Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age
ACADEMIC UNIT RESEARCH
Main areas of current research include:
- Prospective dementia research
- Mental disorders in the elderly: depression, delirium, psychosis, etc
- Teaching and training, community education
- Huntington’s disease
- Clinical psychopharmacology of new medications
Prospective dementia research projects
- The AIBL Study - Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle study of ageing. This $10 million, 3-year study is the largest study of its kind ever conducted in Australia to improve diagnosis and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. In collaboration with NSA, Edith Cowan University, University of Western Australia, NARI, and MHRI, this project aims to improve understanding of pathogenesis and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease as well as to examine lifestyle and diet factors in order to delay and prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
- FABS 2 – Fitness and the Ageing Brain Study 2
A multicentre randomised clinical trial of physical activity for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease
For more information, click here
To find out about participating in this study, click here
- PRIME Study - Prospective Research In Memory Clinics
Research into personal, emotional, financial and health care impact of memory disorders on patients, carers and society
- Dementia Collaborative Research Centre #2 (DCRC#2)
Three Dementia CRCs have recently been established by the Department of Health and Ageing as part of the Australian Government’s Dementia Initiative, to undertake dementia research and assist in translation of research into practice.
Our CRC 2 is focusing on prevention, early intervention and risk reduction.
Service Related Research
- Development of a Model of Pastoral Care at St Vincent’s Aged Psychiatry Service
- The Impact of the Dementia Trajectory on the patient and family: before, during and after diagnosis
PhD project investigating patient and carer expectations of, and responses to, the process of diagnosis of memory impairment
Psychopharmacology Research Trials (1989-2008)
AntidepressantsPharmacia - Reboxetine ( Endronox), Pfizer – Sertraline (Zoloft), Wyeth –Venlafaxine (Efexor), Servier- Agomelatine
Cognitive Enhancers
Pfizer – Donepezil (Aricept), Janssen–Cilag – Galantamine (Reminyl), Sanofi –Xaliproden, Servier – S18986, Eisai – Rasagiline, Voyager – Leuprolide, PRANA – PBT2, Forest Research Institute – Memantine (Ebixa), Novartis - Rivastigmine (Exelon), Transdermal Patch, Eli Lilly – LY450139, Astra Zeneca – AZD0328, Glaxo Smith Klein – Rosiglitazone, Roche – RO4909832, Glaxo Smith Klein – SB-742457, Debio Clinic -Deb-ZTSR implant
Anti-psychotics
Astra Zeneca – Seroquel, Janssen-Cilag – Risperidone (Risperdal), Eli Lilly - Olanzapine (Zyprexa),Score Study
Current Trials (2009 - )
Medivation/Pfizer - Dimebon, Glaxo Smith Kline - SB-742457, Novartis -
Rivastigmine (Exelon) Transdermal Patch, Eli Lilly - LY450139
(Gamma-Secretase), Glaxo Smith Klein - Rosiglitazone (extension study)
International Prospective Huntington’s Disease (HD) Research Projects and HD Drug Trials
- HORIZON - Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Dimebon in Huntington’s Disease
- Genetic Discrimination of Individuals at Risk of HD: An Examination of Applicable Victorian Laws
Study of privacy and discrimination associated with genetically inherited disorders, using HD as a case model for the purpose of identifying legal needs and potentially providing a policy model for other neurodegenerative disorders
- PREDICT-HD – Neurobiological Predictors of Huntington’s disease (PREDICT-HD)
Conducted in 30 centres around the world. Our site is the leading recruiting centre, with participants from Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, ACT and Tasmania.
- COHORT – Cooperative Huntington’s Disease Observational Research Trial
- RESPOND-HD – An Examination of Responses to Potential Discrimination from Individuals at Risk for Huntington’s Disease
- CREST-E – High-Dose Creatinine Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy Study in HD
Major Achievements Stemming from Research Projects
- A significant impact on training, education and research in the area of mental disorders in late life, which resulted in significant improvement of service delivery to the elderly with mental disorders in the St Vincent’s Aged Psychiatry Service (SVAPS) catchment area, interstate and SE Asia
- Evidence-based access of SVAPS patients to new medications
- Understanding of cognitive, neuro-imaging and behavioural changes in Huntington’s disease
- Increased confidence and competence of GPs, metropolitan and rural health professionals in Psychiatry of Old Age
- Improved provision of SVAPS service delivery to the elderly with mental disorders, ranging from Community Care through to Residential Care in the Continuum of Care
- Improvement in the quality of life of SVAPS patients and carers
- SVAPS partnership and collaboration with other clients, services and agencies
- Improved understanding of Alzheimer’s disease
- Improved understanding of Huntington’s disease