Neuro Mental Health – Dissanayaka Group

Investigating the validity and reliability of depression and anxiety assessment methods in Parkinson’s disease. Developing a new instrument to assess anxiety in Parkinson’s disease.
 

Characterising symptomatology of depressive, anxiety, apathy and neurocognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease.

Examining mechanisms underlying anxiety, depression, and neurocognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease using resting state and task dependent EEG and fMRI.

Developing and implementing new psychotherapy treatment for anxiety, depression, sleep, and chronic pain in Parkinson’s disease. Current packages include (i) cognitive behaviour therapy for anxiety, (ii) mindfulness, and (iii) interventions for sleep disturbances. 

Investigating addictive behaviours induced by dopaminergic medication in Parkinson’s disease patients: (i) impulse control disorders and (ii) dopamine dysregulation syndrome.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

The culture of ageism in demantia care and implementation of an intervention designed as a broader approach to improve the quality of care for those with dementia.

Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Prof Nancy Pachana, Nicole White (PhD student)

Identification, diagnosis and the impact on wellbeing through an e-health initiative for personal carers.

Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Prof Gerard Byrne, Prof Judy Wollin, Rachel Brimelow (PhD student)

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)

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) 

Chief investigators: Dr Nadeeka Dissanayaka, A/Prof Udantha Abeyratne, Dr Karen McCloy (PhD student)