytocin genetics in toddlers with disruptive behaviour disorders and their parents, to ultimately identify the genetic, family, and developmental processes that shape persistent disorders.Read moreRead less
Improving Productivity in Emergency Service Personnel. Emergency service personnel experience marked levels of lost productivity, absenteeism, early retirements, and compensation claims as a result of stress reactions. This project aims to improve productivity and reduce compensation costs in emergency service organisations by evaluating a program that reduces stress reactions and increases cognitive functioning in police, firefighters, and paramedics in NSW. An individual program will be admini ....Improving Productivity in Emergency Service Personnel. Emergency service personnel experience marked levels of lost productivity, absenteeism, early retirements, and compensation claims as a result of stress reactions. This project aims to improve productivity and reduce compensation costs in emergency service organisations by evaluating a program that reduces stress reactions and increases cognitive functioning in police, firefighters, and paramedics in NSW. An individual program will be administered to 120 emergency service personnel who have difficulty maintaining their work duties because of stress reactions. Expected outcomes will be reduction in absenteeism, improved productivity, and reduced costs to insurers.
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Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0775809
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$28,000.00
Summary
Patterns of Engagement: The Contexts, Frequency and Characteristics of Psychological Practice with Indigenous Clients. The extent and debilitating nature of Indigenous mental health problems has been widely documented. National and community benefits will derive from the development of strategies enabling psychologists to work more effectively with Indigenous clients to improve their psychological and social well-being and resolve mental health problems. The project will identify how psychologis ....Patterns of Engagement: The Contexts, Frequency and Characteristics of Psychological Practice with Indigenous Clients. The extent and debilitating nature of Indigenous mental health problems has been widely documented. National and community benefits will derive from the development of strategies enabling psychologists to work more effectively with Indigenous clients to improve their psychological and social well-being and resolve mental health problems. The project will identify how psychologists currently work with Indigenous clients, which will provide data to guide the development of effective strategies to bring about change.Read moreRead less
Problem Gambling: Can Subtle Physiological Reactions To Wins And Losses Help Identify The Problem Gambler? Problem gambling is a major public health issue affecting 3%-6% of the adult population with the Productivity Commission (1999) detailing many associated consequences including major depression, suicide, substance abuse, marital and familial dysfunction and domestic violence. Problem gambling also has deleterious, long term effects on the mental and physical health of partners and children. ....Problem Gambling: Can Subtle Physiological Reactions To Wins And Losses Help Identify The Problem Gambler? Problem gambling is a major public health issue affecting 3%-6% of the adult population with the Productivity Commission (1999) detailing many associated consequences including major depression, suicide, substance abuse, marital and familial dysfunction and domestic violence. Problem gambling also has deleterious, long term effects on the mental and physical health of partners and children. Vulnerable groups include adolescents and young adults, socio-economically disadvantaged subpopulations, and specific ethnic minorities. The project's focus on identifying physiological patterns specific to problem gamblers represents an important first step in the development of an early screening test and timely interventions for at-risk individuals.Read moreRead less
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.
Interpreting intrusions: Illuminating the cognitive mechanisms that fuel obsessional thought. This project aims to evaluate a theoretical model regarding the causal and maintaining role that cognitive biases play in obsessional thought. Obsessions are common in the general population and negatively impact health and daily functioning. Individuals struggle with their obsessions but are unable to disengage from them. A pressing question is: what makes an obsession so “sticky”? To answer this quest ....Interpreting intrusions: Illuminating the cognitive mechanisms that fuel obsessional thought. This project aims to evaluate a theoretical model regarding the causal and maintaining role that cognitive biases play in obsessional thought. Obsessions are common in the general population and negatively impact health and daily functioning. Individuals struggle with their obsessions but are unable to disengage from them. A pressing question is: what makes an obsession so “sticky”? To answer this question, this project aims to employ a novel, computerised experimental methodology to directly manipulate cognitive processes proposed to underpin obsessions. This methodology will be used to alter key biases proposed to drive obsessional thinking, thus shedding light on core psychological mechanisms.Read moreRead less
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