Clinical and Developmental Psychology
- Australian Temperament Project
- The Broader Autism Phenotype
- Emotional and psychological sequelae of paediatric cardiac surgery
- A comparison of behavioural characteristics of children with autism and children with communication disorder
- A study of the characteristics of parents of children with anxiety disorders
- Behavioural and emotional disorders in a large population of children in Sri Lanka
- Longitudinal studies of children of very low birth weight
- Psychosocial outcome in girls with Turner's Syndrome
- Analysis of movement in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- The Mozart effect in children
- The genetics of temperament
- Computer Assisted Instruction for children with spelling difficulties
- Visual processing in children with reading difficulties
- Links between rapid serial naming, phonemic awareness and orthographic skill in reading impaired children
- Risk and resilience in longitudinal pathways to adolescent problem behaviours
- A study of adolescents from the Australian Temperament Project whose parents have separated or divorced
- Memory functioning in girls with Turner's Syndrome
Australian Temperament Project
Research Team
- Prof. Vicki Anderson, Dept Of Psychology, RCH
- Ms Diana Smart, RCH
The Broader Autism Phenotype
Research Team
- S Dye
- Professor Margot Prior, Dept Of Psychology, RCH
Psychological sequelae of paediatric cardiac surgery : A follow-up study
Research Team
- Ms Zeffie Poulakis, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
- Dr Samuel Menahem, Dept. of Cardiology, RCH
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
Funding Source
Royal Children's Hospital Research Institute
A comparison of behavioural characteristics of children with autism and children with communication disorder
Research Team
- Suzanne Barrett
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
A study of the characteristics of parents of children with anxiety disorders
Research Team
- G Swinburne
- Julie Barrington
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
Behavioural and emotional disorders in a large population of children in Sri Lanka
Research Team
- Ms Shanya Virasinghe, Dept of Psychology, RCH
- Professor Margot Prior, Dept of Psychology, RCH
Longitudinal studies of children of very low birth weight.
This research comprises 2 groups of studies.
The study of all children weighing less than 1000 grams at birth born in the State of Victoria. There are a series of birth cohorts defined by certain intake years. The research concerns long term outcome in terms of physical and sensori-neural disability, health and growth. The research is in collaboration with Monash Medical Centre, Mercy Hospital, Royal Women's and Royal Children's.
The second group of studies are more detailed investigations of the above outcome of children born a the Royal Women's Hospital in certain intake years and who weighed less than 1500 grams at birth.
The researchers have now accumulated a body of data so that cohorts can be compared on a range of outcome variables across different time periods, commencing with children born in 1966-1970.
Any cohort, born in 1980-82, currently under investigation have been followed by the team at 2, 5, 8, 14 and currently being reviewed at 18-21 years. A control group of children of normal birth weight randomly selected from hospital population have also been followed prospectively.
Research Team
- Associate Professor Lex Doyle, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne
- Dr Geoff Ford, Paediatrician
- Dr Norm Davis, Paediatrician
- Elaine Kelly, Psychologist, Royal Women's Hospital
- Kate Callanan, Nurse Coordinator and Speech Pathologist, Royal Women's Hospital
- Dr Anne Rickards, Clinical and Research Psychologist, Royal Women's and RCH
Funding Source
- NHMRC
- Royal Women's Research Funds
- Department of Health
Psychosocial outcome in girls with Turner's Syndrome
In this project we shall investigate a recently discovered mechanism of gene inactivation called 'genomic imprinting'. Imprinting results in a particular gene being switched off in an individual. Some genes are imprinted only when inherited from the mother, and others only when inherited from the father. Imprinted genes are important in human growth and development, and also in brain functioning. Abnormalities in the imprinting mechanism may cause serious congenital abnormalities, and some are related to cancer. There is no evidence, so far, of imprinted genes linked to the X chromosome, apart from a study, which postulated the existence of an X-linked imprinted locus for social cognition, that is the ability to successfully interact with other people. This study was based on results obtained from females with Turner's Syndrome (TS), a chromosome disorder where only one X chromosome of the pair is present, and this is derived from either parent. TS females with an X chromosome derived from the father showed higher intellectual and behavioural function skills than those with a maternal X chromosome. This result suggests that a locus for these social skills may not be expressed from maternally derived X chromosome. In our study we shall verify the above hypothesis by using substantially more appropriate statistical and genetic modelling based on data from TS patients and their relatives. We shall determine the parental origin of the X chromosome in TS patients, and collect data on their intellectual and behavioural skills, and physical measurements. Our study will first test the hypothesis of imprinting genes on the X chromosome. If this is confirmed, then the study will determine the effects of these on (i) social and intellectual skills, and (ii) physical features such as height, weight and finger prints.
