Toward the identification and minimisation of depression and psychological distress
Title:
Toward the identification and minimisation of depression and psychological distress in family caregivers of people receiving palliative care
Funding Source:
beyondblue: Victorian Centre of Excellence
Chief Investigators:
Professor Peter Hudson – Director, Centre for Palliative Care
Dr Cheryl Remedios – Psychologist
Dr Di Clifton – Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Psycho-Oncologist, St Vincent’s
Mr Michael Crewdson – Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist
Mr Christopher Hall – Director, Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
Professor David Clarke – Professor, Centre for Psychological & Behavioural Medicine, Monash Medical Centre
Professor Tom Trauer – Professor, Mental Health Service, St Vincent’s
Ms Amanda Bolleter – Project Officer, Palliative Care, Victorian Government Department of Health
Project Officer:
Dr Cheryl Remedios – Psychologist, Centre for Palliative Care
Clinical Partners:
Mercy Western Palliative Care, Caritas Christi Hospice and South East Palliative Care
Duration:
This is a 3-year project, which commenced in December 2006 and is due to be completed in June 2010.
Purpose:
The first stage of this project seeks to examine strategies for the assessment of mental health problems in family caregivers of patients with advanced disease. The second stage seeks to develop best practice guidelines for health professionals for assessment of mental health problems in this population.
Methods:
This study incorporates a longitudinal design with three time points of data collection: on admission to the participating palliative care services, six months and 13 months post-patient death.
Results:
N/A
