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Research interests of the Discipline

The Discipline of Psychiatry's research focuses on the clinical, psychological and sociocultural aspects of psychiatric disorder, and medical education. Below is a summary of the major research programmes undertaken within the department and the individual researchers to be contacted for further information. For researchers without email access, please contact the Discipline Administrative Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Bronwyn Norton, on 8222 5141. 

Anxiety disorders 
Child and adolescent health and illness 
Dementia 
Depression 
Eating disorders 
History of psychiatry 
Medical education 
Post traumatic stress disorder 
Psychology of health and health care 
Quality of life
Schizophrenia and its social-cultural aspects 
Suicidal behaviour 

Anxiety disorders

Professor Helen Winefield has researched the treatment of anxiety and depression in general practice settings. 

Child and adolescent health and illness

Professor Michael Sawyer researches the epidemiology of child and adolescent mental health, the psychological sequelae of child and adolescent chronic illness, particularly asthma. Professor Sawyer is also interested in research into Health Services delivery. 

The Research and Evaluation Unit, where Professor Sawyer is located, is responsible for a number of research projects relating to the mental health of children and adolescents. These studies are funded by external grant funding eg NHMRC, Channel 7 Childrenís Research Foundation, Women's and Children's Hospital Foundation, and Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. 

The major study undertaken in recent years has been the Child and Adolescent Component of the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being.  This is a large scale epidemiological survey which has investigated the prevalence of child and adolescent mental health problems in Australia, the degree of disability associated with these problems, and the services used by children and adolescents to obtain help. The study was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and the report describing results from the study was released in October 2000. There is a large data-set from this study, and it has provided useful ideas for further studies. One of the major problems highlighted in the survey was the large number of children who do not receive help for mental health problems. 

The second major study being undertaken in the Research and Evaluation Unit focuses on the quality of life of children with chronic illness. The study includes children being treated for asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis or cancer at the Womenís and Childrenís Hospital as well as children with cystic fibrosis who are being treated at the Princess Margaret Hospital in WA. This study is funded by NHMRC.  The study will provide new information about the impact of treatment burden and family environmental factors on the quality of life of children. Several paediatricians working at the Womenís and Childrenís Hospital are collaborating in this study, in addition to a collaborator in WA. 

Staff in the Research and Evaluation Unit work closely with staff based in the Public Health Research Unit at the WCH. The Research and Evaluation Unit provides opportunities for students at various levels but particularly postgraduate level. Several students are currently completing their PhD, in addition to students completing Honours and Masters Degrees in Psychology. Opportunities are also offered to medical students wishing to do research topics. Students are encouraged to work in close association with the studies currently being conducted within the Unit. Help is also available in applying for scholarships (eg several students have received NHMRC Public Health Research Scholarships). 

Dr Peter Baghurst researches the factors determining health service utilisation by children and their families, and the epidemiology of children's health problems, with particular emphasis on asthma and mental health. 

Mr Brian Graetz is currently completing a doctorate on child and adolescent mental health disorders, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He is also interested in the psychological adjustment of children with chronic health issues.

Dementia

Dr Patrick Flynn is studying the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. 

Depression

Dr Geoff Schrader has conducted investigations into the effect of intervention on outcome in depression occurring in association with cardiovascular disease, the effectiveness of community based treatment programmes and the neurophysiology of emotion. 

Professor Robert Goldney has examined mental health literacy in relation to depression and also elucidated co-morbidity of depression with asthma and diabetes in the community.

Dr Anne Sved-Williams is interested in post-natal depression in older, first-time mothers.   

Eating disorders

Professor Cherrie Galletly researches treatment programmes for women with obesity and infertility. 

History of psychiatry

Professor Johan Schioldann conducts studies into the history of psychiatry.

Professor Robert Goldney has published on Pre-Durkheim Suicidology.  

Medical education

Associate Professor Anna Chur-Hansen's research concentrates on various aspects of medical education, including the relationship between academic and clinical performance and language and cultural background, and the factors that mediate success and failure and the 'experience' of being a medical student, such as sexuality, age, culture and gender. 

She has also studied the teaching of behavioural sciences within the medical curriculum, in collaboration with Professor Helen Winefield and Associate Professor Leslie Koopowitz. 

Professor Cherrie Galletly and Dr Geoff Schrader have investigated the effect of psychiatric hospital experiences on medical students' attitudes to psychiatry. 

Post traumatic stress disorder

Professor Cherrie Galletly conducts research into information processing in post traumatic stress disorder. 

Ms Tracy Air also conducts research into post traumatic stress disorder. 

Psychology of health and health care

Professor Helen Winefield conducts research into occupational stress in health care professionals, psychosocial support for those with chronic illnesses, and integrated primary mental health care. 

Her current research focusses on clinical health psychology topics, especially concerning the delivery of help for anxiety, depression, and chronic serious ilnesses in the primary care setting. She is interested in the sufferers, their family caregivers and their General Practitioners, and the role that Psychologists may play in enhancing the well-being of all these groups. 

Dr Andrew Beckwith conducts research on the psychiatric aspects of HIV and Hepatitis C.

Dr Linley Denson conducts research into elderly people's health service usage and the transition into residential care.

Quality of life

Professor Michael Sawyer researches health related quality of life. 

Schizophrenia and its socio-cultural aspects

Professor Helen Winefield has studied the needs of people caring for relatives with chronic schizophrenia.

Professor Cherrie Galletly studies first episode psychosis, schizophrenia and antipsychotic medication and the role of working memory in schizophrenia.

Dr Balaji Motamarri is studying patients' subjective experiences in first episode psychosis as part of a Masters Programme

Mr Andrew Morely is conducting an ethnographic study of homeless patients with psychotic illness, toward a doctoral dissertation.

Suicidal behaviour

Professor Robert Goldney researches various aspects of suicidal behaviour, including its association with unemployment depression, the prediction of suicidal behaviour and the limits of such prediction, suicidal behaviour in the young, and bereavement through suicide. 

Research has included examination of suicidal ideation and depression with the Epidemiology Branch of the Health Commission , and with funding has been provided partly by the pharmaceutical industry private enterprise .  A genetic study with the Department of Cytogenetics of the Women 's and Children's Hospital had NH and MRC support , with the Department of Cytogenetics of the Women's and Children's Hospital, as has another study into the optimum treatment of depression in the elderly by general practitioners and its effect on suicidal behaviour.

Dr Anthony Davis has also conducted studies of attempted suicide and its relation to depression.