Research Team
- Dr Danuta Loesch, LaTrobe University
- Assoc. Prof. Garry Warne, Dept. of Endocrinology & Diabetes, RCH
- Dr Robert Mitchell
- Dr Christine Rodda
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
- Assoc. Prof. Richard Huggins
Funding Source
National Health & Medical Research Council
Analysis of movement in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Research Team
- M.Mari, University of Melbourne
- U.Castiello, University of Melbourne
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
- Dr Deb Marks, MHSKY
- C.Marraffa, MHSKY
Funding Source
Post-doctoral Research Fellowship
The Mozart effect in children
Research Team
- R Crnec
- Dr Sarah Wilson, Dept. of Learning Difficulties, RCH
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
The genetics of temperament
Research Team
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
- A.Jorm, Australian National University
- S.Easteal, Australian National University
- Assoc. Prof. Ann Sanson, Dept. of Psychology, University of Melbourne
Funding Source
Australian Research Council
Computer Assisted Instruction for children with spelling difficulties
Research Team
- Ms Bernice Dodds, Learning Difficulties Clinic, RCH
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
Links between rapid serial naming, phonemic awareness and orthographic skill in reading impaired children
Research has clearly established the importance of phonological awareness and rapid serial naming in the prediction of reading development. However, the role of orthography in reading deficits has been somewhat neglected. This study attempts to explore connections between rapid serial naming, phonemic and orthographic processing in children with impaired reading ability.
Research Team
- Dr Lesley Bretherton, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
- Prof Margot Prior, Director of Psychology, RCH and University of Melbourne
- Ms Deborah McNamara, Doctoral Student, Dept. of Psychology, University of Melbourne
Risk and resilience in longitudinal pathways to adolescent problem behaviours
Adolescence is an important period for the development of 3 related conditions of public health concern - antisocial behaviour, depression/anxiety, and substance use/abuse. Hence we need to identify factors which create risk, resilience and positive change amongst adolescents. This study will track a large representative group of Victorian children on whom there is extensive 11-wave data from infancy to early adolescence (the Australian Temperament Project cohort), from 16 to 18 years. In order to guide health promotion and prevention efforts, potentially modifiable factors in the individual and their environment will receive particular attention. In 1999, we will contrast high-risk groups who manifest problems (high-risk problem group) with those who, despite high risk status, appear to be problem free (resilient). Both these groups will be compared to a low risk group with no problems ('normal'), and a group which exhibits problems despite low risks (late onset). We will compare these groups on variables drawn from 3 models of resilience. These variables include early temperament and behaviour, family, school and peer relationships, and self-esteem, coping and social problem-solving capacities. Sex differences and the effect of co-occurrence of more than one problem will be examined. In 2000, we will identify patterns of change in these problems across adolescence (13 to 18 years) among the whole sample (N=1750). We expect groups to emerge whose problems are worsening, lessening, fluctuating and stable. By comparing these groups, we will be able to detect influences on the development, maintenance and reduction of adolescent problem behaviours, contributing to the identification of appropriate public health targets.
Research Team
- Assoc. Prof. Ann Sanson, Dept. of Psychology, University of Melbourne
- Dr John Toumbourou, Centre for Adolescent Health, RCH
- Prof. Margot Prior, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
- Assoc. Prof. Frank Oberklaid, Centre for Community Child Health, RCH
- Assoc. Prof. George Patton, Centre for Adolescent Health, RCH
- Ms Diana Smart, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
- Ms Primrose Letcher, Dept. of Psychology, RCH
Funding Source
National Health & Medical Research Council
A study of adolescents from the Australian Temperament Project whose parents have separated or divorced
Research Team
- Eda Ruschena
- Assoc Prof Ann Sanson, Dept of Psychology, University of Melbourne
- Prof Margot Prior, Department of Psychology, RCH
Memory functioning in girls with Turner's Syndrome
Research Team
- Wendy Kelso
- Allan Tucker
- Professor Margot Prior, Dept of Psychology, RCH