Anxiety Research
Be an active participant in leading research!
By participating in research you can:
- Be involved in innovative programs
- Help increase knowledge and understanding of the anxiety and mo od disorders
- Help improve management and treatment options
RESEARCHERS: Do you want your study promoted here? (click for instruction & payment document)
- - - [Updated August 2007]See below for research programs currently requiring participants.
Monash University: Shyness & Social Phobia project
Is shyness or social anxiety a problem for you? Do you fear social situation such as meeting new people, speaking in public and going to social events?
The proposed study wants to explore the effects of a potentially new treatment involving Oxytocin, on the brain’s response to fear processing in patients with Generalised Social Anxiety Disorder (GSAD) also known as Social Phobia (SP). Oxytocin is a neuropeptide which may play a new role in the treatment for a range of psychiatric illnesses. The study will use brain imaging involving functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
The study will recruit male participants with a current primary diagnosis of Social Phobia, or those who feel they may suffer from it. We can confirm a diagnosis under no costs. Participants are required to also meet the following criteria:
- Right-handed
- Between ages of 18-55 years
- Non-smoking
- Medication free (no current medication for anxiety)
- No current drug/alcohol abuse.
The study consists of 3 sessions:
Session 1 – involves both a physical health check and a psychiatric screen, to ensure you are suitable to participate (1½-2 hr at Monash University, Clayton).
Sessions 2 and 3 – involves brain scanning (MRI), treatment administration (Placebo and Oxytocin), and two computerised facial expression tasks. These sessions will be separated by a minimum of 1 week (2 hr at Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville).
Contact:
Izelle Labuschagne
School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine,
MONASH University
Ph: (03) 9594 5543
Email: Izelle.Labuschagne@med.monash.edu.au
Monash University: The effect of calming music on physiological responses to emotional stimuli
Zoe Gibbs from Monash University is looking for people to participate in a study investigating the effects that calming music has on emotional arousal. Participants would be required to come to a lab at either the Caulfield or Clayton campuses of Monash University for a session of one to one and a half hours. In addition, participants would be required to complete an online questionnaire one week from the lab session. This will take around half an hour and can be completed on any internet-connected computer.
We are looking for participants:
- Who are right handed
- Aged between 18-55
- Who do not have any hearing impairments or blood glucose regulatory disorders (such as Diabetes)
- Who have not been associated with (including close friends or family who have been involved in) a serious road accident
- Who are not currently taking any medication for a mood disorder
- Who do not have a severe phobia of blood
Contact:
Zoe Gibbs
Honours Student
Psychology Department, Monash University
Ph: 0439 033 705
Email: zoe.gibbs@med.monash.edu.au
Swinburne University of Technology - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - internet treatment trial
Dr Britt Klein from Swinburne University of Technology is seeking participants for an ONLINE research project.
The project is testing the effectiveness of an internet (online) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment program. The 10-week cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment program is delivered via the internet with email support from a psychologist.
The main eligibility requirements are that you reside in Australia, are aged
18 years or older, you have a primary diagnosis of PTSD (as assessed by one of our psychologists), and you have an email address and internet access.
Participation in the study involves no financial outlay on your part.
The program can be found at: www.ptsd-online.org
Contact:
Dr Britt Klein at bklein@swin.edu.au
Co-Director, Swin-PsyCHE e-Therapy Unit
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
Swinburne University of Technology
Hawthorn, Victoria
PH. (03) 9214 8851
The DARE (Depression Awareness Recovery Effectiveness) Project
Each year more than a million Australians experience depression. With time and treatment, most will recover, but for many of these people the problem will come back. The DARE Project is a research trial being conducted through Monash University that is looking at two approaches to managing risk of relapse:
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a new psychological treatment combining principles of cognitive therapy and mindfulness meditation. It is a group program designed to prevent depressive relapse in people who have recovered from depressive episodes.
- An alternative strategy for managing long-term risk of depressive relapse is to pick up relapses early and encourage people to seek treatment, and this approach is taken in the other treatment condition in this study, Depression Relapse Active Monitoring (DRAM).
