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Dr Peter Butterworth

Senior Research Fellow

PhD (UQ)

 

Research and Supervision Interests

Peter's interests include the antecedents and social consequences of psychiatric disorders: the impact of family and community circumstances on health (especially mental health and wellbeing) and how poor mental health leads to adverse social and personal outcomes.  His research studies the distribution of wellbeing across society; investigating the social gradient in the prevalence of common mental disorders (considering how mental health is associated with poverty, welfare receipt and social exclusion).  Other research themes include employment and mental health, family circumstances, and community and locational factors.  Peter leads the Psychiatric Epidemiology and Social Issues (PEaSI) team at the CMHR. A focus of the program of research is to understand the implications for public policy and practice, and provide an evidence base to inform the design of policy and interventions. This includes collaboration and partnerships with government and non-government organizations.

T. +61-2-6125 8097 E. Peter.Butterworth@anu.edu.au

 

Selected publications:

Crosier, T., Butterworth, P. & Rodgers, B.  (2007).  Mental health problems among single and partnered mothers: the role of financial hardship and social support. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 42(1), 6-13. 

Butterworth, P., Fairweather, A.K., Anstey, K.J. & Windsor, T.D.  (2006).  Hopelessness, demoralization and suicide behaviour: the backdrop to welfare reform in Australia.  Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40 (8), 648-656. 

Butterworth, P., Gill, S., Rodgers, B., Anstey, K., Villamil, E. and Melzer, D.  (2006).  Retirement and the mental health of older Australians: analysis of the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Social Science and Medicine, 62(5), 1179-1191.

Butterworth, P., Rodgers, B., &  Jorm, A.F.  (2006).  Examining geographic and household variation in mental health in Australia.  Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 50 (5), 491-497.

Jorm, A.F., Butterworth, P., Anstey, K.J., Christensen, H., Easteal, S., Maller, J., Mather, K.A., Turakulov, R.I., Wen, W. & Sachdev, P. (2004). Memory complaints in a community sample aged 60-64 years: Associations with cognitive functioning, psychiatric symptoms, medical conditions, APOE genotype, hippocampus and amygdala volumes, and white-matter hyperintensities. Psychological Medicine, 34 (8), 1495-1506.

Butterworth, P. (2003). Estimating the prevalence of mental disorders among income support recipients: Approach, validity and findings. Research Policy Paper Series, 21, 1-58.