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Assessing alexithymia across negative and positive emotions: Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Perth Alexithymia QuestionnaireThe Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) is a 24-item self-report measure of alexithymia. Originally developed in English, it was designed to try to enable more comprehensive (i.e., facet-level and valence-specific) alexithymia assessments. This study aimed to introduce and validate a Polish version of the PAQ. Our sample were 1,008 people (69.44% females, 30.06% males and 0.50% non-binary) aged 18-78 (M = 29.69, SD = 14.15) from the general community.
Research
No effects of acute tryptophan depletion on anxiety or mood in weight-recovered female patients with anorexia nervosaPrevious studies have suggested that individuals recovered from anorexia nervosa (AN) are characterized by increased serotonergic (5-HT) activity that might be related to elevated levels of anxiety. Assuming these traits to be also present in individuals at risk for AN, it was further hypothesized that restricting food intake might be a means to temporarily alleviate dysphoric affective states by reducing central nervous availability of tryptophan (TRP), the sole precursor of 5-HT.

News & Events
Trans Pathways provides evidence base to improve mental health of Trans YouthA ground-breaking survey by The Kids researchers has become the new reference point to guide policy change and educate health providers to better support trans and gender-diverse youth in Australia.

News & Events
Directing immune development to curb sky-rocketing diseaseOnce upon a time it was infectious diseases like polio, measles or tuberculosis that most worried parents. With these threats now largely under control, parents face a new challenge – sky-rocketing rates of non-infectious diseases such as asthma, allergies and autism.
Research
Lifting the wellbeing of adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes: A feasibility study of the LIFT appAdolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of psychological distress. To address this, psychological support provided asynchronously via an app may be feasible. Our study aimed to explore feasibility and safety of the LIFT wellbeing app.
Research
Health behaviour change: Theories, progress, and recommendations for the next generation of physical activity researchAdaptive behaviour change is central to improving population health, yet poor adoption of health-enhancing behaviours contributes to noncommunicable diseases and so remains a global concern. Research on physical activity behaviour change has continued to expand and evolve since the turn of the millennium, guided by diverse theoretical approaches-from social cognitive theories, organismic dialectical approaches such as Self-Determination Theory, dual-process frameworks, and integrated practical models and taxonomies.
Research
Prevalence, distribution, and inequitable co-occurrence of mental ill-health and substance use among gender and sexuality diverse young people in Australia: epidemiological findings from a population-based cohort studyTo estimate the prevalence, distribution, and co-occurrence of mental ill-health and substance use among gender and sexuality diverse young people relative to their cisgender and heterosexual peers in Australia using population-level, nationally representative data.
Research
Development of a Self-Harm Monitoring System for VictoriaThe prevention of suicide and suicide-related behaviour are key policy priorities in Australia and internationally. The World Health Organization has recommended that member states develop self-harm surveillance systems as part of their suicide prevention efforts. This is also a priority under Australia's Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a state-based self-harm monitoring system in Victoria, Australia. In this system, data on all self-harm presentations are collected from eight hospital emergency departments in Victoria. A natural language processing classifier that uses machine learning to identify episodes of self-harm is currently being developed.
Research
Options and realities for trans and gender diverse young people receiving care in Australia's mental health system: findings from Trans PathwaysTrans and gender diverse young people experience mental health difficulties self-harm and suicidality at markedly higher rates than the general population, yet they often feel isolated from mental health services. There is little qualitative research on the experiences of trans and gender diverse young people accessing mental health support in Australia.
Research
Maternal and paternal mental health problems and the risk of offspring depression in late adolescence: findings from the Raine studyThere are limited studies on the risk of depressive symptoms in adolescent offspring exposed to parental mental health problems in middle childhood. We investigated the association between parental mental health problems, particularly paternal emotional problems and maternal symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the risk of depressive symptoms in adolescent offspring aged 17.