research

Professor George Patton

contact details

George Patton

Professor George Patton
Centre for Adolescent Health
Level 2E, Reception K
The Royal Children's Hospital
50 Flemington Road
Parkville Victoria 3025

 T +61 3 9345 6536 / 9345 6535
 F +61 3 9345 6502
 E george.patton@rch.org.au

biography

George Patton is the Professor of Adolescent Health Research with the University of Melbourne. He is a Senior Principal Research Fellow with NH&MRC.  His group has undertaken studies ranging from the sociological to biological.  They include the Gatehouse Project, a trial of promoting social inclusion in Victorian schools, the development of large scale surveys to document patterns of child and youth development and leading long-term cohort studies of adolescent health and development.   He has advised WHO and the UN on adolescent health and development and has chaired AIHWs advisory groups on 'A picture of Australia's children' and 'Young Australians, their health and well-being'. He has over 270 publications that include over 200 peer reviewed papers.  

achievements

NH&MRC Ten of the Best 2006 for the 9th wave follow-up of the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study.

Society for Adolescent Medicine 2007 Visiting Professor in Adolescent Health Research.  The Society for Adolescent Medicine is the dominant US and International Organisation in the field of Adolescent Health.  I am the first non-American to be awarded this honour.

Schering Plough Organon 2009 Senior Research Award, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry.

Professor George Patton brought together approximately 60 international researchers from low and middle income countries, to explore various future opportunities for promoting adolescent health in developing work settings. The meeting built on a recent Lancet publication examining global patterns of mortality in young people (Patton GC, Coffey C, Sawyer SM, Viner RM, Haller D, Bose K, Vos T, Ferguson J, Mathers CD. Global patterns of mortality in young people: a systematic analysis of population health data. Lancet 2009; 374:881-92.)

research focus & interest

George Patton's research is focussed on the interface of epidemiology with the biological sciences on the one hand social sciences on the other.   They include the following:

  1. Long-term longitudinal studies such as 'The Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study' a major international study addressing many aspects of adolescent health and its consequences later in life.   This study has ranged from risk factors for chronic disease in later life (tobacco use, alcohol and illicit drug use, obesity), mental health and sexual and reproductive health.  Other long term studies include the International Youth Development Study, a major international cohort with a focus on social determinants of health during the adolescent years and the National Longitudinal Study of Male Health.
  2. Study of the effects of adolescent health and lifestyle on the health and well-being of offspring.  This is an internationally unique study of over 1000 babies born to parents who participated in a cohort study from the teens.
  3. The study of the effect of puberty on patterns of health, emotional well-being and health risk.  This large community based study is commencing in 2012 in 2000 grade 4 students who we will follow through until the end of puberty. 
  4. Genetic association studies in early onset behavioural and mental disorders.
  5. Trials of community-based interventions including the Gatehouse Project. The principal findings of this study demonstrated not only the influence of the school social environment on health but also the scope for effectively intervening. The study is being replicated in work in Canada and the UK>
  6. Trials of the effectiveness of primary health care in young people and the scope for promoting youth friendly care at the Royal Children's Hospital.  
  7. Large community surveys of adolescent health status and the social determinants of health in this age group
  8. The first global studies of mortality and diseases burden for the adolescent and young adult years.

 

publications

Bruinsma F, Venn A, Patton GC, Rayner J, Pyett J, Werther G, et al. Concern about tall stature during adolescence and depression in later life. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2006; 91: 145-52.

Moran P, Coffey C, Mann AH, Carlin J, Patton GC. Dimensional characteristics of DSM-IV personality disorders in a large epidemiological sample. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2006; 113(4): 233-6.

Moran P, Coffey C, Mann AH, Carlin JB, Patton GC. Personality and substance use disorders in young adults. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2006; 188(4): 374-9.

Patton GC, Bond L, Carlin J, Thomas L, Butler H, Glover S, et al. Promoting social inclusion in schools: a cluster randomised trial. American Journal of Public Health. 2006; 96(9): 1582-7.

Patton GC, Coffey C, Carlin J, Sawyer SM, Wakefield M. Teen Smokers Reach Their Mid Twenties. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 2006; 39(2): 214-20.

Bond L, Butler H, Thomas L, Carlin J, Glover S, Bowes G, et al. Social and School Connectedness in Early Secondary School as Predictors of Late Teenage Substance Use, Mental Health, and Academic Outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2007; 40(4): 357.e9-.e18.

