Mental Illness and Mood Disorders
Mental illness is relatively common and impairs the lives of many Australians. We are concerned with understanding the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to both mental illness and health. Researchers are involved in developing and evaluating both psychological and pharmacological treatments for mental illness as well as programs to enhance mental health. Treatments are applied across the lifespan, in people with medically illness, and in culturally and linguistically diverse populations. To achieve these goals we use a variety of methodological approaches including cross sectional and longitudinal surveys and clinical trials.
- How can we best detect and treat depression in nursing home residents?
- How is coping style associated with mental health and cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury?
- What is the relationship between personality disorder and mental illness?
- What is the effect of developing self-efficacy on the outcome of teenage depression?
- Why is depression so commonly associated with physical illness and what is the connection?
Highlights
News
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Professor Jennie Ponsford has a visiting PhD student Gisela Wolters. Gisela is studying Coping after traumatic brain injury.
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Associate Professor Nikki Rickard has recently published a book with co-author Dr Katrina McFerran entitled “Lifelong Engagement with Music: Benefits for Mental Health and Well-Being.”
Centres and Groups
- Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology (CDPP)
- Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science (CFBS)
- Southern Synergy
- Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre
- Aged Mental Health Research Unit
- Emotion and Well-Being Unit
Theme Members
Dr Glenn Melvin (Theme Leader)
Professor Maurice Eisenbruch
Dr Ann Locarnini
Dr Christine Migliorini
Dr Revi Nair
Associate Professor Nikki Rickard
Emeritus Professor Graeme C. Smith
Research Led Education
- Dr. Fran Shawyer provides a Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy professional training program and monthly peer supervision group
- Dr. Penny Hasking is part of a team developing and implementing a professional learning program to school leaders, support staff and teachers around the issue of mental health promotion in schools.
- Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Master of Psychological Medicine)
- PSY3240 (Psychology of Music)
- PSY3250 (Positive Psychology)
Research Led Clinical Activities
- Motivational Interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression following traumatic brain injury
- Light therapy for fatigue and sleepiness
- Melatonin for sleep disturbance following traumatic brain injury
- Detecting and responding to depression across Uniting Aged Care facilities in Victoria
- Augmentation of cognitive behavioural therapy with fluoxetine for the treatment of school refusal
- Application of integrated disease self-management in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- A pragmatic trial of a ‘stepped care’ intervention for people with depression and cardiac failure
- The PROMPT study: Application of tailored psychosocial therapies to reduce distress and depression in cancer patients: a randomised controlled trial.”
- A pragmatic trial of a ‘stepped care’ intervention for people with depression and cardiac failure”
Content maintained by: research.psych@monash.edu
