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PhD Research Topics and SupervisionProspective PhD candidates seeking to develop a research topic and find a research supervisor are invited to inquire about the research projects and research groups listed below. Please follow the link from the title for contact details and further information. Prospective candidates should also consult the School's Research web page which lists academic staff and their research interests, and other research groups, centres and affiliations that welcome inquiries regarding research projects and supervision
Clinical Cognitive NeuroscienceOverviewJulie Stout is interested in understanding how the brain, especially the striatal-frontal brain systems, implement complex adaptive behaviours, such as decision making, social functioning, and emotions processing. Her laboratory also has a particular interest in understanding and describing how behaviour is affected by damage to the basal ganglia. Her current research methods include experimental cognitive and clinical neuropsychological testing, and cognitive modeling. Research projects include investigations of decision making in drug abuse, and basal ganglia and cognition in presymptomatic Huntington's disease. Risky Decision Making in Substance Abusers StudyOverview: The neostriatal structures function as components in brain circuits that have regionally specific constituents in the frontal lobes, with projections to the striatum, and then via additional structures, feed back into the same area of frontal cortex. Theories about this brain circuitry suggest that damage in the frontal cortical regions or in the other projection regions of the circuit can produce similar dysfunction of the circuit and thus behavioural disruptions may appear similar regardless of the level at which the neural circuit is disrupted. Our research program has developed formal modeling approaches to analyze the performance of complex problems in different clinical populations. One task that has been of major interest and has led to productive research is the Iowa gambling task. The Iowa gambling task, developed by Bechara, Damasio, Tranel and Anderson (1994) has drawn attention in the decision-making literature since patients with pre-frontal ventromedial lesions were found to have poor performance on the task. Poor task performance has also been found in other clinical populations, including drug abusers, Huntington disease patients, and individuals with an antisocial personality disorder. These results suggest that different mechanisms are responsible for the poor task performance exhibited by these clinically different populations. Recently, Busemeyer and Stout (2002) used a formal model to decompose performance in the Bechara gambling task into learning, motivation, and decision-making components. This approach has been found useful for understanding the different patterns observed in diverse clinical populations. For example, it appears that Huntington patients perform poorly in this task due to a tendency to focus on recent outcomes and to forget outcomes from less recent choices. In contrast, cocaine addicts seem to exhibit poor performance because of their tendency to focus on gains and ignore losses. A large portion of the testing for this study will be conducted at Monash University in a short period of time. Huntington's Disease (HD) OverviewHuntington disease is an autosomal dominant disease that typically shows onset in adulthood and is fully penetrant. That is, individuals with the Huntington disease gene (an expansion of the CAG triplet repeat on the short arm of chromosome 4) have a fifty percent probability of passing on the Huntington gene to each of their offspring. There has been a long line of research documenting the presence of Huntington-related symptoms prior to the onset of chorea. These symptoms, which encompass psychiatric, cognitive, motor, and other behavioral and personality disturbances have been reported retrospectively in many clinical studies. Prospective documentation for these symptoms, and a timeline that defines the onset and progression of symptoms prior to meeting the chorea-defined diagnosis, has been much more elusive. HD ToolKit StudyThe HD Toolkit project seeks to identify a set of optimal tests and assays for use in clinical trials of compounds that have the potential to delay the onset and/or the progression of HD. As such, we believe this is an important step toward our ability to offer hope to those who are genetically predisposed to HD and their families. This study is currently being conducted at Julie Stout's Laboratory at Monash University. Predict-HD StudyThis is a multi-site study, led by Jane S. Paulsen at the University of Iowa, which investigates the nature and pattern of neurobiological changes and neurobehavioral changes that occur in the period leading up to a diagnosis of Huntington's Disease. The goal of this study is to learn more about the initial changes in cognitive abilities, emotional regulation, brain structure and brain function as a person begins the transition from health. Our role in the study is to develop and implement the cognitive battery, as well as ensure the quality of these data and their analysis. Portions of this study are scheduled to be conducted at Julie Stout's Laboratory at Monash University. Track-HD StudyThis is a multi-centre, multi-national prospective, observational biomarker study of premanifest and early stage HD with no experimental treatment. Current sites are in Vancouver Canada, Leiden Netherlands, London, and Paris. It will be used to examine the sensitivity of individual and combined clinical and biological outcome measures for tracking progression of HD. The goal is to develop the much-needed methodology to undertake future clinical trials of disease-modifying agents in this group of HD patients. Cognitive aspects of this study are being monitored at Julie Stout’s Laboratory at Monash University. Objective: To