Psychiatry Research

MAPrc web site 

The Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) is part of the Department of Psychiatry (The Alfred) and the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University.

The centre was established in early 2002 with the appointment of Jayashri Kulkarni as Professor of Psychiatry at The Alfred and Monash University.

MAPrc acts to co-ordinate and facilitate all research that is performed within The Alfred Department of Psychiatry. The core MAPrc team comprises a Director, Deputy Director, Research Manager, Research Fellows, Clinical Research Assistants and Postgraduate students.

Other staff members, both medical and clinical, within the Department of Psychiatry conduct research in association with MAPrc. Overall, MAPrc consists of a multidisciplinary team of about 50 staff and students from medicine, nursing, allied health, science, psychology, and health information services.

Research at MAPrc falls largely into two broad domains.

Firstly, staff at MAPrc are developing innovative, new applications and treatments for severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and depression, drawing upon novel technological advances, alliances with other disciplines, and fostering a ‘new thinking' approach to improve current treatment options for consumers of psychiatry.

All MAPrc research is categorised into one of fifteen key strategic research areas, each one overseen by a Chief Investigator.

MAPrc continues to produce research results from each of these areas that are recognised nationally and internationally.

Secondly, investigative and observational studies aim to elucidate the aetiology and epidemiology of mental illness, with the hope that such information may improve the quality of life of those with these conditions as well as to add to the growing body of knowledge of psychiatry, psychology, neuro-cognition and other such areas.

Another key role of MAPrc is to deliver high calibre education, both formally and informally to tertiary students from a variety of disciplines, and to provide training and supervision opportunities.

In supplying such services, MAPrc can disseminate research outcomes and philosophy to a wider community, whilst student wisdom, questioning and enthusiasm ensures staff are positively challenged and stimulated, and up-to-date with learning and development within and beyond their area of specialisation.

Current Research Programs:

1. Women's Mental Health

2. Brain Stimulation and Neuroimaging

3. Consultation Liaison Psychiatry

4. Psychopharmacology

5. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

6. Addiction Psychiatry

7. Acute Psychiatry Services

8. Education and Training in Psychiatry

9. Health Outcomes and Economics

10. Early Psychosis

11. Aged Psychiatry

12. Participatory Action Research

13. Cardiovascular Disease and Psychiatric Illness

14. Depression Awareness and Depression Literacy in the General Community

15. Nursing and Clinical Health Outcomes