Dr Peter Anderson
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, VIC
Mental Health Research 2008
Peter Anderson was awarded his PhD in 2002 from The University of Melbourne. He is a:
♦ NHMRC Australian Clinical Research Fellow
♦ CR Roper Fellow - School of Behavioural Science -The University of Melbourne
♦ Senior Research Fellow - Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
♦ Senior Research Fellow - Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology -The University of Melbourne
♦ Co-Director -Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS) team
♦ Co-Director Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychological Studies (AC-CNS)
Dr Anderson’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying cognitive and learning problems in children with conditions affecting the brain, including Type 1 Diabetes, Meningitis, Hydrocephalus, Phenylketonuria (PKU), and more recently, prematurity. His current research program, partly funded by Australian Rotary Health, aims to improve the long-term outcome for children who are born very pre-term. Dr Anderson is also involved in:
• observational outcome studies
• longitudinal neuroimaging studies
• numerous randomised controlled trials that assess the long-term benefits and consequences of a range of obstetric, perinatal, and developmental interventions which are mainly funded by NHMRC.
Dr Anderson was awarded the 2006 Early Career Research Award from the Australian Psychological Society. He has published in:
• over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters
• the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA
• Pediatrics, Journal of Pediatrics
• Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
He recently co-edited a book with Professor Vicki Anderson and Dr Rani Jacobs titled, “Executive functions and the frontal lobes: A lifespan perspective” (published by Psychology Press).
SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
Are preterm, very low birth weight babies more likely to have mental health problems as adults?
Research indicates that certain subgroups of people are at greater risk of developing mental health problems than others. The study of subgroups with high levels of psychological and emotional disturbance should:
• enhance the capacity to understand how such problems evolve
• improve the ability to predict who is at high-risk
• assist in the development of preventative programs
One such subgroup comprises people born with Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW). These days, the majority of babies born in Australia weighing less than 1500 grams survive. However, 50% to 60% of these babies develop problems in childhood such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and autism. Dr Peter Anderson and his team from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, has received a grant from Australian Rotary Health to investigate how children born with VLBW fare as adults. The research will investigate the influence and relationship of both biological and social/environmental factors and has the potential to prevent the development of mental health problems in VLBW survivors.