find out what combination of measures is the most sensitive for detecting change over the natural course of HD, with a view to validating these measures for use in future therapeutic trials. Contact: Cognitive NeuropsychiatryPotential PhD projects are available exploring the cognition and underlying neurobiology of the three major positive symptoms of psychosis: auditory hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder. My research uses a variety of techniques including cognitive science, neuroimaging (EEG and fMRI), eye tracking, and ketamine modelling. My studies involve a range of different populations that experience positive symptoms of psychosis including: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Alzheimer’s disease and anorexia. Contact: Social Sciences and Health Research Team1. Immigration and parenting among Cambodian and Iraqi women in AustraliaThis project explores the interrelationships between immigration, personal and family identity, and motherhood in contemporary Australia. It explores how motherhood is influenced by changes in the community structures, the organization of domestic and paid work, and communication systems, and elucidates how the practices of parenting are influenced by the social, cultural and political contexts of global and local society as well as specific migration histories. The project is innovative methodologically and in its application of the frameworks of social capital and transnationalism as a means to understand the interrelationships of migration and motherhood. 2. Care-seeking, use of CAM, and self-management among people with Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular DiseaseChronic disease and related health problems are increasing in prevalence in Australia. Recent estimates suggest that Type 2 diabetes and heart disease cost the Australian community almost $9 billion in direct costs per annum. People with chronic conditions follow medical and behavioural prescriptions variably, however, while also using complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies, practitioners, vitamins and herbs. We will explore the reasons for presentation to and use of CAM practitioners and therapies by people diagnosed with and under treatment for two of the most commonly diagnosed chronic conditions – cardiovascular disease and diabetes – in order to establish the relationship with adherence to their prescribed treatment. The focus is on what is described as the "drivers, costs and benefits" of the use of CAM, and how the practical interaction of CAM and conventional health care approaches may support adherence. This research program will have very important implications for the control of these diseases and individual wellbeing. Using an innovative interdisciplinary approach and a mix of research methods, the research will provide a unique evidence-base on community approaches to and use of complementary and alternative medicine, and the significance of this to current and future health needs. The program will take advantage of the interdisciplinary skills in novel ways to explore areas of health and society that have so far received limited attention. By including two PhDs, we will strengthen Australia’s research capacity in health social sciences and public health in this field, generating new skills important to population health practice and policy in this country. 3. Enhancing social connectivity, improving health outcomes: a computer-based social support and health information intervention program for elderly amputee inpatientsThis project takes as its starting point data collected in a study of the social factors which influence adaptation to lower limb amputation in regional and urban Victoria and seeks to use the knowledge gained in this study about recent amputees' access to health information and social support to develop an intervention to address some of the issues faced by participants. The proposed project also seeks to fill some existing gaps in current amputee rehabilitation services, as identified by members of the multidisciplinary amputee rehabilitation team (which includes: rehabilitation consultants, prosthetists, physiotherapists, nurses, occupational therapists, podiatrists, and dieticians). Contact: High risk behaviours and social cognition in mental disorderPotential doctoral projects are available investigating the possible relationships between deficits in social cognition and high-risk behaviours such as aggression, self-harm and vulnerability to victimisation in people with mental disorders. The projects would be auspiced by the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, a specialist centre within SPPPM. Contact: Perceptual and Clinical Neuroscience
Contact: Astrocytes, Ageing and Brain DysfunctionMuch of the brain damage in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke is due to iron-mediated oxidative stress. Our team investigates how brain cells protect themselves from iron and oxidative stress. Our research is leading towards new treatments for these diseases. Contact: Reducing the Illness Burden: Health and Psychological Medicine Research ProgramThis research program consists of closely linked undergraduate and post-graduate projects investigating the psychosocial aspects including biological understanding, anxiety, coping and initial management, parenting and attachment, and the impact of health condition educational interventions on illness perceptions in children and their families experiencing one of five health conditions. These are Congenital Heart Defect (CHD); Renal System Abnormalities (incontinence, dialysis, transplant); Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); Cystic Fibrosis; and Childhood Obesity. Active research collaborations with specialist paediatricians are established at Southern Health (Professor Samuel Menahem, paediatric cardiologist; Dr Amanda Walker, paediatric nephrologist; Associate Professor Christine Rodda and Dr Philip Bergman, paediatric