This project will find out which of MBCT or DRAM alone, both when added to existing treatments, is more effective in preventing depressive relapse for people who have already have had three episodes of depression. The results will be important in deciding what approaches to long term self management to recommend for people who have had repeated experience of depression.
Participants are being sought to join the project during 2008. If you are interested in participating in this project or for further information go to www.dare.org.au
The DARE project is funded by the Commonwealth Government through a National Health and Medical Research Council grant from 2007-2010. This project is operating in the following regions of Victoria: Melbourne, Geelong, and the Mornington Peninsula.
Contact:
The Project Manager
PhD student
Linguistics Department, Monash University
Ph: (03) 9554 1585
Mob: 0400 665 676
Email: dare@med.monash.edu.au
Web: www.dare.org.au
Communication Skills in Young People with Depression
Young people aged between 15-23 years of age with a diagnosis of depression are invited to participate in this project. This research is looking at the communication skills of young people who have depression. You will be asked to participate in a one off interview lasting about one hour. Interviews are being held in a variety of locations around Melbourne. During the interview participants will be asked about their daily communication skills. This is an opportunity to discuss any areas of ability or difficulty relating to communication. There are no right or wrong answers. The researcher is interested in how you view your communication. You will not be asked some questions about depression before participating in the interview. If you would like to be interviewed or ask more questions about the project please email Deborah at djper3@student.monash.edu.au or mobile on 0405 099 249. Alternatively, contact the secretary Joy on 9888 4957. Interviews are being held until the end of June 2008.
Contact:
Deborah Perrott (Chief Investigator)
PhD student
Linguistics Department, Monash University
Ph: 0405 099 249
Email: djper3@student.monash.edu.au
La Trobe University - Investigating the prevalence of Post-Concussion Symptoms
We are seeking individuals with Major Depressive Disorder or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to investigate the prevalence of post-concussion symptoms. These symptoms (e.g. fatigue, sleep disturbance, irritability, memory and concentration difficulties) are being examined because they are commonly reported by individuals from a range of populations.
Participation involves completing a set of questionnaires that will take approximately 2 hours to complete.
Partificipants must have a clinical diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder or PTSD, be aged between 18-55 years, with no reading difficulties, involvement in litigation, or history of head injury.
Contact:
Anita Panayiotou (Chief Investigator)
Doctor of Clinical Neuropsychology Student
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University
Ph: 0409 257 425
Email: a1panayiotou@students.latrobe.edu.au
La Trobe University - Worry and Anxiety Disorders
If you have Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and are interested in helping researchers better understand your disorder, you are invited to register for a doctoral research study conducted by La Trobe University. We require that you are aged 18 years or older and have a primary diagnosis of GAD (as assessed by a psychologist). The complete protocol will take no longer than 1.5 hours of your time.
All participants will not only receive a $20 Coles Myer gift voucher when they attend their session, but they will also be placed in a draw for a raffle prize worth $100.
If you are eligible and interested in taking part in this project or would like further information regarding this research study please contact the principal investigator directly.
Contact:
Elizabeth Walkenhorst (Chief Investigator)
Doctoral Student of Clinical Neuropsychology
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University
Ph: 0414 518 569
Email: ewalkenhorst@students.latrobe.edu.au
University of Melbourne and The Royal Children's Hospital - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in young people
The University of Melbourne and The Royal Children's Hospital are seeking young people aged 8-17 years who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or another anxiety problem to take part in an international research study about the causes of OCD in young people.
Participants (parents and young people) will meet with the research clinician for one session to complete some questionnaires, a structured clinical interview, and to join in a brief family discussion. It is expected that the session will take around 90 minutes to complete. Participants will be reimbursed for any travel costs incurred and given a summary of their assessment results to assist with future treatment.