Degenhardt L, Coffey C, Carlin J, Moran P, Patton GC. Who are the new amphetamine users? A 10-year prospective study of young Australians. Addiction. 2007; 102(8): 1269-79.

Degenhardt L, Coffey C, Moran P, Carlin J, Patton GC. The predictors and consequences of adolescent amphetamine use: findings from the Victoria Adolescent Health Cohort Study. Addiction. 2007; 102(7): 1076-84.

Olsson CA, Byrnes G, Anney RJL, Collins V, Hemphil SA, Williamson R, et al. COMT Val158Met and 5HTTLPR functional loci interact to predict persistence of anxiety across adolescence: results from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study. Genes, Brain and Behavior. 2007; 6(7): 647-52.

Patton GC, Bond L, Toumbourou JW, Hemphill S, McMorris B, Catalano RF. Pubertal stage and deliberate self-harm in adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2007; 46(4): 508-14.

Patton GC, Coffey C, Lynskey M, Reid S, Hemphill S, Carlin J, et al. Trajectories of adolescent alcohol and cannabis use into young adulthood. Addiction. 2007; 102(4): 607-15.

Patton GC, Viner RM. Pubertal transitions in health. The Lancet. 2007; 369(9567): 1130-9.

Degenhardt L, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Swift W, Patton GC. Are diagnostic orphans at risk of developing cannabis abuse or dependence?: Four-year follow-up of young adult cannabis users not meeting diagnostic criteria. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2008; 92(1-3): 86-90.

Haller DM, Sanci LA, Sawyer SM, Patton GC. Do Young People's Illness Beliefs Affect Healthcare? A Systematic Review. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 2008; 42(5): 436-49.

Patton GC. Weighing an Ounce of Prevention. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 2008; 43(1): 3-5.

Patton GC, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Sanci LA, Sawyer S. Prognosis of adolescent partial syndromes of eating disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2008; 192(4): 294-9.

Patton GC, Olsson CA, Bond L, Toumbourou JW, Carlin J, Hemphill S, et al. Predicting female depression across puberty. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2008; 47(12): 1424-32.

Paul SL, Blizzard L, Patton GC, Dwyer T, Venn A. Parental smoking and smoking experimentation in childhood increase the risk of being a smoker 20years later: the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study. Addiction. 2008; 103(5): 846-53.

Sanci LA, Coffey C, Olsson CA, Reid S, Carlin JB, Patton GC. Childhood Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders in Females: Findings From the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008; 162(3): 261-7.

Swift W, Coffey C, Carlin J, Degenhardt L, Patton GC. Adolescent cannabis users at 24 years: trajectories to regular weekly use and dependence in young adulthood. Addiction. 2008; 103(8): 1361-70.

Martiniuk ALC, Ivers RQ, Glozier N, Patton GC, Lam LT, Boufous S, et al. Self-harm and risk of motor vehicle crashes among young drivers: findings from the DRIVE Study. CMAJ. 2009; 181(11): 807-12.

Olds T, Wake M, Patton GC, Ridley K, Waters E, Williams J, et al. How Do School-Day Activity Patterns Differ with Age and Gender across Adolescence? The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 2009; 44(1): 64-72.

Patton GC, Coffey C, Sawyer SM, Viner RM, Haller DM, Bose K, et al. Global patterns of mortality in young people: a systematic analysis of population health data. The Lancet. 2009; 374(9693): 881-92.

Swift W, Coffey C, Carlin J, Degenhardt L, Calabria B, Patton GC. Are adolescents who moderate their cannabis use at lower risk of later regular and dependent cannabis use? Addiction. 2009; 104(5): 806-14.

Bonell CP, Sorhaindo AM, Allen EE, Strange VJ, Wiggins M, Fletcher A, et al. Pilot Multimethod Trial of a School-Ethos Intervention to Reduce Substance Use: Building Hypotheses About Upstream Pathways to Prevention. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010; 47(6): 555-63.

Bosanac P, Patton GC, Castle DJ. Early intervention in psychotic disorders: faith before facts? Psychological Medicine. 2010; 40: 353-8.

Degenhardt L, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Swift W, Moore E, Patton GC. Outcomes of occasional cannabis use in adolescence: 10-year follow-up study in Victoria, Australia. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2010; 196(4): 290-5.

Hemphill SA, Kotevski A, Herrenkohl TI, Toumbourou JW, Carlin JB, Catalano RF, et al. Pubertal stage and the prevalence of violence and social/relational aggression. Pediatrics. 2010; 126(2): e298-305.