endocrinologists) and The Royal Children’s Hospital (Dr Michael Harari, Dr Melissa Wake and Dr Harriet Hiscock (paediatricians). The research group is based at The Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Old Baker Building, The Alfred Hospital, Prahran. HDR candidates are sought for a range of projects investigating the impact of biological knowledge of children’s understanding and management of their chronic health condition, and the impact of the chronic illness on parenting, attachment, family and child psychosocial functioning. There is also increasing evidence that people with compromised mental health have poorer outcomes for a range of physical health conditions, and that poor mental health has a negative impact on treatment and management of chronic illness. An emerging area of research is centered on this physical/mental health interface across a range of chronic health conditions. Contact: Specific Projects available in 2009Congenital Heart DefectDetermining the content of a multimedia educational program for parents of pre-natal diagnosed congenital heart defect (CHD) This qualitative study aims to determine the type of information that would be relevant and beneficial to parents experiencing a pre-natal diagnosis of CHD through interviews with parents who have been through such an experience. The development and evaluation of a multimedia educational program for parents of pre-natal diagnosed congenital heart defect (CHD). This project will develop and evaluate the impact of a psychosocial educational program on CHD to determine the impact of this education on parents’ knowledge of CHD, their coping and psychosocial wellbeing following a pre-natal diagnosis of CHD. Diabetes The development and evaluation of a multimedia educational program for children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. This project will develop and evaluate the impact of an educational program on children’s understanding of the biological systems relevant to diabetes and its required management. The impact of this education on children’s psychosocial wellbeing will also be explored. Experimental NeuropsychologyPotential PhD projects are available exploring selective attention and other cognitive processes that are closely related or even overlap, such as working memory, sustained attention or vigilance, divided attention, etc. For instance, one particular research focus at present is understanding which aspects of cognition deteriorate with age, and the processes that underlie that deterioration. Potential research projects:
Contact: Pathophysiology of disordered affective processing in mood disordersThe role of inhibitory brain activity in depression and schizophreniaPotential PhD projects are available exploring the pathophysiology of disordered affective processing in mood disorders and the role of inhibitory brain activity in depression and schizophrenia. These studies could potentially utilize techniques such as imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG. Contact: Anxiety and Depression in Primary CareHealth CommunicationGeneral Practitioner support strategiesPrimary Mental Health CareThe Primary Mental Health Team, Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, has a clinical focus on anxiety and depression in primary care, as well as health communication, in both the verbal and written form. The Team has an interest in research in the following areas:
Contact: Psychopharmacology and EndocrinologyBehavioural and Cellular NeurosciencesMy research interest and expertise are in the area of psychopharmacology and endocrinology.
Project 1:Do neurosteroids have utility in the treatment of insomnia without causing the deleterious changes in sleep architecture that limit current prescription remedies?Co-supervised by Professor Colin Goodchild. Project 2:Investigation of the effects of exercise on measures of depression and anxiety-like behaviour in the ratWhile many of us have experienced (and look for) the benefits of regular exercise on our mood and sense of well-being, there are few basic studies that have examined the effect that regular exercise has on measures of antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like behaviours. This project will examine the effects of exercise, drug treatment, time of day and rat strain on the efficacy in commonly used animal models. Project 3:Roles of pituitary hormones in animal models that are predictive of antidepressant efficacyAs well as their well-described hormonal effects in the periphery, oxytocin and vasopressin are known to be neuromodulators in the central nervous system. They are particularly important in the control of reproductive behaviours, affiliative behaviour, aggression and mood. This project will continue the investigation of oxytocin commenced in 2006, to build on our pilot findings of its having antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activity in rat behavioural paradigms. It will also investigate the utility of the vasopressin receptor system in modulating these behaviours. Project 4:Is there an endocrinological basis for the perceived differences between MDMA (‘ecstasy’) and amphetamine?MDMA has stimulant properties, but has a number of unique attributes that put it in a class of its own. This project is to investigate what makes MDMA different, and where the biological basis for this difference may lie. A drug discrimination model will be used, in which rats are trained to report whether they have been treated with MDMA, amphetamine or saline. Then a variety of pharmacological manipulations will be used to determine whether endocrinological changes that take place following MDMA are important determinants of its perceived (interoceptive) effects. A second aspect to this project is an examination of the behavioural outputs of MDMA and amphetamine administration, specifically looking at affiliative behaviour in rat social interactions and determining whether changes in the interoceptive effects of these drugs translates to behavioural change. This overall project would be suitable for two students. Implementation and evaluation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training (ACT) for
