Psychology

Mental Health Among Medical Professionals in Foshan City, China (Old ID 22511)
Wendy Li - Psychology
20 Jan 2016 - 31 Jan 2017
This project aims to investigate mental health among medical professionals in Foshan City, China. The mental health of physicians is now recognised as a serious issue in China after a number of high profile incidences in which doctors have been attacked by patients. Of course, being a high stress occupation, mental health issues caused by professional stress and burnout have always been present among medical professionals. This study seeks to use a mix-methods approach to explore such issues.
Serving the underserved in the tropics: Making a difference with positive psychology (Old ID 25136)
Wendy Li - Psychology
28 Jun 2019 - 29 Jun 2019
As the first AASP (mini) conference focusing on serving the underserved in the tropics, the proposed mini conference aims to address this gap to promote making a difference in tropical Asia with positive psychology. The themes of the mini conference include: * mental health and psychological wellbeing in the tropics; * projudice, discimination and structural inequality; * individual and community resilience.
A pilot study into the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for improving veteran mental health in North Queensland (Old ID 27280)
Wendy Li - Psychology
01 Jan 2022 - 31 Dec 2023
This pilot study aims to test the effectiveness of a MBSR intervention on veteran mental health in North Queensland. MBSR is a clinically standardized 8-week group intervention, with one 2.5-hour session each week and an all-day (6 hours) self-retreat session in week 6. It provides systematic training in mindfulness to improve mental health through self-regulating arousal to stress. Fifty veterans living in Townsville will be recruited to participate in the MBSR intervention. To assess the effectiveness of MBSR, a repeated-measures design will be employed, with mental health outcomes being measured at four timepoints.
Examining the clinical utility of MRI for Multiple Sclerosis (Old ID 30051)
Liza van Eijk - Psychology
15 Jul 2023 - 01 Feb 2024
The aims of this project are to examine whether these quantitative MRI measures derived from clinical scans can assist with 1) characterising the disease severity, and 2) predicting the prognosis of patients with Multiple Sclerosis receiving care at the Townsville University Hospital, as a first step to examine how quantitative MRI measures can be used to assist with treatment planning. The funds will be used to hire a casual research assistant at James Cook University to process the MRI scans on a high performance computing system.
Effects of Ketogenic diet on transgenic animal models of schizophrenia (Old ID 22396)
Zoltan Sarnyai - Psychology
01 Jan 2016 - 31 Dec 2016
The aim of this collaboration to take advantage of the converging interest of our laboratory and the laboratory of Prof. van den Buuse in preclinical animal models to develop better treatment for schizophrenia. I would like to extend my work by including new, otherwise unavailable, transgenic animal models and sophisticated behavioural analysis techniques to further develop ketogenic diet as a completely novel treatment modality for schizophrenia.
Social Psychology in Mental Health Studies: Showcase of Postgraduate Research in the Asia-Pacific Region
Wendy Li - Psychology
11 Jan 2024 - 28 Jun 2024
We intend to invite 15-20 postgraduate students and 8-10 academics (including early- and mid-career researchers and senior academics) to join this Asian Association of Social Psychology's (AASP) Small Group Meeting (SGM). The SGM aims to: 1) showcase the achievements of our next generation of social psychology researchers who are working on research in the intersection between social psychology and mental health via research presentations and Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition; 2) Organise a “Research Capacity Building Workshop”; 3) support research students in the Asia-Pacific region to publish papers in this research field via the “Conversations with Editors”; 4) inspire research students via “‘What Next’ Dialogues with Academics”; and 5) promote AASP among research students in Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
Novel treatment to eliminate the high rate of psychosis in Far North Queensland Indigenous population: A preclinical proof-of-concept study (Old ID 23505)
Zoltan Sarnyai - Psychology
15 Jan 2017 - 31 Dec 2017
The burden of psychosis in the Indigenous population of FNQ/Cape York is very high. We propose a completely novel treatment that will likely influence the full spectrum of psychosis symptoms without causing the deleterious metabolic side-effects of currently used antipsychotic treatment. The main aim of this project is to provide proof-of-concept for the efficacy of a novel treatment, ketone ester (KE) administration, in a validated preclinical animal model for psychosis. Specifically, we aim to determine the effects of orally administered KE on the psychosis-like behavioural changes induced by the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (dizocilpine) in mice. These well-characterised behavioural changes include psychomotor hyperactivity, stereotyped behaviour, abnormal social interaction, deficits is working memory and impaired information processing (prepulse inhibition of startle).
