Randomised Control Trial Of Three Treatments For Adolescent Stutterers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,320.00
Summary
Effective communication is an essential of everyday life, and stuttering impairs this function. Those who stutter may find effective communication impossible, and severe cases may be rendered almost mute. Clinically significant anxiety figures prominently in the disorder with almost half of those seeking treatment warranting a comorbid diagnosis of social phobia. The adolescent years are generally regarded as a difficult time of life, at which time the potential effects of disfigured speech can ....Effective communication is an essential of everyday life, and stuttering impairs this function. Those who stutter may find effective communication impossible, and severe cases may be rendered almost mute. Clinically significant anxiety figures prominently in the disorder with almost half of those seeking treatment warranting a comorbid diagnosis of social phobia. The adolescent years are generally regarded as a difficult time of life, at which time the potential effects of disfigured speech can be devastating. There has been much research and development of treatments for children and adults who stutter, proven effective treatments are available for those age groups. However, little is known about how to treat adolescents who stutter, and there has been little research and development to find the best treatment-s for this age group. The present proposal is for a randomised, controlled trial of three treatments that have been shown recently to have promise as treatment methods for this age group of patients. The trial will compare (1) a treatment that involves biofeedback muscle activity during speech, (2) a treatment that involves biofeedback of voice box activity during speech, and (3) a variant of a standard treatment that trains the speaker in a new speech pattern. The control group will receive no treatment. The trial extends for a period of 12 months after the subjects are randomly allocated to a treatment group or a control group. The subjects' speech will be assessed in a variety of situations in the clinic and during everyday life. The prime outcome measure will be percentage of syllables stuttered, and secondary measures will be the time required for treatment and how natural the patients sound after treatment. At the conclusion of the trial, the subjects in the control group will be given the treatment that was shown to be most effective.Read moreRead less
Ketamine Therapy Among Patients With Treatment-resistant Depression: A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,069,382.00
Summary
In the last decade, there have been reports of powerful antidepressant effects after a single injection of anaesthetic ketamine, with dramatic (though shortlasting) effects within 24 hours. This will be the first controlled study to test whether a course of repeated ketamine treatments, given over 4 weeks, is effective and safe in treating depression.
Understanding And Effectively Treating Cognitive And Functioning Impairments In Youth With Psychosis And Other Mental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Impaired thinking skills, such as memory, concentration and problem solving, emerge early in psychotic and other mental disorders, which has a negative impact on functioning in work and other daily activities. Current treatments are not very effective at addressing this. The research proposed in this fellowship will improve knowledge about these impairments and develop and test a range of interventions that treat thinking skill difficulties and improve daily functioning in youth mental illness.
The N-ICE Trial: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of The Safety And Efficacy Of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) As A Pharmacotherapy For Methamphetamine (“ice”) Dependence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,551,368.00
Summary
Crystalline methamphetamine (aka ‘ice’) is a significant public health concern in Australia and globally. Currently there are no approved medications to treat methamphetamine dependence. We will trial tN-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) as a medications for methamphetamine dependence.
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a debilitating psychological condition that affects at least 10% of bereaved people. There is limited knowledge on treating PGD. At present only 50% of affected people benefit from the treatment of choice. This project will test an augmented treatment that attempts to increase the efficacy of treatment for bereaved people suffering PGD. This program will shape more effective programs for assisting the 100's of thousands of Australians who suffer PGD.
Investigation Of The Effectiveness Of Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Comorbid Anxiety And Depression In Older Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$514,560.00
Summary
This project examines the effectiveness of group cognitive behaviour therapy for the treatment of co-existing anxiety and depression in older adults. This project is unique because research to date has only focused on treatment of depression or anxiety, despite large overlap of these disorders and evidence that the co-existence of these disorders is associated with worse outcomes such as increased risk for dementia, more severe depression and suicide.
N-Acetyl Cysteine In Schizophrenia Resistant To Clozapine: A Double-Blind Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial Targeting Negative Symptoms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$981,789.00
Summary
Many patients with schizophrenia remain treatment resistant even after “last resort” medications like clozapine. This proposal will conduct a novel multi-site randomised placebo controlled trial of adjunctive N-acetyl cysteine in patients with clozapine resistant schizophrenia. Treatment efficacy will be examined at 8, 26 and 52 weeks.
The Australasian Resuscitation In Sepsis Evaluation - Randomised Controlled Trial - Continuation Funding Request
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,938.00
Summary
Early treatment with fluids, blood transfusions and stimulants, may improve survival rates of patients with severe infections. To determine whether this is safe and effective in reducing deaths, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group and the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine are performing a large trial of early goal directed therapy in patients with severe infections. This grant will extend the study for an additional 2 years.
Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo Controlled Trial Of Lithium Carbonate For The Management Of Human Cannabis Withdrawal
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,509.00
Summary
This project aims to help dependent cannabis users stop using cannabis by exploring the safety and effectiveness of lithium in reducing the severity of withdrawal that occurs on cessation of use. Participants will be admitted to an inpatient drug treatment unit (Sydney or Lismore) for 7 days and will be randomly assigned to receive either lithium or placebo. Participants receiving lithium are expected to have less severe withdrawal and higher rates of abstinence from cannabis at follow-up.
NABNEC: A Randomised Phase II Study Of Nab-paclitaxel In Combination With Carboplatin As First Line Treatment Of Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Carcinomas
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,393,083.00
Summary
Patients with advanced neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) have one of the poorest cancer outcomes. So far, no randomised trials have been done to confirm NEC treatment. Current NEC chemotherapy is etoposide & carboplatin (EC), based on lung cancer trials. The NABNEC study will use a new drug, nab-paclitaxel, with carboplatin or EC, collect PET scan, tumour & blood samples result to help understand how treatment works and to ultimately improve NEC patients’ health and progress future research.