Research Projects
PIRI has a number of research areas of interest.
(1) Evaluation of treatment and early intervention programs for ante and postnatal depression and including mother-infant difficulties.
Current projects include:
Beating the Blues Before Birth (Funded by the MBF Foundation)
A randomized controlled trial evaluating an eight session cognitive-behavioural treatment program for antenatal depression with a focus on both maternal and infant outcomes.
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Click here for details of research study
Community HUGS (Funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs)
A randomized controlled trial evaluating a ten session therapeutic playgroup for enhancing the mother-infant relationship following postnatal depression and providing fathers with support.
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Click here for details of research study
Motivational Interviewing (Funded by Australian Rotary Health)
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Treatment and early intervention programs that have already been developed and evaluated by PIRI include:
(2) Neurodevelopment in premature infants, impact of stress and stress-reduction interventions
Current projects include:
PremieStart (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Foundation – NHMRC)
A 6 year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial evaluating an eight session sensitivity training program for parents of pre-term infants held while babies are still in the NICU.
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Click here for details of research study
Premie HUGS
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(3) e-Health
Current projects include:
Internet-based Treatment for Postnatal Depression
The Parent-Infant Research Institute at Austin Health is conducting a study to evaluate a new internet-based treatment program for women experiencing postnatal depression.
If you feel you are struggling to cope or experiencing postnatal depression, this program may be of benefit to you.
The internet-based program is based on an effective group treatment program for postnatal depression and consists of six sequential interactive sessions available for access one per week, as well as additional information in the form of companion library articles that are available for access at any time. The program also includes web support forums and participants are phoned once per week by a psychologist phone coach.
Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and phone assessments at three time points over six months and will be reimbursed for their time ($40 for the first assessment and $30 each for the second and third assessments).
The program and phone calls are free of charge. Women do not have to attend the clinic.
This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Austin Health.
For more information and eligibility criteria, contact us on (03) 9496 4496 or charlene.schembri@austin.org.au. or jennifer.ericksen@austin.org.au
Raising Premmies information online. Collaboration project with the Parenting Research Centre in the development of a Raising Premmies corner on the Raising children’s Network site.
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Online training for screening with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (collaborative project with beyondblue and Genesis)
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(4) Obesity in the perinatal period and impact on infants
A number of collaborative projects are currently underway:
A Randomised Controlled Trial to Prevent Primigravid Excessive Gestational Weight Gain and Postpartum Weight Retention.
Chief Investigators: Dr H. Skouteris, Prof. M. McCabe, Prof. J. Milgrom, Prof. B. Kent
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding
How do parenting and parent-child interactions impact on preschool children’s eating, physical activity habits, and subsequent patterns of weight gain?
Chief Investigators: Dr H. Skouteris, Prof. M. McCabe, A/Prof. L. Ricciardelli, Prof. J. Milgrom, Prof. L. Baur
Australian Research Council Discovery Research Project funding
Mums and Bubs (Pilot Project)
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(5) Fathers
Current projects include:
Mental Health of Men in the Perinatal Period
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Resources developed:
- DVD for fathers and parenting.
- Three session intervention for partners of women with PND.
(6) Evaluations in collaboration with other agencies.
Recent projects:
Research papers
- Highet, N. J., Gemmill, A. W., & Milgrom, J. (2011). Depression in the perinatal period: awareness, attitudes and knowledge in the Australian population. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 223-231.
- Development of resources for beyondblue
- Perinatal Depression and Anxiety - Evidence relating to infant cognitive and emotional development (available online at http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=7.102&tmp=FileDownload&fid=1292)
- Evaluation of Parent Zone for City of Banyule, a playgroup for young mothers under 25 years of age 2010