Horwood LJ, Fergusson DM, Hayatbakhsh MR, Najman JM, Coffey C, Patton GC, et al. Cannabis use and educational achievement: Findings from three Australasian cohort studies. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2010; 110(3): 247-53.

Martiniuk ALC, Ivers RQ, Glozier N, Patton GC, Senserrick T, Boufous S, et al. Does Psychological Distress Increase the Risk for Motor Vehicle Crashes in Young People? Findings From the DRIVE Study. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010; 47(5): 488-95.

McKenzie M, Olsson CA, Jorm AF, Romaniuk H, Patton GC. Association of adolescent symptoms of depression and anxiety with daily smoking and nicotine dependence in young adulthood: findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. Addiction. 2010; 105(9): 1652-9.

Patton GC, Viner RM, Linh LC, Ameratunga S, Fatusi AO, Ferguson BJ, et al. Mapping a Global Agenda for Adolescent Health. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010; 47(5): 427-32.

Pearson S, Schmidt M, Patton GC, Dwyer T, Blizzard L, Otahal P, et al. Depression and Insulin Resistance: Cross-sectional associations in young adults. Diabetes Care. 2010; 33(5): 1128-33.

Sanderson KA, Patton GC, McKercher CM, Dwyer T, Venn A. Childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity and adult psychiatric disorders. Obesity. 2010; In Press.

Sawyer MG, Harchak TF, Spence SH, Bond L, Graetz B, Kay D, et al. School-Based Prevention of Depression: A 2-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial of the beyondblue Schools Research Initiative. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010; 47(3): 297-304.

Sawyer MG, Pfeiffer S, Spence S, Bond L, Graetz BW, Kay D, et al. School-based prevention of depression: A randomised controlled study of the beyondblue schools research iniative. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines. 2010; 51(2): 199-209.

Wake M, Canterford L, Patton GC, Hesketh K, Hardy P, Williams J, et al. Comorbidities of overweight/obesity experienced in adolescence: longitudinal study. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2010; 95: 162-8.

Williams J, Canterford L, Hesketh K, Hardy P, Waters E, Patton GC, et al. Changes in weight and health related quality of life between childhood and adolescence. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 2010; In Press.

Gore FM, Bloem PJ, Patton GC, Ferguson J, Joseph V, Coffey C, et al. Global burden of disease in young people aged 10-24 years: a systematic analysis. Lancet. 2011; 377(9783): 2093-102.

Hemphill SA, Heerde JA, Herrenkohl TI, Patton GC, Toumbourou JW, Catalano RF. Risk and Protective Factors for Adolescent Substance Use in Washington State, the United States and Victoria, Australia: A Longitudinal Study. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 2011; 49(3): 312-20.

McKenzie DP, Toumbourou JW, Forbes AB, Mackinnon AJ, McMorris BJ, Catalano RF, et al. Predicting future depression in adolescents using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire: A two-nation study. J Affect Disord. 2011.

Moran P, Coffey C, Chanen A, Mann A, Carlin JB, Patton GC. Childhood sexual abuse and abnormal personality: a population-based study. Psychological Medicine. 2011; 41: 1311-8.

Patton GC. Moving beyond the grass ceiling. Addiction. 2011; 106(2): 246-7.

Patton GC, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Sawyer SM, Williams J, Olsson CA, et al. Overweight and Obesity Between Adolescence and Young Adulthood: A 10-year Prospective Cohort Study. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 2011; 48(3): 275-80.

Patton GC, Tollit MM, Romaniuk H, Spence SH, Sheffield J, Sawyer MG. A Prospective Study of the Effects of Optimism on Adolescent Health Risks. Pediatrics. 2011; 127(2): 308-16.

Swift W, Coffey C, Degenhardt L, Carlin JB, Romaniuk H, Patton GC. Cannabis and progression to other substance use in young adults: findings from a 13-year prospective population-based study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2011.

Viner RM, Coffey C, Mathers CD, Bloem P, Costello A, Santelli J, et al. 50-year mortality trends in children and young people: a study of 50 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. The Lancet. 2011; 377(9772): 1162-74.

Mathers M, Toumbourou JW, Catalano RF, Williams J, Patton GC. Consequences of youth tobacco use: a review of prospective behavioural studies. Addiction. 2006; 101(7): 948-58

Bosanac P, Patton GC, Castle DJ. Early intervention in psychotic disorders: faith before facts? Psychological Medicine. 2010; 40(03): 353-8.