The Effectiveness Of An Early Intervention And Prevention Strategy For Anxiety And Depressive Disorders.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$119,924.00
Summary
Adult anxiety and depressive disorders are common, cause significant distress to sufferers and cost to the community, and generally begin in childhood. Prior research has shown that children who exhibit higher than average levels of anxiety in their late childhood are at risk for developing anxiety and depressive disorders as they grow older. However if at risk children can learn skills to better manage their anxiety, the chance that they will continue to experience significant anxiety problems ....Adult anxiety and depressive disorders are common, cause significant distress to sufferers and cost to the community, and generally begin in childhood. Prior research has shown that children who exhibit higher than average levels of anxiety in their late childhood are at risk for developing anxiety and depressive disorders as they grow older. However if at risk children can learn skills to better manage their anxiety, the chance that they will continue to experience significant anxiety problems is greatly reduced. For example, school-based skills-building programs run by specialist mental health professionals have been shown to reduce the rate of existing anxiety disorder and prevent the onset of new anxiety disorders across middle to late childhood and early adolescence. The proposed study will aim to show that a school-based program, run by school counsellors, can prevent the development of anxiety and depressive disorders in late adolescence. In other words, the aim is to demonstrate whether the benefit of the program can be achieved across the wider school-aged population when conducted wholly within the education sector. This outcome is significant, not only in its potential to reduce distress to a large number of adolescents and their families, but in reducing costs to the community in terms of reduced disability and reduced need for health care and specialist mental health treatment.Read moreRead less
Acute Stress Disorder And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Injured Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,000.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop the means to identify acute reactions to trauma that will predict chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children after a traumatic injury. This project will conduct the first prospective analysis of acute stress disorder and chronic traumatic stress symptoms in children, develop diagnostic guidelines to identify acutely traumatized children who are at risk of PTSD, and identify biological, cognitive, and familial factors that mediate PTSD developme ....The aim of this project is to develop the means to identify acute reactions to trauma that will predict chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children after a traumatic injury. This project will conduct the first prospective analysis of acute stress disorder and chronic traumatic stress symptoms in children, develop diagnostic guidelines to identify acutely traumatized children who are at risk of PTSD, and identify biological, cognitive, and familial factors that mediate PTSD development following trauma. Two hundred children (aged 7 - 12 years) who are admitted to hospital following a traumatic injury will be assessed for acute disorder within one month of the accident. They will be also be assessed for heart rate, blood pressure, memory patterns, and family responses during the initial assesment. Parents will also be assessed for their trauma reactions. All participants will be re-assessed at 6-months posttrauma, and again at 18-months posttrauma. These findings will establish the means to identify acutely traumatized children who are at risk of PTSD and open up opportunities for early intervention and prevention of PTSD.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Internet-based Therapy For Panic Disorder.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$202,575.00
Summary
Approximately 9.7% of the adult population have an anxiety disorder with one of the more common, panic disorder, often with agoraphobia, afflicting 2.4% of the community. Around 8% of patients consulting a GP also have panic disorder (PD). A further 10% of the community experience spontaneous panic, but do not have full PD (termed non-clinical panic). People with PD frequently experience clinical depression, about 15% abuse alcohol and non-prescription drugs and PD is associated with an increase ....Approximately 9.7% of the adult population have an anxiety disorder with one of the more common, panic disorder, often with agoraphobia, afflicting 2.4% of the community. Around 8% of patients consulting a GP also have panic disorder (PD). A further 10% of the community experience spontaneous panic, but do not have full PD (termed non-clinical panic). People with PD frequently experience clinical depression, about 15% abuse alcohol and non-prescription drugs and PD is associated with an increased risk of suicide. Over time people with PD appear to have an increased risk of heart problems. They also have substantial financial burdens through multiple attendances at doctors' rooms and through restricted employment opportunities. Only just over one in four people with an anxiety disorder consults a health professional for their problems, with most going to their GP. It has been estimated that less than 10% of these people seek the services of a mental health specialist such as a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Therefore because of blocks to do with access, cost or embarrassment, many people with mental health problems do not seek face-to-face specialised mental health treatment. People in rural and regional Australia are particularly disadvantaged by limited access to these specialists. We have developed an internet-based treatment program on panic and anxiety for people in the community, and particularly in regional Australia. Early evaluation of this program has found it is more effective than other types of therapist-assisted self-help treatment. The aim of this research project is to compare it to best-practice face-to-face psychological and pharmacological treatment for PD. If the effectiveness of our internet-based treatment is comparable to best-practice face-to-face treatment, its availability will assist the many Australians who suffer from debilitating panic but who are unable to access specialised mental health assistance.Read moreRead less
A Parent Education And Skills Training Early Intervention For Children With Autism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,674.00
Summary
