Department of Adolescent Medicine Clinical Research
Academic Department
The Academic Department of Adolescent Medicine studies include how puberty hormones are related to adolescent health and wellbeing, transition in chronic illness from paediatric to adult care, obesity and insulin resistance, the long term effects of cancer therapy in childhood cancer survivors and the hospitalised adolescent.
Clinical Research Streams
The clinical staff of the Department of Adolescent Medicine conduct research within 4 streams:
The Centre for Research into Adolescent's Health (CRASH - Eating Disorders and Neuroscience)
An extensive range of research projects in eating disorders have been developed involving collaboration with researchers from a broad range of disciplines. Key collaborators include Dr Sloane Madden from Psychological Medicine at CHW. The Service's current research interests include family treatment in eating disorders; early onset eating disorders in children under the age of 12; neuroimaging in eating disorders; refeeding and body composition; neurophysiology in eating disorders, and bone changes in eating disorders. This stream is currently supported through NHMRC grants.
In collaboration with the Brain Dynamic Centre, a series of projects examine the neuropsychological and neurobiological aspects of ADHD and the impact of stimulant and other medications. Clinical Associate Professor Michael Kohn is also participating in research into drug treatments for autism in collaboration with the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. These research projects are currently supported through NHMRC and ARC Linkage grants.
Complex and Chronic Illness
The Complex Adolescent Clinic is close to completing a large scale project on the treatment of complex medico-psycho-social conditions such as pain disorder and post-viral fatigue, with posters and papers presented at a range of international conferences. This project has been supported by the Sydney University Medical Foundation.
The Department has also conducted several multidisciplinary research projects in the areas of chronic illness and transition. Clinical Professor David Bennett is currently participating in an examination of how cancer influences the transition from adolescence to adulthood headed by A/Prof Ian Kerridge from the University of Sydney. Also, we have recently conducted an evaluation of CHW's services supporting transition to adult care. Finally, research on staff working in youth health has been conducted in collaboration with the Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health.
Drug and Alcohol
Adolescent risk-taking behaviours such as drug, alcohol and tobacco use is another area of interest to the Department, with several publications. Teen-Link (a collaborative service with SWAHS for teenagers of parents who are on drug treatment), has recently undertaken research on awareness of child protection issues in adult drug and alcohol workers. The Service of Addiction Medicine for Youth (SAMY) has studied Emergency Department management of young people at risk of drug and alcohol problems. An audit of this new service is planned for 2011.
Weight Management
The Department of Adolescent Medicine is involved with several multi-disciplinary projects that seek to find new, cost-effective solutions to this growing epidemic. In collaboration with Professor Louise Baur from the University of Sydney, the Department is involved with research evaluating treatment approaches for adolescent obesity. We have also recently completed a Randomised Control Trial examining a martial arts intervention for this condition.
This document was reviewed on Wednesday, 10 November, 2010
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