Trauma And Recovery: Understanding And Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Refugees
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Refugees report high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, a lack of understanding of the processes underlying refugee mental health has limited the effective treatment of this disabling disorder. My research program will overcome these barriers by uncovering core mechanisms and developing a targeted intervention to reduce PTSD symptoms in refugees. My research will advance knowledge about refugee mental health, and inform best-practice clinical care of refugees.
A Comparative Clinical Efficacy Trial Of Treatments For Melancholia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,711.00
Summary
This study seeks to improve treatment of melancholic depression by comparing three treatments, i) a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), ii) cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and, iii) a broad-spectrum antidepressant sequencing treatment approach. We hypothesize that the latter will be superior to both i) SSRI monotherapy, and ii) CBT monotherapy, over a 12-week trial period. Comparisons will be made with the US-based Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression trial.
Fighting Mental Disorders: Using Mental Imagery To Disarm Symptoms And Enhance Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
This proposal will conduct the first pre-clinical and clinical research utilising mental imagery to disarm symptoms and enhance treatment of multiple mental disorders by controlling the strength of mental imagery. This fellowship represents the first attempt to alleviate symptoms by developing a cognitive-neuroscience method to control the strength of traumatic imagery and to show a causative means of enhancing imagery strength to boost the success rate of cognitive therapy involving imagery.
Following bereavement, 10%-15% of people suffer prolonged grief (PG) that can cause mental and physical problems for many years. This project will study community and treatment-seeking samples of bereaved people to identify trajectories of grieving, predictors of responding across time, and identify mechanisms of change in treatment of PG. This project represents a significant advance in our understanding of PG and will help reduce the burden of this condition.
Improving Internet-delivered Psychological Therapies For Depression And Anxiety
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
Depression and anxiety affect 3 million Australians. While effective psychological treatments exist, even the best only help 50% recover, and relapse is common. My research aims to improve the treatment of adult depression and anxiety, through developing more effective, efficient and accessible internet-delivered psychological therapies and identifying the conditions that promote optimal long-term outcomes.
Phase-Based Treatment For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Traumatized Refugees
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,003,340.00
Summary
Refugees report high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Low response rates to psychological interventions for PTSD in refugees may be explained by their failure to target co-morbid emotion regulation difficulties. In this project, we will test the efficacy of a phase-based intervention that first targets emotion regulation difficulties before implementing trauma-focused therapy to reduce PTSD in refugees. Findings will advance knowledge and inform clinical interventions for refugees.
Improved Treatment Of Comorbid Anxiety And Depression In Adolescents: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,250.00
Summary
Anxiety and depression are serious mental disorders that affect large numbers of children and adolescents in our community. In particular, young people with both anxiety and depression may experience severe difficulties including poor physical health, social and interpersonal problems, academic problems, drug and alcohol problems, long-term adjustment problems and suicidal behaviour. Although a range of very effective treatments have been developed to treat anxiety and depression separately, the ....Anxiety and depression are serious mental disorders that affect large numbers of children and adolescents in our community. In particular, young people with both anxiety and depression may experience severe difficulties including poor physical health, social and interpersonal problems, academic problems, drug and alcohol problems, long-term adjustment problems and suicidal behaviour. Although a range of very effective treatments have been developed to treat anxiety and depression separately, there is very little work on the treatment of young people with both these problems. Some studies suggest that youth with both anxiety and depression together do worse in currently available treatments, compared to their peers with only a single condition. The current grant seeks to test whether a new treatment addressing both anxiety and depression concurrently, is superior to standard treatments for adolescents experiencing both these emotional problems. It is predicted that the addition of extra components to standard treatments, will result in considerably greater improvements in these more complex cases.Read moreRead less
Controlling Intrusive Images In Psychopathologies: Disarming Symptoms And Enhancing Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$285,085.00
Summary
This proposal will conduct the first pre-clinical study disarming symptoms and enhancing treatment of many psychopathologies by controlling the strength of mental imagery. This study represents the first attempt to alleviate symptoms by developing a cognitive-neuroscience vaccine to control the strength of traumatic imagery and to show a causative means of enhancing imagery strength to boost the success rate of cognitive therapy involving imagery.
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.
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For Medication-resistant Psychosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,200.00
Summary
In spite of advances in medication, approximately one third of people with schizophrenia continue to experience distressing symptoms such as hearing voices and paranoia. Psychological 'talking treatments' are effective in helping people to cope with and be less distressed by these experiences. This study will be the first trial of a new psychological treatment, called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which may be more effective, briefer and more easily provided than existing approaches.