Multidisciplinary Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre

15/05/2025

🌟 Have you been treated with stimulants for ADHD and have a history of anorexia? 🌟

We’re looking for participants to take part in a research study exploring the benefits and risks of stimulant treatment in people with ADHD and a history of anorexia nervosa & to better understand the experience of having co-morbid ADHD & AN.

👀 What’s involved?

Interview online or in-person (1-1.5 hours)

5 short online questionnaires (10–15 mins total)

🌸👉If you or a loved one are interested, please contact our friendly research team at: THRED@monash.edu.

27/03/2025

BREAKING NEWS!

The latest article by HER Centre Australia Deputy Director A/Prof Caroline Gurvich has just been published in the newest issue of the Psychiatric Times, taking a closer look at s*x differences in cognition and their implications.

To read the article in full, visit https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/are-there-s*x-differences-in-cognition-and-does-it-matter

12/03/2025

ICYMI, the latest research from HER Centre Australia has just been published, with a pilot study seeing positive results in the use of hormonal treatments to reduce symptoms of menopausal depression.

The 12-week double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a combined hormone therapy on 37 women with symptoms of menopausal depression, yielding results that show improvements to the unique symptoms attributed to menopausal depression.

“For the first time, we showed that hormone treatment with bazedoxifene plus conjugated estrogen significantly reduced symptoms of menopausal depression compared to placebo,” said the study’s lead author, Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM. “Interestingly, this effect was evident when assessed using our menopause-specific rating scale, MENO-D, but not with standard depression scales.

“This highlights that menopausal depression is different to standard depression, and that it needs to be assessed and treated differently, with menopause hormone treatment being an effective option.”

To read the paper in full, visit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022356525397405?via%3Dihub

07/03/2025

March 8 marks International Women’s Day, which this year celebrates the theme of ‘Accelerate Action’, highlighting the importance of continued, decisive steps towards gender equality around the globe.

“International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate, uplift and support women in all aspects of life,” says HER Centre Australia Research Fellow Dr Eveline Mu.

“It’s about recognising our strengths, celebrating our achievements, and highlighting the importance of continuing to fight for equality, respect and empowerment for all women.”

HER Centre Australia is proud to play a role in leading the way to accelerate action in women’s mental health, being dedicated to improving understanding and treatment of mental ill-health in women, and being guided on a daily basis by the leadership of some truly extraordinary women.

To all the women around the world who inspire us each and every day, we wish a happy International Women’s Day, and look forward to continuing to stand alongside you on our mission to in women’s mental health.

05/03/2025

If you’ve ever experienced depression yourself or known someone who has, you know that depression can feel like a lonely place.

But is the experience really as uncommon as we might think?

No, according to statistics which show that as many as one in seven Australians experience depression in their lifetimes, with the World Health Organisation even predicting that depression will become the number one health concern in both developed and developing countries by 2030.

So why does it feel so lonely?

“People with depression often experience feelings of guilt, or low self-worth,” says Medical Officer Dr Jodie Tester. “This can often compound the other symptoms that people with depression might experience, such as low general mood, reduced motivation, and feelings of hopelessness.

“This is why it’s so important for people experiencing depression to know that they aren’t alone.”

There is also hope for people who are experiencing depression, with a number of effective treatment options available for mild, moderate and severe depression, including therapy and some medications.

“Trying to add some self-care habits to your routine is also particularly beneficial,” says Dr Tester. “So things like connecting with friends and family, regular exercise, mindfulness practice and maintaining a healthy diet can be really helpful.”

What’s also important, Dr Tester describes, is for friends and family to keep a close eye on their loved ones – and be willing to reach out if they see that something might be wrong.

“If you’re worried about a friend or loved one, starting a conversation simply by asking if they are okay can make a huge difference,” says Dr Tester. “Helping people who are experiencing depression to see that they aren’t alone is a real team effort, and something that we all need to be conscious of to ensure that no-one feels left behind.

“If you or someone close to you is experiencing symptoms of depression, it’s important to reach out and seek help for your mental health from a trusted health professional, such as your GP or psychologist.

“Nobody should have to feel that they should go through it alone.”

To learn more about current clinical trials in depression at MAPrc, visit bit.ly/MAPrcTrials or contact our friendly team today.

07/06/2024

Please support our supporters in Ambers White Light, who are providing vital funding for research at HER Centre Australia to develop a diagnostic toolkit for early psychosis.

31/05/2024

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder with one of the highest rates of morbidity and mortality, yet there is currently no successful treatment.

It's time for a breakthrough.

Find out more about how the Li-THRED research team is pioneering new treatments using TMS and estrogen to target brain biology, and potentially enhance cognition, mood, bone health, and reduce obsessional thoughts.

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/anorexia-nervosa-treatment

If you're interested in participating in a trial, please fill out the Expression of Interest form at https://redcap.link/THRED or contact the Li-THRED team at THRED@monash.edu

23/05/2024

Schizophrenia can be a debilitating and complex mental illness, but there is hope for those affected. Current medications have only modest and inconsistent effects, and new biological treatments are needed to get to the core of the illness.

We are testing a novel hormone treatment, which we know from previous research to be safe and well-tolerated, for its efficacy in improving schizophrenia symptoms.

Find out more about our trial online, or reach out to our study team for more information: p: (03) 9076 6564 | e: participate.maprc@monash.edu

20/05/2024

Why are girls experiencing a surge in mental health challenges?

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni explores the pressing issues in this insightful article, shedding light on the alarming trend of increased self-harm, eating disorders, and anxiety among young women.

Join the conversation and learn why Professor Kulkarni is calling for a new, holistic woman-focused lens to address the mental health needs of girls.

Read the full article here: https://ab.co/4bO7WwN

Considering the rise in mental health crises in young women, a new approach is desperately needed.

29/04/2024

As PMDD Awareness Month draws to a close, we're continuing our commitment by exploring innovative treatments for those affected.

If you are suffering with PMDD, we invite you to participate in our study exploring Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a potential treatment.

Let’s advance our understanding together!

19/04/2024

Exciting updates from in Lisbon last week! Dr Leo Chen, psychiatrist at HER Centre Australia, chaired a session on 'Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: the future lies ahead,' discussing our paper on the past, present, and future of repetitive TMS (rTMS). Research fellow Dr Lizzie Thomas' poster outlining preliminary findings from our TMS and PMDD study was also showcased. Congratulations to our team! 👏

This important event is driving progress in brain stimulation for mental health, and we're proud to contribute to innovative solutions in this field.

* Read our paper on rTMS: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10188211/
* Explore our research and clinical trials in brain stimulation: Bit.ly/BrainStimulationResearch

28/11/2023

Are you looking for ways to overcome depression?

Up to 1 in 3 people find antidepressants ineffective against depression - it's time for a new approach! Our revolutionary research combines evidence-based Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) with medications to enhance antidepressant effects, and we're currently looking for trial participants over the age of 18 for this pioneering study.

Contact us today to find out if we can help:

Email: tms-trials@monash.edu or call: (03) 9076 2441