Technology assisted and remotely delivered psychotherapy intervention to reduce anxiety in people living with cognitive impairment

Associate Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka and Gabriela Pacas Fronza will be presenting this seminar on the development and testing of a new psychotherapy intervention to reduce anxiety in people living with cognitive impairment. They will present technological innovations such as telehealth, a new digital platform and a new voice APP delivered via digital devices to assist psychotherapy. A randomised controlled clinical trial is currently underway to test the new intervention.

Associate Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka is a NHMCR Boosting Dementia Research Leadership Fellow and group leader at the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research. She directs the Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit. She has a long standing collaboration with the Department of Neurology, RBWH and in actively involved in a number of collaborative research projects in ageing, mental health and neurodegenerative conditions.

Gabriela Pacas Fronza is a Mental Health Counsellor and has just successfully submitted her thesis examining anxiety in people living with cognitive impairment. Her preliminary work led to the development of the MRFF funded Technology assisted cognitive behavioural therapy program for people living with cognitive impairment.