SOCIAL ANXIETY IN A CONNECTED WORLD - RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED

 Do you use Twitter, Facebook, email or the tonne of other social media channels but experience anxiety symptoms? Participate in study research for Swinburne Uni! Study participants needed for study of social anxiety related to online communication.

ONLINE DEPRESSION THERAPY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT

An RMIT University study is looking for participants to help test an online group therapy program to treat depression.

MoodGroup is an online program created by doctoral student Kerry Arrow that aims to make it easier for adults suffering depression to seek help.

Around one million Australian adults live with depression each year, but fewer than half will seek medical treatment.

Although online one-on-one therapy programs exist, this study represents the first time structured group therapy for depression has been conducted via the internet.

Ms Arrow said the online program aimed to decrease depression and increase quality of life for participants.

"Social isolation can have a big impact on people suffering depression," she said.
"By encouraging participants to talk about their experiences with their peers, we can re-engage them with the community and reduce their isolation."

Ms Arrow said online interventions could promote access to psychological care in rural and remote regions, with those based in cities almost twice as likely to access care as those in remote areas.

She is looking to recruit Australian-based adults suffering depression to take part in a nine-week trial of the MoodGroup program.

Participants will be required to meet online for two hours each week and complete homework tasks lasting around two hours.

Discussion groups will include eight participants and will be monitored by provisional clinical psychologists.

To take part in the study, participants will need to have access to the internet and complete an online survey to determine suitability.

Anyone interested in contributing to this study can find out more by visiting the MoodGroup program web page or by calling (03) 9925 7776.

The project is supervised by Associate Professor Andrea Chester and Dr Keong Yap.
 
For interviews: Kerry Arrow, 0452 466 448.
For general media enquiries: Alan Gill, RMIT Science, Engineering and Health Communications, (03) 9925 9772 or 0419 591 102.

(source) 

RESEARCH ASSISTANCE!

 Cognitive predictors of panic related symptoms in a non-clinical sample.

Deakin University is conducting research to examine factors associated with the development of panic symptoms and coping strategies people use to deal with these symptoms. Research shows that anxiety sensitivity (fear about the consequences of anxiety-related symptoms) plays an important role in the development of panic attacks and is also related to the development of panic disorder. Many people experience panic symptoms or panic attacks but do not develop panic disorder. Therefore, it is important to gain a better understanding of the factors that are related to high levels of anxiety sensitivity. This is likely to provide information about factors that may increase the risk of developing panic attacks or panic disorder.

The research is being conducted by Dr Ciaran Pier and Urszula Bobrowski as part of her Honours in Psychology research project. We are looking for anyone aged 18 and over to complete an anonymous online questionnaire which takes approx. 15-30 minutes. These questionnaires are designed to assess your experiences of anxiety and panic, your interpretation of panic symptoms, and your coping strategies for dealing with anxiety. The study has ethical approval from Deakin University's Human Research Ethics Committee (project ID: 2012-121). Participation is completely voluntary.

You can learn more about the survey by reading the plain language statement by clicking on the link below. If you are interested in participating you can begin the questionnaire.

http://www.deakin.edu.au/psychology/research/urszulabobrowski

For any further information please contact Urszula: ujb@deakin.edu.au.

Thank you, your time is greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely, 
Dr Ciaran Pier and Urszula Bobrowski

Research pariticpants required for OCD!

Obsessive Complusive Disorder: Attachment, cognition and self-beliefs

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by the repeated occurence of instrusive thoughts and by compulsive actions. Researchers from Swinburne University are looking to extend research into current models of OCD through asking about beliefs about self and relationships.

Please note, we are seeking people without a diagnosis of OCD to do this research. IF you have OCD you are free to continue, although you may find some questions to be confronting.

Participation in this research involves completing an anonymous online survey. The survey involves a series of questions about you in relation to others, your thought processes, current mood state, and some demographic details. It should take around 30 minutes to complete. Please note that some questions about sensitive topics will be asked in this study. If you are uncomfortable with this, you may wish not to participate (e.g.: symptoms of depression and OCD, experiences of close relationships, and views you have about yourself).

If you decide to participate in this research, please complete the anonymous survey online. It is important that you understand that your participation in this study must be voluntary. You are free to discontinue participation at any time.

• Direct link to the survey is http://opinio.online.swin.edu.au/s?s=11212

If you have any questions about this project, please contact:

• Supervisor: Dr Richard Moulding, Lecturer, Swinburne University of Technology: Phone: (03) 9214 4686, Email: rmoulding@swin.edu.au

• Student Researcher: Jude Allamby: Email: j.allamby@bigpond.com