Research Group Reports Mental Health: Early in Life (infant to youth) Mental Health Services
This project has also involved several psychology students who have worked under the supervision of Professor Newman and Dr. Melvin. An initial evaluation of the first 50 patients with a restrictive eating disorder was completed in 2011 and the results presented at the Presentation to the 9th Annual Conference of The Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders. In the main the participants improved across the measures of weight, Body Mass Index and across all the psychological questionnaires. This research in a cohort of patients with eating disorders treated in a day program is unique in the method of data collection and analysis. The results are in the process of being submitted to a peer review journal.
Depression is a chronic relapsing and
remitting condition which commonly presents later in adolescence and in adult life. In 2011, ELMHS has with Professor Bruce Tonge and the Centre for Developmental Psychiatry & Psychology completed a 3 to 9 year follow-up of 130 adolescents treated for depression.
The follow-up study reported on several clinical variables which affect the course of the adolescent’s depression into their early adult years. Clinical factors in the individual and their family were identified at baseline assessment, which predicted the course of the adolescent’s depression, service utilisation and substance use. The results are in the process of being submitted for publication.
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The School Refusal Clinic has
assessed 60 young people who were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Young people who were not attending school as a result of their anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to treatment and treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, fluoxetine, or placebo. All of the participants have been treated and completed 12 month follow-up. The data is currently being analysed.
Publications and postgraduate students Journal articles
4
Conference presentations
4
Postgraduate research students
1