For more information or to express your interest in participating, please contact:
Contact:
Ms Lauren Phelan at Department of Psychology University of Melbourne
Ph: 0419 372 287
Email: phelan@unimelb.edu.au
Ms Margie Richardson Department of Psychology Royal Children's Hospital
Ph: (03) 9345 5969
Email: margie.richardson@rch.org.au
Macquarie University - Anxiety, Depression and close relationships
If you are currently in a committed heterosexual relationship, you are invited to participate in a study being conducted by psychology researchers at Macquarie University. Samantha Cuming and Dr Ron Rapee are interested in identifying the ways in which the close relationships of individuals who experience anxiety or depression differ from those who do not.
The study is intended only for current residents of Australia who are aged 18 years or over. It involves completing, in one sitting, a series of online questionnaires, which will take about 20-30 minutes. Participants will be eligible to win a randomly drawn prize of a $100 gift voucher. To find out more or participate in the survey, please click on the following link (or paste it into your internet browser): www.relationshipsresearch.com.
Contact:
Samantha Cuming at samantha.cuming@students.mq.edu.au.
Monash University - Avoidance and Panic Disorder: changing old coping patterns for new
Liz Ronsisvale from Monash University is seeking participants for a research study into Panic attacks and Panic Disorder.
If you are over 18 years, and have experienced a panic attack or been diagnosed with Panic Disorder and would like to paricipate by filling in a set of questionnaires (it should take between 30 minutes and one hour) please contact:
Contact:
Liz Ronsisvalle at emron1@student.monash.edu
Monash University - Mental Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaires (PsyQoL)
The Centre for Health Economics at Monash University aims to survey the quality of life for individuals with mental health-related problems.
The current tests used for examining 'quality of life' may not be appropriate for people with mental health problems, leading to disadvantages when receiving care. As such this study aims to determine a more precise representation. The study seeks individuals 18-65 years of age. You will be reimbursed $15 cash for each interview you attend. You may participate in all or some of the surveys (There are three surveys, some with two parts).
Contact:
Mr Angelo Iezzi (Project Manager)
Centre for Health Economics, Monash University
Ph: (03) 9905 0733 | Mob: 0419 338 241
Fax: (03) 9905 8344
Email: che@buseco.monash.edu.au
Web: http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/centres/che/
Swinburne University & Royal Children's Hospital - Child & Adolescent OCD study
Marian Kolta from Swinburne University along with the Academic Child Psychiatry Unit - Royal Children's Hospital seek to better understand Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). By accurately identifying the characteristics of each condition, a greater understanding may lead to better psychological and or medication treatments for children and adolescents.
This study is looking for children and adolescents between 7-16 years of age who have either received a formal diagnosis of OCD by a qualified psychologist or exhibit some obsessive or compulsive behaviours.
Contact:
Baker Institute - Panic Disorder, Depression and Cardiac Risk
Updated 8th September 2006.
The Baker Heart Research Institute is looking for volunteers for two separate research studies into the effects of depression and panic attacks on the heart. There will be investigations of psychological and biological aspects (including brain imaging). Participation involves free treatment with antidepressants in the depression study and Cognitive Behaviour based psychotherapy and/or antidepressants in the panic disorder study.
Both studies are confidential.
If you have no heart disease, diabetes or hypertension treated with medication you may be eligible.
Contact:
Ph: (03) 8532-1110
Email: celiab@bigpond.net.au
Website: Baker Research Institute
Monash University & Southern Health - Depression treatments
This free clinical trial aims to test the usefulness of two therapy treatments for Depression. Dr. Amanda Favilla and team from Monash University are looking for individuals aged 18-65 who have suffered from at least three episodes of Depression in the past but are currently well. This study will test mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (meditation) and medication alliance therapy. Involves one (1) session per week for 8 weeks.
Macquarie University - Beliefs about Mental Health survey
You are invited to participate in an online survey from Psychology researchers at Macquarie University. Ann Boonzaier and Dr Andrew Baillie are interested in what people believe about the causes of mental health problems. The survey is for people aged 18-65 years and involves doing some short questionnaires on the causes and treatment of mental illness, which take about 30 minutes. All those who participate are eligible to enter a $50 prize draw. The research is only open to citizens or residents of Australia. To find out more, please click here and choose the survey called “Lay beliefs about mental health”
