Join Professor Ron Rapee, Director of the Centre for Emotional Health, who will be sharing his insights about risk factors for anxiety in one of society’s most vulnerable groups – children.
Professor Rapee will be speaking at the next event in the Macquarie University Colloquium Lectures Series for 2011, which takes place at the University on Thursday, August 4.
Professor Rapee is a professor of psychology who has has a special interest in anxiety and anxiety disorders both in children and adults.
Anxiety and depression together account for a significant proportion of the burden of disease in developed countries and there is evidence that this proportion is likely to grow over the coming decades.
Part of the burden comes from the fact that depression and especially anxiety are chronic conditions that have significant impact across most of an individual’s life. Hence, early intervention will have the greatest impact on reducing the burden of these internalising disorders and will give individuals the greatest opportunity to develop maximum opportunities in life.
Anxiety in young people affects family functioning, social and peer relationships and academic performance. Among the anxiety disorders, specific phobias, separation anxiety, generalized anxiety and social phobia are all common, while obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder are considerably less prevalent at younger ages, according to Professor Rapee.
Professor Rapee and researchers at the University’s Centre for Emotional Health have found that a parent-focused intervention at an early stage when children first exhibit characteristics of anxiety can reverse the trajectory of anxiety.
Join Professor Rapee to hear about the latest research findings in the field and the selective intervention program developed by researchers at the Centre for Emotional Health for the prevention of anxiety and possible later depression.
What: Macquarie Colloquium Series – Changing the life course: Anxiety disorders in children
Who: Professor Ron Rapee, Director, Centre for Emotional Health
When: Thursday, August 4, 2011, 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm (Doors open at 6 pm)
Where: Macquarie University, Building C-10A (Campus Hub Building), Level 3
Cost: Free
RSVP: Online registration essential
Light refreshments provided.
Phone: (02) 9850 7257
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