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Cognitive Neuropsychiatry: current projects

Submitted by maprc on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 15:40

 
The Voices Clinic

The Voices Clinic is currently seeing people who have clinically significant hallucinations/voices or delusions. Therapy is provided in addition to current treatment. Medication and other aspects of treatment continue to be managed by the person’s current doctor and/or mental health team.

Treatment of other problems related to psychosis
People with other psychological treatment needs (e.g. comorbid anxiety, depression or trauma), may also be able to be seen. We provide treatment under the Medicare items for clinical psychology services. Referrals will require a GP mental health care plan (item 2710) or referral letter from a private psychiatrist.  Bulk billing is available.
Please contact us for further details.
 
Location of the clinic
The clinic operates from the Alfred Hospital: 
The Voices Clinic
Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre
Level 1, Old Baker Building,
The Alfred
Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004

Enquiries
To enquire about the clinic contact either:
Dr Neil Thomas, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre
Tel:     03 9076 6564
Fax:     03 9076 6588
Email:     Neil.Thomas@med.monash.edu.au 

 

Other Cognitive Neuropsychiatry projects

1a. Semantic memory (SM) in psychosis
Aim
Semantic memory (SM) is a type of memory that stores names and facts. Previous work by Professor Rossell has shown that SM is very impaired in chronic psychosis and that it is related to the severity of positive symptoms. We are currently examining groups of at-risk people (also referred to as ‘schizotypy’) to examine whether SM deficits are a behavioural endophenotype (a type of marker) for psychosis.
 
 
Participants
The study involves people with high schizotypy.
 
Methods
Participants undergo a series of exercises that test semantic memory (cognitive battery of semantic memory tasks).
 
Project status
New projects will begin in Jan 2012

Researchers
Professor Susan Rossell
Celia Morgan (UCL)
Erica Neill
Eric Tan

1b. Structure of semantic memory
 
Aim
This study builds on Professor Rossell’s previous work exploring the spatial and temporal dynamics of retrieval from semantic memory. We are examining whether there are age related changes.
 
 
Participants
Healthy individuals
 
Methods
The study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and semantic memory tasks.
 
Project status
We have completed data collection for the aging component of this study and have submitted publications.

Researchers
Susan Rossell
David O’Connor

1b. How symptoms of psychosis relate to semantic memory
 
Aim
This study builds on Professor Rossell’s previous work which established that delusions can be explained by semantic difficulties. We are also investigating the relationship of semantic mory to thought disorder.
 
 
Participants
Schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals
 
Methods
The study uses ketamine modeling and semantic memory tasks.
 
Project status
We have completed data collection for the ketamine study and are pursuing schizophrenia recruitment.

Researchers
Susan Rossell
Erica Neill
Greg Yelland
Eric Tan 

2. Understanding the cognitive problems and neurobiological features of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and other Body Image Disorders
Aim
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a preoccupation with physical appearance and imagined flaws. We are conducting an extensive investigation of people with BDD, examining eye tracking, perception of their body, neurocognition and neurobiology.
 
 
Participants
People with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, people with anorexia, people with obsessive compulsive disorder, people with psychosis and healthy individuals (the control group).

Methods
The study uses a variety of techniques: eye tracking, body perception tasks, a series of neurocognitive tasks and magnetic resonance scanning.
 

Project status
All components are now under way.

Researchers
Susan Rossell
David Castle
Mike Kyrios
Jerome Maller
Andrea Phillipou
Miranda Tanamas
Ben Buchanan
Ryan Kaplan

3. Understanding the phenomenology and neurocognition of Body Image Disorders, including anorexia nervosa

Aim
People with anorexia nervosa hold various beliefs that have been referred to as overvalued ideas. This study sets out to examine the hypothesis that these beliefs share some of the same qualities as delusions.
 
 
Participants
People with anorexia nervosa, people with psychosis and healthy individuals (control group).
 
Methods
The study gathers information using clinical interviews and neurocognitive tasks.
 
Project status
Data collection complete and manuscripts are being submitted.

Researchers
Susan Rossell
David Castle
John Farhall
Rachel Mountjoy

4. Investigating psychosis following traumatic brain injury (PFTBI)
 
Aim
Psychosis following traumatic brain injury (PFTB)I is an under-researched disorder. There is little known about its phenomenology, risk factors or aetiology (how and why it develops). This project focuses on three areas: Phenomenology, Risk Factors and Cognition.
 
 
Participants
We will recruit four groups of people: a) people with PFTB, b) people with a traumatic brain injury, who do not have psychosis, c) people with psychosis and d) healthy people (control group).
 
Methods
Cinical interviews and a series of cognitive tasks.
 
Project status
Data collection complete and analysis underway.

Researchers
Susan Rossell
Neil Thomas
Mal Hopwood
Yitz Hollander
Jennie Ponsford
Rachel Batty

5. Understanding auditory hallucinations
Aim
Patients with auditory hallucinations show auditory and cortical abnormalities not present in other psychosis patients with no auditory hallucination history. This project is seeking to further clarify these changes.
 
 
Participants
Patients with psychosis and their relatives.
 
Methods
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and auditory and cognitive tasks.
 
Project status
The study is currently under way.

Researchers
Susan Rossell
Neil Thomas
Rachel Mitchell (Durham University)
Henry Jackson
Chris Groot
Simone Fields
Rachel Tucker

6. Genes, symptoms and cognition
Aim
Schizophrenia is a heterogenous disorder with multiple susceptibility genes. In this project we are attempting to identify genes that underlie specific symptoms of schizophrenia rather than the disorder itself, these include auditory hallucinations and thought disorder.
 
 
Participants
Patients with psychosis, their relatives and healthy controls.

Methods
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), cognitive tasks and genetic testing

Project status
This project is started collecting pilot data in 2011

Researchers
Susan Rossell
Caroline Gurvitch
Debra Foley
Grieg de Zubicaray
Brenden Murphy
Jeremy Jowett
Erica Neill
Eric Tan
 
7. Project name: Emotion abnormalities in bipolar disorder
 
Aim
Bipolar disorder is a disorder characterised by emotion abnormalities. However, there is poor understanding of the relationship between emotion regulation and emotion processing, this project is investigating this relationship.
 
 
Participants
Patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls.

Methods
Cognitive tasks and genetic testing

Project status
This project is started collecting data in 2011

Staff
Susan Rossell
Greg Murray
Tamsyn van Rheenen
 
 

 

 MAPrc Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Level 1, Old Baker Building, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne 3008

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