Brisbane volunteers are needed for Australia’s first national study into combined treatment for depression and alcohol use.
Two hundred people are needed for the joint University of Queensland/University of Newcastle study. It is the first study to focus on whether sufferers can benefit from having both these issues treated at the same time.
Chief Investigator of the Queensland arm of the study Professor David Kavanagh said it was common for people to suffer from both problems, but current treatment usually focused on one or the other.
“These two sets of problems tend to go together. People with alcohol problems tend to feel depressed, because alcohol actually makes their mood worse. Also, many people who are unhappy or depressed try to cope with it by drinking. If they try to deal with their drinking, they lack confidence and give up more easily than happier people," Professor Kavanagh said.
"More than one third of men and 15 percent of women with depression experience problems with alcohol.”
The Depression and Alcohol Integrated and Single-focused Interventions (DAISI) program, which is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, will investigate the effectiveness of a range of treatments.
Researchers hope the outcome of the study will be better treatments for people with these problems, which are two of the biggest mental health issues in Australia and worldwide.
The treatment offered by the DAISI program is free. As well as assessing the effectiveness of treatments, the program aims to help people better understand their depressive symptoms and alcohol use, and to teach skills and techniques to better manage these problems.
The program includes an initial assessment interview and up to 10 face-to-face counselling sessions, at Herston. After finishing the program, volunteers will be contacted a number of times to see how they are doing and will be offered extra assistance if needed.
Professor Kavanagh said a separate UQ research program, funded by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, was looking at supporting people who have been depressed in the past and want to stop it recurring in the future. It uses a program based on a series of letters that use the same methods as face-to-face treatments. Volunteers are also needed for this program.
“These two programs offer an opportunity for people to receive free professional assistance while contributing to our knowledge of what works best,“ Professor Kavanagh said.
People interested in finding out more about the projects can call 1300 300 164.
Media: Chief Investigator Professor David Kavanagh (Phone) 07 3365 5246, (Mob) 0419 479227 or Project Manager Jennifer Connolly (Phone) 07 3365 5149, (Mob) 0417 197170
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