Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (APRC)

APRC Programs of Research (pdf 90kb)

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The Voices Clinic

The Voices Clinic is a specialist psychological treatment service for people who hear voices or have a diagnosis of a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia.

Current Projects

Women's Mental Health Research

• Multisite Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Study Of Estradiol Plus Antipsychotic Versus Placebo Plus Antipsychotic In The Treatment Of Psychotic Symptoms In Women With Schizophrenia: A Definitive Estrogen Patch Trial (ADEPT)
   
• A study examining the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators ("brain estrogens") in the treatment of schizophrenia
  
• The National Register for Antipsychotic Medications in Pregnancy (NRAMP)
  
• Depression Associated with the Use of Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs) - A Pilot Study
  
• The Diagnosis, Biomarker Identification And Measurement Of Drug Efficacy For Neurological And Mental Disorders

To obtain further information about any of the above studies or to enquire about participation please email APRC Research Fellow Caroline Gurvich : c.gurvich@alfred.org.au or call 03 9076 6564

COMPLETED WMH STUDIES

• Double blind study of Transdermal Estradiol plus Antipsychotic versus Placebo plus Antipsychotic in the treatment of psychotic symptoms in women with schizophrenia (Completed)
• Neuroendocrine Aspects of Olanzapine Treatment in Women with Schizophrenia (Completed)
• Auditory Hallucinations In Borderline Personality Disorder
• The Effects of Estradiol on Cognitive Function in Healthy Pre- & Post-menopausal Women and the Role of the Cholinergic System
• A trial of Anti-estrogens in treating mania in women with Bipolar Affective Disorder or Schizoaffective Disorder
• A clinical adjunctive estrogen trial in men with schizophrenia   

Brain Stimulation & Neuroimaging

• The treatment of medication non-responsive depression with TMS
• A double-blind placebo controlled trial of TMS in the treatment of auditory hallucinations
• A double-blind placebo controlled trial of TMS in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia and related disorders
• Cortical plasticity in people with schizophrenia
• A investigation of Cannabis/THC on the human brain using TMS
• Investigating the Cortical Origins of Motor Overflow in Schizophrenia
• The Effect Of Prefrontal 1hz Rtms (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) On Cognitive Processing
• Differentiation Between Melancholic And Non-Melancholic Depression Using Electroencephalogram (Eeg)
• Can Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Alter Motor Function In Autism And Asperger's Disorder?

Psychopharmacology & Clinical Trials

• A study examining the use of amoxapine in schizophrenia and related disorders: Is it a new atypical antipsychotic?
• Estar - A Follow-Up Registry For People Taking Risperdal Consta
• An Observational Assessment Of Quality Of Life, Functioning And Adherence In Patients Taking Risperdal Consta
• A Comparison Study Of Flexibly Dosed Paliperidone Palmitate And Risperdal Consta In Subjects With Schizophrenia
• Onyx Study- A Study Assessing The Efficacy And Safety Of Seroquel Sustained Release In Combination With An Anti-Depressant, In The Treatment Of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Who Have History Of Inadequate Response To Anti-Depressant Treatment
• Multi-Component Risk Factor Intervention For People With A Severe Mental Illness: A Feasibility Study
• A Study Assessing The Efficacy And Safety Of Agomelatine In Combination With A Mood-Stabilizer, In The Treatment Of Patients With Bipolar 1 Disorder
• Platinum Study - Is Seroquel Sustained Release An Effective Treatment For Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

Epidemiology and Health Economics

• Bipolar Comprehensive Outcomes Study (BCOS)
• Schizophrenia Care and Assessment Program:
  
  1. Subjective and observer rated quality of life in schizophrenia
  2. A longitudinal study of subjective and observer rated quality of life in schizophrenia
  3. Characterising the psychopathology of schizophrenia: Depressive, positive, negative and Parkinsonian symptoms in schizophrenia
  4. Characterising the psychopathology of schizophrenia: A confirmatory factor analytic evaluation of the pentagonal PANSS model
  5. Service utilisation and cost of care of schizophrenia
• Neuropsychological functioning and quality of life in people with schizophrenia enrolled in the Schizophrenia Care and Assessment Program (SCAP)
• Suicide and Problem Gambling - A Community Partnership Strategy for Problem Gamblers

Psychology

• Screening For Emotional Distress Including Anxiety And Depression In Cancer Inpatients

Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

• Improving screening for HIV, HBV and HCV infection among psychiatric inpatients
• Coping strategies and health among adults with cystic fibrosis

Service Evaluation and Outcomes

• Investigation of capacity of persons with psychotic illnesses to give informed consent to research participation
• Service Evaluation And Outcomes: Issues Relating To The Interface Between Crisis Assessment Teams And Emergency Services When Dealing With The Mentally Ill.
• The Identification Of Contributing Factors To The Relapse Of Continuing Care Team (Cct) Clients
• Homelessness And The Impact On Length Of Hospital Stay And Relapse
• The Implementation And Evaluation Of The Use Of Personal Digital Assistants In Inpatient Psychiatry

Current Grants / Contracts