Autism is a severely handicapping disorder adversely affecting social interaction, communication, and behaviour, interests and activities. Over the past 9 years our team has conducted a follow-up study of a large group of 111 Australian children and adolescents with autism. The young people have continued to have very high levels of emotional and behavioural disturbance and generally do not improve. Parents of children with autism are under significant amounts of stress; reporting high levels of ....Autism is a severely handicapping disorder adversely affecting social interaction, communication, and behaviour, interests and activities. Over the past 9 years our team has conducted a follow-up study of a large group of 111 Australian children and adolescents with autism. The young people have continued to have very high levels of emotional and behavioural disturbance and generally do not improve. Parents of children with autism are under significant amounts of stress; reporting high levels of disturbed family functioning and mental health problems. Although there is no cure, children benefit most when early help is provided (under 5 years). There are several promising interventions based on intensive behaviour and educational management, for example requiring 40 hours per week of therapist contact over 2 years. Such programs are costly and impractical as widely available treatment options. Training parents to understand and manage their child also shows promise. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a parent skills training and education treatment program compared to supportive therapy, and to generally available community services. The therapists will follow a treatment manual that will ensure a consistent and replicable approach. The progress of the children with autism and their families will be reassessed immediately after treatment, and at 1 and 2 years post-treatment in order to ascertain immediate and long-term effects of the treatment. If treatment proves to be of use, we will have established a defined, cost efficient, practical and effective model of early treatment that can be easily taught to professionals and widely disseminated throughout early childhood services.Read moreRead less
A Controlled Trial Of An Opportunistic Intervention To Reduce Suicide Risk Among Alcohol And Other Substance Misusers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$361,000.00
Summary
Hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation are common among people who misuse alcohol and other substances. A general relationship between alcohol-substance abuse and self-harming - suicidal behaviour has been recognised for decades. From the point of view of diagnosed substance abusers there is a correspondingly high incidence of suicide and self-harm. The lifetime risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is higher than for schizophrenia or affective disorder. Despite the public health and pe ....Hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation are common among people who misuse alcohol and other substances. A general relationship between alcohol-substance abuse and self-harming - suicidal behaviour has been recognised for decades. From the point of view of diagnosed substance abusers there is a correspondingly high incidence of suicide and self-harm. The lifetime risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is higher than for schizophrenia or affective disorder. Despite the public health and personal burden associated with suicidality, the general lack of skills and focus on management of self-harm in specialised drug and alcohol services is of great concern. In this study, all patients attending drug and alcohol services will be screened for suicide risk, and offered a comprehensive psychological treatment to reduce suicide risk and the use of alcohol and other substances.Read moreRead less
Early Intervention For Anxiety And Phobic Disorders In Young Children With Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,674.00
Summary
Children with intellectual disability (ID) are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioural and emotional disturbance, including anxiety and fears, than children of normal intellectual ability. Anxiety problems are a source of distress for the child, impair their ability to learn and are a cause of family burden and community cost. Therefore, effective interventions are urgently required. Research with non-disabled children has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching parents to manage their chil ....Children with intellectual disability (ID) are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioural and emotional disturbance, including anxiety and fears, than children of normal intellectual ability. Anxiety problems are a source of distress for the child, impair their ability to learn and are a cause of family burden and community cost. Therefore, effective interventions are urgently required. Research with non-disabled children has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching parents to manage their child's anxiety, however the effectiveness of this approach in children with ID has not yet been established. This project aims to compare the relative effectiveness of two intervention conditions compared to a waiting list group, for highly anxious children aged 4-7 years with ID. One intervention will teach parents to help their child deal with anxiety problems, and develop skills to overcome their own associated emotional upset and family and social problems. The other intervention will provide non-directive counselling and support to help the parents understand the nature and causes of ID, associated anxiety problems in the child, and parent and family stress. The long term outcome of these two interventions will be assessed by following the children and their families for two years. A manual of each treatment is produced. This project aims to provide evidence for a relatively inexpensive, feasible and effective early intervention program for young children with ID at risk for developing anxiety problems that can be easily taught to professionals and is acceptable to parents. Widespread use of this intervention has the potential to reduce the added burden and cost to families and the community of persistent severe anxiety in young people with ID.Read moreRead less
Healthy Lifestyle Intervention For Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Among People With Psychotic Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,806.00
Summary
This study proposes a multi-site randomised controlled trial of treatment to enhance healthy living among people with psychotic disorders, specifically targeting smoking, diet, and physical activity. These issues are highly prevalent, associated with premature death and reduced quality of life among this group. The results will better inform the treatment choices of clinicians, and will potentially improve the match between treatment and client, improving health and wellbeing of this group.