Research Treatment Trials

Below is a list of current treatment trials available in the clinic

Depression Treatment Trial

The CPU is currently in the process of developing and evaluating a new treatment approach for depression that specifically targets memories of negative past events and aims to prevent recurrence. This trial will apply the gold standard treatment for reducing distressing memories in posttraumatic stress disorder (i.e., imaginal exposure), and test its efficacy in the treatment of depression. Although the applicability of this type of treatment for depression has been widely proposed, to date its effectiveness has not been tested.

For enquiries, please contact Michelle Moulds at m.moulds@unsw.edu.au or Click here for further information

Child Behaviour Research Trials

Childhood Social Anxiety Treatment Trial (8-16)

For children who are feeling particularly shy. Please click here for more information.

Brain Injury Remediation

The CPU is developing new treatment programs for people with neuropsychological disorders following damage to the brain arising from trauma, stroke, anoxia, early dementia or other causes. We accept referrals for people seeking remediation of difficulties with memory, emotion and social awkwardness.
If you wish to seek this service please contact our Clinic on 9385-3042.

The Traumatic Stress Clinic

The Traumatic stress clinic conducts world-renowned research on the causes, assessment, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complicated grief. The Traumatic Stress Clinic is located at the University of New South Wales and at Westmead Hospital. The Clinic Director is Professor Richard Bryant, and is staffed by 6 clinical psychologists. It includes four major streams of treatment. First, it provides treatment of PTSD to adults who have suffered a range of traumas, including rape, assault, traffic accident, disaster, or other accidents. Second, it offers a unique treatment program specifically designed for police officers and emergency responders. Third, there is a novel early intervention program for those who have experienced a traumatic event in the past month. Finally, a treatment program for people suffering from complicated grief reactions is provided. Each of these programs is funded by the National Health & Medical Research Council, is based on the latest evidence-based approaches, is subjected to rigorous evaluation, and is free for all participants.

Further information about the treatment programs can be obtained by calling the Traumatic stress clinic on 9845-7979 or visiting our web site at www.traumaticstressclinic.com

Assessment and treatment for people who experience social skills difficulties

The UNSW CPU is currently running assessment and intervention programmes for adults who experience lack of skills in social situations. By this we mean clear difficulties understanding social situations and how to behave in these. Often this may be more apparent to friends and relatives than the person themselves.

There may be difficulties understanding what other people might be feeling (for example knowing whether another person is angry, or bored, or excited) or what others intend by what they say and do (for example, understanding when someone is being sarcastic or, conversely, diplomatic). We are seeking people who have always had such difficulties as well as people who have developed difficulties in this regard following some form of damage to the brain. Research is underway, funded by the National Health & Medical Research Council, to find new effective ways to both assess these problems and to treat them.

If you are interested in being involved please phone Charlotte on 9385-3310 or Aneta on 9385-2295

Research into obsessive-compulsive disorder, compulsive hoarding, and body dysmorphic disorder

At the CPU we are also conducting several research projects designed to help us understand and treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. We are currently seeking participants for a study investigating the way that individuals with OCD respond to unwanted thoughts. In addition, we are investigating the emotional and cognitive factors that may contribute to compulsive hoarding, a syndrome in which individuals collect and have difficulty discarding items even though they appear to others to have no value. Finally, we are beginning a new research project on body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Individuals with BDD experience excessive anxiety and distress about a particular aspect of their appearance which they believe to be abnormal or unattractive. As a result of their concerns they repeatedly check their appearance, ask others for reassurance, seek surgical/dermatological interventions or attempt to camouflage the area.

If you would like to participate in any of these ongoing research projects, please email Dr Jessica Grisham at jgrisham@psy.unsw.edu.au or ring the Clinic on 9385-3042