Research

Current research studies

To see a short description of one of the studies listed the research streams, click on that study.

Research Stream 1 - Determinants and Phenomenology

These studies reflect our long-standing interest in integrating both psychosocial and biological determinants, using our strength in phenomenology to better classify disorders - and our expertise in molecular genetic and neuroimaging techniques to further explicate multiple aetiological underpinnings.

Title of Study	Principal Investigator
The Impact of Maternal Anxiety on Infant Neurobehavioural and Neuroendocrine Outcomes	Austin
Emotion Regulation in Depression and Psychosis	Green
Imaging genetics in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Adjudicating neurocognitive endophenotypes	Green
Incident Depression after Stroke and its Determinants	Brodaty
Distinguishing Bipolar II from Bipolar I Disorder	Parker
Measuring Melancholia by Prototypic Symptoms	Parker
Studies Pursuing the Neurophysiological Perturbations in Melancholia	Parker
Early Warning Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Young People	Manicavasagar
A Longitudinal High-Risk Study of Bipolar Disorder	Mitchell
Molecular Genetics of Bipolar Disorder	Mitchell
Phenomenology of Bipolar Depression	Mitchell

Research Stream 2 - Vulnerability, Resilience and Quest

These studies look at the importance of resilience as a protective factor against the depressive disorders. Resilience in both clinical and non-clinical samples are studied.

Title of Study	Principal Investigator
Impact of Depression on Cardiac Functioning	Parker
Qualitative Investigation into the Precipitants of Mania in Young People with Bipolar Disorder	Proudfoot
Gender Differences in the Experience of Depression	Wilhelm
Men’s Experience of Depression	Wilhelm
Non-Clinical Cohort Study	Wilhelm

Research Stream 3 - Assessment and Innovative Interventions

These studies:

Advance assessment techniques
Improve understanding of why a particular treatment is effective in a particular disorder or depressive type
help to identify treatments that are better targeted for each individual
assist in developing new interventions where no effective treatments exist.

Title of Study	Principal Investigator
Antidepressants in Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes	Austin
Video Imaging and Computational Modeling of Facial Expressions in Healthy Adults	Breakspear
Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and ElderClowns (SMILE)	Brodaty
Drug trials – multiple studies	Differing investigators
Mild Brain Stimulation as a Treatment for Depression (aka Direct Current Stimulation)	Loo
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Bipolar Disorder	Manicavasagar
Mindfulness in Bipolar Disorder and Depression	Manicavasagar
A Novel Psychological Intervention for Bipolar Disorder	Mitchell
Aetiology-based Treatment of Non-melancholic Disorders	Parker
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression	Parker
Cognitive Styles in Mood Disorders	Parker
Comparing Medication and CBT as Treatments of Melancholia	Parker
Computer-based Depression Assessment Tool (the MAP)	Parker
Micro-studies of Treatment Effectiveness	Parker
Screening for Depression in the Medically Ill	Parker
Testing the Validity of a Genotyping Test of Metabolising Response to Antidepressant Drugs	Parker
The Use of Stimulant Drugs as Antidepressants	Parker
Pilot study of “myCompass”: Monitoring and self-management of stress, anxiety and depression via mobile phone and computer	Proudfoot
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for the Treatment of Resistant Depression, using the NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis (NCPÒ) System	Sachdev
Laser Acupuncture in Depression	Quah-Smith
Case Finding in General Practice	Wilhelm
Choosing Your Options: A Creative Approach to Deliberate Self-harm	Wilhelm
Depression and Somatization: Treatment of Complex Patients	Wilhelm
Enhancing Resilience in Clinical Disorders	Wilhelm

Research Stream 4 - Studying Treatment Resistance

In this stream our studies focus on devising a clinically meaningful model of treatment resistance that helps in understanding its causes and makes therapy more rational We postulate that treatment resistance is multifactorial, encompassing diagnostic and treatment processes – incorporating biological, psychological and social factors, aspects of the therapeutic relationship and the context within which the illness arises and is managed.

Title of Study	Principal Investigator
Developing Treatment Algorithms	Parker
Predictors of Response to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy	Parker
Testing New Mood Stabilisers for Bipolar II Disorder	Parker

Research Stream 5 - Functioning, Disability and other Sequelae

A large proportion of costs associated with the depressive and bipolar disorders arises from long-term (or recurrent) disability and burden. The assessment of these is poorly understood.

Differing team members will therefore

Develop a Measure of Lifetime Severity of Bipolar Disorder (offering value in determining causes and correlates of poor outcome, as well as measuring more accurately any long-term benefit of therapies);
Undertake Clinical Panel and Web-based Studies for Assessing Treatment Effectiveness – fostering the later development of algorithms to be developed identifying preferential responses to differing strategies for those with differing depressive sub-types (shaping refined RCT studies); and
Undertake a Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Clinic Samples – assessing outcome and its predictors, focusing on cost issues and disability.

Title of Study	Principal Investigator
A 1 Year Follow-up Study of Women Having Psychosocial Screening in Pregnancy	Austin
Antenatal and Postnatal Depression: Impact on Infant Mental Health	Austin
Needs of People Following a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder	Proudfoot
The Impact of Depression on Cardiac Conditions	Parker
The Impact of Psychiatric Morbidity on Maternal Perinatal Mortality	Austin
The Long-Term Outcome of Depression: a Follow-up of People Seen at the Mood Disorders Unit Clinic	Hadzi-Pavlovic