ANZCTR search results

Demographic variables such as age, sex, race and body weight as well as genetic, environmental and cultural factors (eg, diet) may influence the safety & therapeutic response to drugs. Therefore, this study aims to investigate these differences in Japanese, Chinese and Caucasian subjects.

This research project aims to evaluate prospectively the effectiveness of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) group program implemented for individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury. The study hypothesis is that the implementation of an 8-week MBCT group program for Spinal Cord Injured individuals will facilitate improvements in psychosocial and behavioural functional outcomes post group program and these improvements in therapeutic outcomes will be maintained up to 3 months after completion of the MBCT group program.

This research project aims to evaluate prospectively the effectiveness of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) group program implemented for Stroke survivors. The study hypothesis is that the implementation of an 8-week MBCT group program for Stroke survivors will facilitate improvements in psychosocial and behavioural functional outcomes post group program and these improvements in therapeutic outcomes will be maintained up to 3 months after completion of the MBCT group program.

Manual therapy techniques are commonly used by physiotherapists to improve pain and function in patients affected by osteoarthritis. The aim of this study is to determine if a specific manual therapy technique immediately decreases pain and improves function in people with knee osteoarthritis. It is hypothesised that the manual therapy technique will reduce pain and increase knee range of movement significantly more than either a placebo technique or control(no treatment).

This aim of this study is to assess the safety of different doses of anovel orally-administered iron chelator in patients with iron-overload.

The efficacy of treatment for social phobia at the Anxiety Disorders Clinic is proven with benefits in the short and long term exceeding 1 standard deviation (SD) (McEvoy, 2007). Therapy over the internet has also been shown to be efficacious, again with benefits in the short and long term exceeding 1 SD (Titov et al, 2009). Whilst on this basis the two modes of therapy appear comparable in efficacy we cannot know whether people applying for internet therapy are particularly suited to that mode of treatment and whether people applying for face to face therapy are suited to that mode of therapy. Internet therapy has service delivery advantages in terms of substantial reductions in therapist time and reductions in patient costs in terms of transport to the clinic which averages $30 per visit, and in terms of loss of wages or cost of carers while away from home.

This research project aims to evaluate prospectively the effectiveness of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) group program implemented for adults who stutter. The study hypothesis is that the implementation of an 8-week MBCT group program for adults who stutter will facilitate improvements in psychosocial and behavioural functional outcomes post group program and these improvements in therapeutic outcomes will be maintained up to 3 months after completion of the MBCT group program.

The growing burden of chronic conditions has been the catalyst for the development of scalable, cost-effective chronic disease management and prevention programmes. Patient narrative communication, or storytelling, is emerging as a component of these programs despite a dearth of quantitative research, utilising rigorous study methods, to examine the effect they have on behaviour change. This thesis presents the findings of a randomized-controlled trial (RCT) which evaluated the impact of patient narratives on the study outcomes, self-efficacy and self-care behaviours.

Dyspnoea is a source of physical and psychological distress, and is one of the most commonly feared aspects of the dying process. By definition, people with severe primary pulmonary hypertension have breathlessness, despite maximal therapy and recent advances in therapies for primary pulmonary hypertension. In parallel with attempting to treat the underlying pathology causing breathlessness, the sensation of breathlessness itself must be ameliorated. For many participants there comes a point when there are no further identifiable reversible components of the disease and the full focus of care moves to reducing the subjective sensation of breathlessness. Opioids have been studied for the relief of breathlessness predominantly in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease although people with cancer and heart failure have been included. [Abernethy, Miriam Johnson] A meta-analysis verified that overall there is benefit from the use of morphine in people with refractory breathlessness. [Jennings] This prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study is modelled on a study successfully undertaken by some members of this research team. The study proposes to specifically study people with primary pulmonary hypertension for whom breathlessness is a significant symptomatic problem to establish whether there is benefit from sustained release morphine, and if so, what magnitude of benefit, and the clinical characteristics of those who are most likely to respond to this intervention. Any toxicity will also be carefully monitored.Study participants will receive either Kapanol 20mg and Coloxyl and Senna 1 to 2 tablets, or kapanol placebo and coloxyl and senna placebo for one week, will receive no intervention medication for the second week then will receive the alternative intervention combination for the third week.

This study aims to determine if administering Etanercept via the epidural route, will be more effective than placebo at reducing pain scores associated with lubosacral radiculopathy (Sciatica).