Current research projects
ACCESS study
A large (900 people) randomised controlled trial of a complex intervention in people
who present to hospital after self harm.
Read more about this study
Te Ira Tangata
A randomised controlled trial of a complex package of interventions in Maori delivered
by a Maori clinical team.
Read more about this study
Problem solving therapy in diabetes
A pilot randomised controlled trial of problem solving therapy in people with diabetes
and depression.
Read
more about this study
E-therapies in adults
Development of a sophisticated self help e-therapy "the Journal".
For further information, please contact:
Sleep medicine
Together with Professor Bruce Arroll and Dr Karen Falloon of the Department of
General Practice, a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial has been concluded,
investigating the efficacy of 2 session Sleep Rescheduling Protocol versus Sleep
Hygiene among primary insomnia patients. This is in the process of being written
up.
View the protocol
Dr Karen Falloon is looking at replicating the pilot in a large randomised controlled
trial. This is currently ongoing. In order to assist clinicians in diagnosing and
treating sleep disorders, this group developed the Auckland Sleep Questionnaire.
The group has just finished validating a questionnaire, with the actual results still to be published.
With the Auckland Sleep Questionnaire, the group has recently done prevalence studies
of sleep symptoms in different population groups including General Practice patients,
medical students and university students. Results are currently being analysed and
written up. The group has looked at the effectiveness of using combined melatonin
and bright light treatment among Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder patients in a sleep
clinic in Auckland. The combined treatment showed effectiveness in shifting the
circadian rhythm in around 80% of study participants. This study was recently accepted
for publication by the Australia NZ Journal of Psychiatry in 2010. Chinthaka
Samaranayake, Chester Holt Quick and Samuel Newlands are medical students working
on this study.
Read the questionnaire (PDF)
Mental health crisis teams
The hypothesis is that crisis teams have been effective in preventing self harm
in acutely stressed individuals. However, no studies have actually looked at the
patient perspectives on this issue. This is an ongoing research project with Auckland
District Health Board. Edward Ganly, medical student, is working on this study.
For
more information regarding these projects please contact:
A variety of research projects are carried out in the department. A more detailed
list of individual staff research interests can be found on
Staff web pages.
