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.

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.

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.

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.

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

1. 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);
2. 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
3. Undertake a Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Clinic Samples – assessing outcome and its predictors, focusing on cost issues and disability.