Prevention in psychiatry: Australian contributions

Objective: To provide a historic context for developing a framework for pre ventive mental health research in Australia. Method: A literature review was undertaken and references were selected for their relevance to describing the contributions of Australian researchers and clinicians to an epidemiological approach to mental health disorders, p articularly schizophrenia. Results: Australian researchers and clinicians have made major innovative c ontributions to preventive mental health research. Conclusions: Australian mental health services, in collaboration with acade mic departments, are in a highly favourable position to expand preventive r esearch activities into schizophrenia.