Neuro Mental Health – Dissanayaka Group
The Neuro Mental Health group focuses on understanding more about mental disorders associated with diseases of the nervous system. The lab’s special interests are Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction, apathy, sleep disorders, and behavioural addictions.
The lab’s work involves developing new diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions. We use neuropsychological assessments, and neuroimaging (EEG and fMRI) techniques, and conduct clinical trials.
Remote delivery of personalised homebased psychotherapy using tele-health, e-health and m-health are another research focus. The IDATA-PD study is a recent collaborative initiative to improve diagnosis and treatment of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease, and has attracted more than $1.1million in competitive research funds.
Learning and language processing in people with Parkinson’s disease
This project investigates the neural basis for language deficits in Parkinson’s disease using brain imaging (fMRI).
Chief investigators: Professor David Copland, Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Peter Bell, Professor Peter Silburn, Dr Katie McMahon, Professor Helen Chenery, Dr Anthony Angwin
Cognitive sequelae in Parkinson’s disease: Identifying the neural substrates
This study aims to identify the neural substrates of cognitive-linguistic impairments in Parkinson’s disease by utilizing EEG.
Chief investigators: Dr Anthony Angwin, Associate Professor David Copland, Dr Katie McMahon, Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Professor Peter Silburn
Striatal dopamine function in human cognition: Insights from language, learning and reward in Parkinson’s disease and pharmacological challenge
This study investigates the learning and language processing in Parkinson’s disease patients who have had deep brain stimulation (DBS) functional neurosurgical treatment.
Chief investigators: Dr Anthony Angwin, Professor Peter Silburn, Associate Professor David Copland, Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka
Improving diagnostic methods of anxiety and depression in Parkinson’s disease
This study aims to define the phenotype of anxiety and depression in Parkinson’s disease. It also Investigates early markers for anxiety in Parkinson’s disease using psychological (affective priming) paradigms, imaging (electroencephalography, EEG) and saliva biomarkers (cortisol).
Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Associate Professor David Copland, Professor Peter Silburn, Associate Professor John O’Sullivan, Professor Gerard Byrne, Prof Nancy Pachana, Dr Rodney Marsh, Professor George Mellick
Emotional inhibition in Parkinson’s disease
This projects aims to identify emotional inhibition in Parkinson’s disease patients with and without affective disturbances using psychological paradigms coupled with EEG.
Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Associate Professor David Copland, Dr Anthony Angwin, David Hennessy (Masters in Clinical Psychology student), Associate Professor John O’Sullivan
Perspectives and experiences of Parkinson’s disease patients with drug induced impulse control disorders and dopamine dysregulation syndrome
This qualitative study aims to identify the phenomenology of DRT-induced impulse control disorders, patients’ understanding of their condition and their ability to control their behaviours, and patients’ moral identity and beliefs about their personal responsibility.
Chief investigators: Dr Adrian Carter, Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Professor Wayne Hall, Associate Professor John O’Sullivan
Cognitive behavioral therapy to treat anxiety and depression in Parkinson’s disease
This project aims to design and implement cognitive behavioral therapy for Parkinson’s disease patients. A Waitlist controlled RCT was commenced in 2016.
Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Professor Nancy Pachana, Dr Leander Mitchell, Professor Gerard Byrne, Associate Professor John O'Sullivan, Dr Rodney Marsh
Mindfulness for Parkinson’s disease
This project investigates the benefits of mindfulness group therapy to alleviate depression, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction and parkinsonism symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.
Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Dr Paul Harnett, Professor Nancy Pachana, Farah Idu Jion (Doctorate in Clinical and Clinical Neuropsychology student), Associate Professor John O’Sullivan, Dr Rodney Marsh, Professor Gerard Byrne
Sleep Disturbances in Parkinson’s disease: A rural perspective
This project investigates sleep disturbances in people with Parkinson’s disease and their carers living in rural areas. The impact of sleep problems on patitent-carer dyadic relationship is also investigated.
Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Prof Nancy Pachana, Rachael Wade (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology Student)
Neuropsychological Profile of Behavioural Addictions in Parkinson’s Disease
This project investigate improved methods to identify dopaminergic medication induced behavioural addictions (e.g. impulse control disorders) in Parkinson’s disease.
Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Dr Adrian Carter (Monash University), Andrew Dawson (PhD student- Monash University), A/Prof John O’Sullivan, Prof Murat Yucel (Monash University), Prof Andrew Evans (University of Melbourne)
Markers and Mechanisms of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s disease
This fMRI study examines impairments in attention and language networks associated with mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease.
Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Prof Gerard Byrne, Prof David Copland, A/Prof Katie McMahon, A/Prof John O’Sullivan, Ji Hyun (Julia) Yang (PhD student)
Treating anxiety and depression in Parkinson's and dementia patients
Madonna and Kate's lives changed forever when they were diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka and her team are part of a global effort looking at treatments.