Women's Mental Health: current projects

 

 

To demonstrate the effectiveness of adding estrogen to atypical antipsychotics to improve the treatment of schizophrenia in postmenopausal women.

 

Women who are postmenopausal who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorder, are currently mentally unwell and able to give consent to participate. Following completion of the trial, participants meet with the chief investigator to discuss their progress in the study.

 

This study is a 12-week randomised controlled trial where participants are randomly selected to receive daily either; 1) 120mg raloxifene hyrdrochloride 2) placebo. A researcher will meet with them once every two weeks to monitor how participants are progressing throughout the study. Symptom improvement is measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Montgomery-Asperg Depression Scale (MADRS) and measures of thinking and memory skills. The occurrence of any unwanted side effects is also monitored.

 

The study is currently actively recruiting participants across two sites attached to The Alfred and Barwon Hospitals.

 

Emmy Gavrilidis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To provide a better understanding of antipsychotic medication use during pregnancy, birth and for the first year of the baby’s life, to allow for improved treatment options and encourage safer outcomes for both mother and baby.
For more information about this study, see the NRAMP page ((link to NRAMP site))

 

Any women who are pregnant or have given birth in the past 12 months, living in Australia, currently taking an antipsychotic medication and able to give informed consent.

 

NRAMP is an observational study, women who agree to participate are followed up during pregnancy and then for 12 months after the birth of their child.

Details relating to the mother’s physical health and mental health (using the PANSS and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) during pregnancy and at 12 weeks and 12 months after the baby’s birth are collected by a researcher who maintains regular contact with mothers in the study. Information about the baby’s health and developmental progress is also collected.

 

To date 92 mothers have agreed to participate. The study is currently actively recruiting participants from a number of sites around Australia. Women can join the study either directly or by referral from their clinicians. For more information, please visit the NRAMP page.

 

Heather Gilbert

 

 

 

 

Aim
To determine whether different forms of contraceptives are associated with an increased risk of depression, and whether key risk factors can be identified that make some women more vulnerable to developing depression while using contraceptives.
 

Participants
Women aged 18 years or over who have not reached menopause and are able to provide informed consent.
 

Methods
This is an observational study that will compare mood at two time points, 1) the start of the menstrual cycle, 2) day 14 of the menstrual cycle, as well as recent life events and family or personal history of mental illness in women who: 1) have never used a contraceptive medication 2) have previously used a contraceptive medication but are not currently using one, 3) are using different styles of contraceptive medication. Women with either a positive or adverse mood experience using a contraceptive are also invited to complete a longer semi-structured interview about their experience.
 

Project status
To date 64 women have consented to participating and this project is still actively recruiting at The Alfred.
 

Researchers
Dr Sarah Metcalfe
 

For more information, please contact Sarah Metcalfe on s.metcalfe@alfred.org.au or 9076 6988
 

 

 

Women cared for in inpatient psychiatry units are vulnerable to increased risk of sexual or physical assault. Alfred Psychiatry is receiving state government funding to pilot the remodelling of one inpatient unit to establish separate male and female wings to improve safety for women in the service.

 

Women admitted to the ground-floor inpatient unit of The Alfred.

 

 

The inpatient environment will be modified to create separate male and female wings. The incidence of assaults on women will be compared during matched periods before and after the modification. Feedback from women on the ward and staff in relation to their experience of the change will also be collected.

 

This project has been successful in receiving funding, and the design and implementation phase is now commencing.

 

Project Leaders
Professor Jayashri Kulkarni
Lisa Scarff (Nurse Unit Manager, The Alfred Psychiatry)