Further information:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training (ACT), based on Relational Frame Theory, is increasingly growing in popularity with clinicians working across surprisingly diverse client groups. Since its debut in 1999 it has been found to be effective in studies ranging from the treatment of severe conditions, such as borderline personality disorder, to performance improvement interventions, such as sports psychology and workplace productivity. Multi-family groups for traumatic brain injuryHeadstrongMulti-family groups for traumatic brain injury. A clinical research program for the study of the impact of multi-family group intervention on the social and psychological functioning of people with traumatic brain injury and their care giversIn the absence of substantive controlled trials of family based interventions for families living with TBI, Headstrong will evaluate the efficacy of an evidence-based multi-family group intervention. The project will adapt a well-researched Multi-family Group (MFG) program, previously developed for mental illness, implement it in a series of treatment groups of 60 individuals with TBI and their families, and evaluate its efficacy. This will be over a 3 year period commencing in 2008, pending confirmation of funding. Self-Harm and Suicide PreventionThe Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Research Group is a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians with an interest in understanding and managing self-harm and suicidal behaviour. Projects are available for PhD students interested in working in any area of suicide prevention. Currently projects are being conducted in the areas of:
Future projects may include:
Dr. Penelope Hasking supervises research projects in two primary areas: 1. suicide prevention and 2. cognitive and behavioural factors associated with substance use. Positive psychology research groupPositive psychology focuses on identifying character strengths and applying these to create a worthwhile and satisfying life. Positive psychology also examines how the various pathways to happiness such as pleasure, engagement and meaning influence health and well-being.
Contact: Aged mental healthPhD research in the areas of:
Contact: Clinical and health psychologyProspective doctoral students are very welcome to talk to Professor Paul Martin about research projects in clinical and health psychology. Paul has a long standing interest in headache and migraine. A current funded-project in this domain is on developing and evaluating an integrated approach to treating co-morbid chronic headache and depression. Funding is being sought for research on behavioural management of the triggers of headaches, which challenges the conventional wisdom that the best way to prevent headaches is to avoid the factors that trigger them. Paul’s research interests include disorders related to headaches, such as chronic pain, stress, anxiety and depression. He is a chief investigator on a project evaluating an intervention to prevent depressive relapse, and is a co-author of a book on postnatal depression. Paul has developed and evaluated an intervention (Promoting Social Networks and Support) to assist people increase the size of their social network and derive more support from it, and thereby cope better with stress. He has also developed a web site for assessing cardiovascular risk (HEARTbehaviour). The latter reflects his interests in internet assessment and interventions on the one hand, and how behaviour and lifestyle relate to health on the other. Doctoral projects could be developed in any of the above domains. Contact: Qualitative Theoretical Psychoanalytic ResearchQualitative research in:
Contact: Chronic Somatoform Pain Disorder'Biological Markers in Chronic Somatoform Pain Disorder and Co Relation with Progress/Improvement of the Pain and associated Depressive and Anxiety symptoms with different modalities of Treatment'. For further information contact: Music psychologyWe have a broad range of research programs available in music psychology: 1) Enrichment and Engagement the behavioural and cognitive benefits of various forms of musicianship, ranging from formal music training and performance and school-based music education to affective and social involvement in music activities 2) Neuromodulatory effects of music the physiological effects of music on neurotransmitter systems which regulate emotional memory and anxiety 3) Music therapy the neuropsychological effects of music therapy in populations experiencing dysfunction of some kind (eg., dementia, depression) Contact for topics 1 and 2: Associate Professor Nikki Rickard Email: nikki.rickard@med.monash.edu.au Web: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/research/staff/nrickard.html
Contact for topic 3: Dr Samia Toukhsati Email: samia.toukhsati@med.monash.edu.au Web: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/research/staff/stoukhsati.html Sleep research PhD – Australia-USA collaborationhttp://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/pgrad/sleep-res.html Sleep research – other projectsContact: Animal WelfareProf. Grahame Coleman Psycho-oncologyPsycho-oncology involves research into the psychological experience of cancer patients and their families regarding screening, diagnosis, treatment decision making and end-of-life issues. As Head, Cabrini Monash Psycho-oncology Research Institute I am working closely with medical oncologists and other specialists at Cabrini Health, a large private hospital in Melbourne with the largest throughout of cancer patients in Victoria . Therefore there are many research opportunities for psychology postgraduate student, particularly in relation to anxiety, depression and quality of life across all tumour streams. Dr Sue Burney |