Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychiatric Imaging

Unit Code

00113

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry
National Neuroscience Facility
Royal Melbourne Hospital, & Sunshine Hospital
Victoria Australia

Web: www.neuropsychiatry.org.au

Unit Points

Research Points: 87.5

Coursework Points: 12.5

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Professor Christos Pantelis
Scientific Director
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre
The University of Melbourne
National Neuroscience Facility (NNF)
161 Barry Street, Carlton South
Victoria 3053 Australia

tel: +61 3 8345 1303 / 8344 1870
fax: +61 3 8345 0599
email: cpant@unimelb.edu.au or Barbara.Stachlewski@mh.org.au (Secretary)

Alternative Contact:

Dr Dennis Velakoulis
Clinical Director
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry
Neuropsychiatry Unit
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Gratton St, Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia

tel: +61 3 9342 8750
fax: +61 3 9342 8483
email: Dennis.Velakoulis@mh.org.au

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Overall Objectives

The Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre is involved in a program of neuroimaging, neurocognitive and psychopathological research in schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and neurodegenerative disorders.

The centre has been recently established, combining the Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Research & Academic Unit at Sunshine Hospital, the Neuropsychiatry Unit at Royal Melbourne Hospital (see entry for Neuropsychiatry), as well as a state of the art Neuropsychiatry Imaging Laboratory at the National Neuroscience Facility.

The aims of the unit will be:

• To provide an introduction and understanding of cognitive neuropsychiatry and neuropsychiatric imaging.
• To develop an understanding of the research and methodological issues in these areas.

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Content

Coursework: The student will take either Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics OR Qualitative Health Research. Students will also be provided with an introduction to psychiatry through a lecture series one morning a week for the first 9 weeks.
Participation in departmental meetings / seminars will be encouraged.

Research: The major component of this course will be a clinical research project performed under the supervision of members of the Unit in areas including mental health, neuroimaging and cognitive neuroscience.

Sample Research Topics:

1. The impact of drugs of abuse on brain morphology.
2. A study of psychopathology in schizophrenia and associated brain structure.
3. A study of the anterior cingulate and brain fissurization in subjects at high-risk for psychosis.
4. Development of computerized neuroimaging analysis methodologies.
5. Relationship between cognition and brain structure.

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 87.5 points
Research Report (up to 9,000 words): 75%
Oral presentation: 10%
Supervisor's Evaluation: 15%

Coursework Component: 12.5 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics or Qualitative Health Research will be assessed as per subject description.

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
2