Low Field Magnetic Stimulation in Mood Disorders Using the LFMS Device
DepressionBipolar Depression1 moreThis study is designed to test whether low-field magnetic stimulation (LFMS) can relieve some of the symptoms of depression in bipolar disorder or major depression.
Early Integrated Intervention in Severe Affective Disorders
Depressive DisorderBipolar DisorderThe purpose of this study is to determine whether early integrated prophylactic combined medical and psychological outpatient treatment is associated with a better prognosis in patients with severe unipolar and bipolar affective disorders than standard treatment.
Self-regulation Strategies to Improve Exercise Behavior Among Schizophrenic Patients
SchizophreniaSchizo-affective DisorderPatients who suffer from diseases of the schizophrenia spectrum are frequently burdened by weight gain. Sport programs have been shown to improve somatic and psychological health. However, the motivation to participate in sports therapy is usually impaired due to illness-related factors such as anhedonia and negative symptoms. Previous attempts to increase participation in sports therapy have used psycho-educational and behavioral attempts that require a lot of resources. In this study the investigators will use a brief method developed in experimental social psychology to build up implementation intentions. This method has been shown to improve psychological test performance in schizophrenia patients but has never been used in a clinical context. In two psychiatric hospitals, in-patients with schizophrenia who have been examined by a medical doctor, for whom any medical concerns for sports therapy participation have been excluded and who declared their motivation to participate in an existing standard sports exercise program will be recruited for the study. After information on the study and signing of an informed consent patients will be randomly assigned to two treatment conditions. In the control condition, the main therapist will individually deliver a 10-minute psycho-education on the helpfulness of sports to improve the health; this will be repeated in a shorter form in the regular individual treatment sessions over the following weeks. The intervention condition will use a structured procedure of the same duration to build up implementation intentions to participate in the sports therapy. The implementation intentions will briefly be repeated and updated in the following session. Primary outcome variables will be percentage of attended sport therapy sessions, persistence and compliance. Secondary outcome variables will be Body Mass Index. As confounding variables the investigators will assess amount of anti-psychotic medication in Chlorpromazine equivalents, negative and depressive symptoms, usual sport activities and cognitive impairments. The investigators expect that building up implementation intentions will increase participation, persistence and compliance of the patients in the sports and exercise therapy program compared to the patients who just have received psycho-education.
Manville Moves: an Exercise Intervention for Behavioral Regulation Among Children With Behavioral...
Autistic DisorderAttention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders4 moreThe purpose of this study is to examine whether an exergaming, aerobic physical education (PE) curriculum is acceptable and elicits improvements in behavioral self-regulation and classroom functioning among children with behavioral health challenges attending a therapeutic day school. After following an approved consent/assent process, children attending the school were randomized by classroom to take part in either 7 weeks of the experimental PE curriculum, or 7 weeks of the standard PE curriculum; after a 10 week washout period, children then crossed over into the other arm.
Psychological Factors In The Treatment Of Bipolar Mood Disorders
Metacognitive CapacitiesThe aim of this study is to trial an intervention targeting potential deficits in an individual's ability to form, and reflect upon, ideas about themselves and others (known as metacognitive capacities), specifically in relation to individuals diagnosed with a bipolar mood disorder (BMD). The proposed research will adopt a mixed qualitative and quantitative design. Participants will be recruited through hospital outpatient groups (i.e., Metro South Addiction & Mental Health Services Woolloongabba Community Health Centre & Beenleigh Community Health Centre in Brisbane, Queensland), and, as necessary, local non government organisations (NGOs), psychiatrists, general practitioners, online support networks (SANE Australia, Black Dog Institute), community mental health services(such as MINDNET), and/or social media groups (Facebook, Twitter) supporting people who meet criteria for a BMD. The research will then use clinical interviews and quantitative (survey) methods to: (1) confirm diagnosis of participants; and (2) confirm deficits in metacognitive capacities of participants. Following this, the research will then involve the implementation of an adapted intervention across a course of 12 months, aimed at improving the metacognitive capacities of participants with a diagnosis of a BMD. The research will provide an enriched understanding of a dimension of people with BMDs that has not been previously explored. The research will help with gaining an understanding of the metacognitive processes of people with BMDs, and inform more targeted psychological interventions.
Ziprasidone vs. Sertraline/Haloperidol in Psychotic Depression
Affective DisordersThe purpose of this study is to compare ziprasidone (Geodon) monotherapy for the treatment of psychotic major depression (PMD)with an antidepressant/antipsychotic combined therapy.
Environmental Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal Affective DisorderThe purpose is to study treatments of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Anti-stigma Intervention for Chinese American Older Adults
Mood DisordersAnxiety DisordersApproximately 50 participants will be enrolled and screened to achieve 45 eligible patients with mood/anxiety disorders to complete a 10 weekly anti-stigma group intervention (ASGI) in addition to several self-report internalized stigma and psychiatric measures.This study will examine changes in internalized stigma and psychiatric symptoms pre- and post-ASGI with 3 months post-intervention follow-up.
Examining Persistence in Smokers With Schizophrenia
Smoking CessationSchizophrenia1 moreAll participants will receive free weekly counseling (8- weeks) and free nicotine patches (10-weeks). They will complete assessment measures commonly used in smoking cessation studies. We hope to show that this treatment is feasible in this small pilot study before comparing it to a more established treatment in a future randomized clinical trial.
Brain Stimulation and Cognitive Training - Efficacy
SchizophreniaSchizo Affective Disorder1 morePeople with serious mental illness often experience difficulties with thinking skills like memory. These difficulties can make it harder to perform day-to-day activities. The purpose of this study is to test whether combining a type of non-invasive brain stimulation with computerized cognitive exercises is helpful in improving a specific type of memory skill in people who have mental health conditions. The study is a randomized clinical trial, meaning that participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 'active' or 'inactive' brain stimulation. All participants will complete computerized cognitive exercises, also known as cognitive training. Overall, participants will be in the study for 6-8 weeks. The study involves 10 visits to the clinic over 2-4 weeks for cognitive training and either active or inactive brain stimulation. Participants will also complete paper-and-pencil assessments at the beginning and end of treatment, and one month after treatment ends.