Current research projects

Our current research programs include:

Severe mood disorders: postnatal outcomes for mothers and infants

Depression research has increased our understanding of how poor mental health can impact on maternal and infant outcomes. There has been far less attention given to mothers, and infants of mothers, with bipolar disorder. This multicentre study will fill this gap by exploring important aspects of the mother-infant relationship, and maternal illness, parenting, and infant developmental outcomes. An additional fMRI neuroimaging component is planned for 2011. This will be used to explore the neurobiological underpinnings of maternal responsiveness in this clinical sample. 

Collaborators: NeuRA; Macquarie University

Maternal anxiety in pregnancy and infant bio-behavioural regulation: testing the fetal programming hypothesis

Since 2003, this study has examined the impact of anxiety during pregnancy on infant capacity to regulate behaviour, sleep and physiological response to stress. Study findings are increasing our understanding of the earliest origins of mood and behaviour disorders in children and will inform both the nature and timing of evidence-based interventions during the perinatal period. This work will be extended in Phase II of this study, funded by an National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (2010-2012).

Collaborators: Macquarie University

Perinatal mental health: psychosocial assessment, service utilisation and maternal outcomes

Using data from a subsample of women taking part in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health (ALSWH), this research examines the extent of participation in perinatal psychosocial assessment, and its impact on service use and maternal health outcomes. It will include linkage to Medicare data. In addition, this study will examine factors that support the health of mothers, including social inclusion factors. Funding for this study is being provided by the Bupa Foundation (2010-2012).

An additional prospective study is being piloted at Royal Hospital for Women examining these same questions from a clinical perspective with additional information on fathers and infants and specifically examining the impact of the NSW SAFESTART initiative on outcomes for families in the perinatal period.

Collaborators: ALSWH; University of Newcastle; Parent-Infant Research Institute

University of Western Sydney, School of Nursing and Midwifery

Validation of the Antenatal and Postnatal Risk Questionnaire

The Postnatal Risk Questionnaire (PNRQ) was developed as a screening tool that can easily be administered by primary health care professionals in the post-partum period. In contrast to the EPDS which assesses mood symptoms in the previous week, the PNRQ examines a broader set of risk factors that may be associated with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder. The primary aim of this study is to contemporaneously examine the associations between the presence of risk factors as identified by the PNRQ and mental health morbidity. This study is supported by a NSW Institute of Psychiatry Research Fellowship (2010-2011).

A similar study is planned examining the ANRQ at Lyell McEwen Hospital, Adelaide. Funding for this is sought from the Pfizer Neuroscience Foundation and Rotary Mental health Foundation.

Collaborators: Tresillian Family Care Centres; Lyell McEwen Hospital, Adelaide.

Mental health and substance use in the perinatal period: a program of population research

This study examines patterns of mental health morbidity across the perinatal period for women giving birth in NSW. Analysis of linked data from the NSW Midwives Data Collection and NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection is currently underway and preliminary findings will be presented at the International Marcé Society Conference, Pittsburgh, in October 2010.

Collaborators: Perinatal and Reproductive Epidemiology and Research Unit, University of New South Wales

Use of psychotropic medication in pregnancy: impact on infant neurodevelopmental outcomes

There are now a number of studies which have focused on the wellbeing of newborns following maternal use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy. However there are far fewer studies which also examine longer-term child outcomes following foetal exposure to these medications. Our study aims to help fill this gap by focusing on development outcomes for children at 18-months of age. Recruitment for the study continues, and results are expected by the end of 2011.

Collaborators: Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick

All our research programs have been approved by the St John of God Health Care Human Research Ethics Committee.