Radio relationships and well-being in older age (Old ID 26687)
Amanda Krause - Psychology
01 Jan 2020 - 30 Dec 2022
This project addresses a need for non-invasive, cost-effective solutions to assist older Australians in managing their well-being. It aims to examine the role of radio relationships, including those developed between presenters and listeners and amongst presenters, in improving older Australians’ psychosocial well-being. It seeks to explore how the radio can promote individual and community well-being using participatory methods and a multi-phase, mixed methods design. Expected outcomes include evidence relating to the characteristics of listening and production practices that enhance experiences of social connection and social well-being; and substantiating the mechanisms underpinning these benefits. An evidence-based resource will be produced.
Implementation of Quantified Neonatal Brain MRI at Term-Equivalent Age at Townsville University and Cairns Hospital for Infants at High Risk of Adverse Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (Old ID 27559)
Liza van Eijk - Psychology
01 Jan 2022 - 29 Mar 2027
Infants born preterm, with low birth weight, or whom have a hypoxic event are at risk for developing adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Currently, the timing of MRI is variable at Townsville University and Cairns Hospital’s Neonatal Units, with the infant often being at an age for which anaesthesia is required to undergo an MRI. This project aims to enable neonatal MRI (at term-equivalent age) for infants identified as high risk based, which is safer, less costly, and provides additional information for early personalized treatment plans in comparison to a later MRI (>4 months) - similar to the changes at Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital.
Your Stories, Our Histories: 150 Years of Mixed Marriages and War Brides in Townsville and their Contricution to the Success of Multiculturalism in Townsville (Old ID 22451)
Wendy Li - Psychology
10 Jan 2016 - 30 Dec 2016
Using archival materials available at the National Archives of Australia, CityLibraries and interviewing of families involved in mixed marriages, a clear picture of the multicultural landscape in Townsville and north Queensland over the last 150 years will be recorded and examined. We search the past and map the present through an exhibition of photographs, documents and other artefacts, and public lectures on the rich multicultural history of Townsville. Using focus group discussions and interviews, as well as a survey of residents, we vision the future of our city. Another public lecture will be held on this, and a final copy of the report will be included in the CityLibraries Repository for future reference of the public at large.
Title: ‘Men are not expected to be interested in babies’: how society lets new fathers – and their families – down, The Guardian
Reseracher: Sam Teague (Senior Lecturer, Psychology)
Start Date: 01 Jun 2025
Title: Children of parents with psychiatric diagnoses – health, development and well-being in the first year of life. A study of children born in 2002-2022 in Region Hovedstaden, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark
Reseracher: Sam Teague (Senior Lecturer, Psychology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: The consequences of the corona pandemic for the health and well-being of the population: part 3. A systematic literature review, Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu
Reseracher: Sam Teague (Senior Lecturer, Psychology)
Start Date: 16 Feb 2024
Title: Society of Mental Health Research
Reseracher: Wendy Li (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: The Society of Australasian Social Psychologists (SASP)
Reseracher: Wendy Li (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: Asian Journal of Social Psychology
Reseracher: Wendy Li (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2027
Title: The Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology
Reseracher: Wendy Li (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018
Title: Co-Producer, Bamboo podcast series
Reseracher: Amanda Krause (Senior Lecturer, Psychology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2027
Title: Co-Producer, Professionally Psyched podcast series
Reseracher: Amanda Krause (Senior Lecturer, Psychology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2027
Title: Scientist participant, STEM Pals
Reseracher: Amanda Krause (Senior Lecturer, Psychology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2026