Mood Disorders

Previously led by Professor Christopher Davey, this program focuses on learning and understanding more about depression in young people and how best to treat it.

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Previously led by Professor Christopher Davey, this program focuses on learning and understanding more about depression in young people and how best to treat it. Depression causes the highest burden of any illness - physical or mental - in young people. The program is involved in two large treatment trials looking at the use of antidepressant and anti-inflammatory medications alongside cognitive behaviour therapy. Researchers are also examining brain processes underlying depression and its treatment.

Our current projects include:

  • Social Anxiety Disorder study

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is one of the most common mental illnesses and causes significant burden, both by itself and as a frequent comorbidity with depression and other mental illnesses. While existing treatments for SAD are effective for many people, they remain ineffective for a significant proportion, which in part reflects a lack of understanding of their mechanisms of action. Our research aims to develop more advanced neuroscientific models of SAD in young people.

  • A pilot randomised controlled trial of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety symptoms in traumatised young people attending headspace services.