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Why participate in research?

People who give up their time to participate in research make it possible for QCMHR to find better ways of preventing and treating mental illness. 

By participating in research, you are making an important contribution to how we treat mental health conditions and reducing the burden of illness. 

Research studies that are currently looking for volunteers are outlined below.

Current Research Projects

Mental Health and Climate Change Research

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and its impacts on mental health are becoming increasingly evident. Our research aims to understand these impacts on Australian communities and identify the types of services and interventions needed to address them.

About the study

We are conducting a research study and are looking for participants in Australia from three different groups:

  1. Individuals who have used or considered using mental health services due to exposure to a climate risk event (e.g., natural disaster, drought).
  2. Service Providers who have worked in mental health services related to climate risk events.
  3. Policy Makers or Funders involved in mental health services for climate risk events.

We are interested in hearing your opinions about effective mental health services and interventions. Your insights and experiences are invaluable to us.

What Will I Need To Do?

You will be asked to sort a set of statements based on what you think is least important to most important in terms of mental health services in response to climate change.

How Long Will It Take?

About 1 hour at a location convenient to you (e.g. local library or online).


To register your interest,
click here


Contact: for more information, email benjamin.norris@student.uq.edu.au

The research is being coordinated by Benjamin Norris (benjamin.norris@student.uq.edu.au) and has been approved by the University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee: 2024/HE001793

Mental Health Clinical Trials

Cadence COaST

Weight gain is a major health problem among people with schizophrenia; there is a lack of effective treatments for obesity in schizophrenia. We are looking for volunteers to determine if receiving a weekly injectable Type-II diabetic medication, semaglutide can assist in reducing the body weight among non-diabetic people taking clozapine.

Study details:
• 36-week single-blind clinical trial
• Weekly injection of semaglutide or placebo (titrated over 20 weeks, i.e., 4 weeks per titrated dose 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.5mg, 2.0mg)
• Physical health measures (blood pressure, heart rate, height, and weight) and assessment of adverse drug reactions
• Validated mental health and psychological clinical measures will be conducted at Baseline, Weeks 20 and 36
• All assessments completed by Cadence Team 
• Adjunct treatment; no restrictions or impact on current treatment
• Semaglutide/placebo trial medication provided at no cost
• Reimbursement: $290 in Coles/Myer gift cards ($50 at baseline, weeks 20 and 36). ($20 at weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 28 and 32)

Inclusion Criteria:
• Aged 18 - 64 years (inclusive).
• Have received oral clozapine for at least 18 weeks
• Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder or bipolar affective disorder
• Not been treated for diabetes or have an abnormal HbA1c/fasting glucose at baseline
• Body weight has not fluctuated by more than ±5% in the previous 3 months
• BMI ≥26
• Participants must have the capacity to consent and be able to follow the study instructions and procedures
• Participants must be a consumer of a public mental health service in South East QLD

Semaglutide will be slowly increased to minimise any side effects but possible side effects of semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Participants will be monitored weekly by experienced research staff for side effects.

The trial has been reviewed and approved by Metro South Human Research Ethics Committee.

Contact:
For more information please contact us at info@qcmhr.uq.edu.au or on 07 3271 8704

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HEAD OFFICE

Level 3, Dawson House
The Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment
Research and Education, Wacol, QLD 4076
P: +61 7 3271 8660

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands in which QCMHR operates and their continuing connections to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and stand together with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.