title: State-based output in Australian mental health research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined differences in the types of mental health research that were conducted in the states and territories of Australia in 2008. Differences in both the disorder focus (e.g. depression, psychosis) and goal or methodology (e.g. epidemiological, biological) of published papers were examined. The structural differences underlying research output were examined by comparing output with funding and research infrastructure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 1008 Australian-authored mental health research publications and all 126 competitive mental-health related research grants from 2008 were coded in terms of their state or territory of origin, disorder focus and research goal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory had the highest per capita rates of mental health research publications in 2008, while Tasmania and the Northern Territory had less per capita output. Research in New South Wales had greater focus on substance use and anxiety disorders, while Victoria was dominant in research on affective disorders and psychosis. Research in Queensland and Western Australia was broader in scope. Research output was more closely linked with number of successful grants than amount of funding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  State and territory support for mental health research may have important implications for research output.
authors.affiliation: Fellow in Mental Health Research, Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia philip.batterham@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Batterham
authors.affiliation: Executive Director, Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: Director, Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Griffiths
keywords: geographic differences; mental health; research capacity; research funding; research publications