I am an ECR and Research Fellow at the Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit (DNMHRU), University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR). I have a background in psychology and health services research and have been involved in dementia research and service development projects both in Australia and the UK. My PhD (Queensland University of Technology, 2020), “Bereavement without death”: Improving psychosocial support of spousal family carers of people with dementia following placement into residential care, was supported by a Consumer Priority PhD scholarship from the Dementia Australia Research Foundation (DARF). Since then, I have been awarded $3,825,000 as a CI in research grants from both DARF and NHMRC MRFF schemes.
My mixed methods research aims to improve the mental health, emotional well-being, quality of life and quality of care of older Australians living with age-related progressive brain diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease and their family care partners, through innovative high-quality research and knowledge translation activities. My research interests include evaluating psychosocial interventions to support the mental health of people living with dementia and their family carers within both community and residential aged care settings and the application of telehealth modalities to support access to counselling and therapy. I am also interested in improving psychosocial and psychoeducational support for the transition to residential aged care and models of aged care that promote mental health and quality of life. Across all studies, I am interested in the application of implementation science to i) identify barriers and enablers to the implementation of evidence-based interventions and programs, and ii) design and evaluate implementation strategies within health and residential aged care services.
I have a record of collaboration with people impacted by dementia. I am currently the Chair of the UQCCR Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) Sub-Committee, member of the Faculty of Medicine CCI working group, and Co-ordinator of the CCIG at the DNMHRU. I was previously the Co-ordinator of the Lived Experience Group for the Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration. I am also a member of Dementia Australia’s Researcher and Advocate Training Working Group, the Dementia-Friendly UQCCR Initiative Audit, the UQ Implementation Science Community of Practice, the QBI Ageing Dementia Research Network and Australian Association of Gerontology ECR group.
Research interests
Residential aged care
Telehealth psychotherapy and counselling programs
Cognitive evaluation in Parkinson’s disease
Journal Article: Telehealth Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Reduce Anxiety in People Living with Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Feasibility Pilot Study
Pacas Fronza, Gabriela, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., Byrne, Gerard J., Liddle, Jacki, Yang, Jihyun, Brooks, Deborah, Au, Tiffany, Pourzinal, Dana, Worthy, Peter, Comans, Tracy, Beattie, Elizabeth, Bennett, Sally, Russell, Trevor and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2024). Telehealth Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Reduce Anxiety in People Living with Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Feasibility Pilot Study. Clinical Gerontologist, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2024.2336187
Brimelow, Rachel, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Burley, Claire, Beattie, Elizabeth, Byrne, Gerard and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2024). Prototype development of the Mental Health benchmarking Industry Tool for residential aged Care (MHICare Tool): a protocol paper of a two-stage sequential and mixed methods codesign study. BMJ Open, 14 (2) e078493, 1-7. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078493
Conference Publication: Barriers and facilitators of cognitive behavioural therapy interventions for people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review
Welsh, K., Brooks, D., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N. (2024). Barriers and facilitators of cognitive behavioural therapy interventions for people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
(2024–2026) Dementia Australia Research Foundation
(2023–2027) NHMRC MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
(2022–2024) Dementia Australia Research Foundation Project Grants
Technology-assisted telehealth psychotherapy intervention for people with dementia
Doctor Philosophy
Developing and testing a mental health indicator tool for residential aged care
Principal Advisor: Dr Deborah Brooks
Email: deborah.brooks@uq.edu.au
Organisational unit: UQ Centre for Clinical Research
Research group: Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit
Mental health practices in residential aged care (RAC) are often poor, with an increased risk of prescribing medication for those who experience psychological symptoms and changed behaviours such as agitation. Additionally, psychological, social, and person-centred care can be poorly implemented. However, there is currently no measure with which to monitor and promote mental health for people living in residential care. We aim to co-design a Mental Health Indicator Tool for Residential Aged Care (MHICare Tool) that can be rolled out across RACs in Australia to improve mental health practices and outcomes for residents. We are seeking a PhD candidate with an interest in mental health and residential aged care. You will have the opportunity to develop skills in mixed methods research and implementation science.
Pacas Fronza, Gabriela, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., Byrne, Gerard J., Liddle, Jacki, Yang, Jihyun, Brooks, Deborah, Au, Tiffany, Pourzinal, Dana, Worthy, Peter, Comans, Tracy, Beattie, Elizabeth, Bennett, Sally, Russell, Trevor and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2024). Telehealth Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Reduce Anxiety in People Living with Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Feasibility Pilot Study. Clinical Gerontologist, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2024.2336187
Brimelow, Rachel, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Burley, Claire, Beattie, Elizabeth, Byrne, Gerard and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2024). Prototype development of the Mental Health benchmarking Industry Tool for residential aged Care (MHICare Tool): a protocol paper of a two-stage sequential and mixed methods codesign study. BMJ Open, 14 (2) e078493, 1-7. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078493
Roper, Amy, Brooks, Deborah, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., Au, Tiffany R., Byrne, Gerard J., O’Sullivan, John D. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2024). Feasibility and acceptability of a videoconferencing CBT intervention for anxiety in people with Parkinson’s Disease. Clinical Gerontologist, 1-16. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2024.2306861
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Brooks, Deborah, Worthy, Peter, Mitchell, Leander, Pachana, Nancy A., Byrne, Gerard, Keramat, Syed Afroz, Comans, Tracy, Bennett, Sally, Liddle, Jacki, Chatfield, Mark D., Broome, Annette, Oram, Joanne, Appadurai, Kanaganayagam, Beattie, Elizabeth, Au, Tiffany, King, Teagan, Welsh, Kimberley and Pietsch, Ann (2023). A single-blind, parallel-group randomised trial of a technology-assisted and remotely delivered cognitive behavioural therapy intervention (Tech-CBT) versus usual care to reduce anxiety in people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: study protocol for a randomised trial. Trials, 24 (1) 420, 1-17. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07381-2
Brooks, Deborah, Johnston, Sandra, Parker, Christina, Cox, Leonie, Brodie, Melissa, Radbourne, Catherine and MacAndrew, Margaret (2022). Elements of long-term care that promote quality of life for Indigenous and First Nations Peoples: a mixed methods systematic review. The Gerontologist, 64 (1). doi: 10.1093/geront/gnac153
Brooks, Deborah, Beattie, Elizabeth, Fielding, Elaine, Wyles, Katy and Edwards, Helen (2022). Long-term care placement: The transitional support needs and preferences of spousal dementia caregivers. Dementia, 21 (3), 794-809. doi: 10.1177/14713012211056461
Brooks, Deborah, Beattie, Elizabeth, Edwards, Helen, Fielding, Elaine and Gaugler, Joseph E (2021). Pilot study of the residential care transition module to support Australian spouses of people with dementia. Clinical Gerontologist, 45 (5), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2021.1988023
MacAndrew, Margaret, Brooks, Deborah and Beattie, Elizabeth (2019). NonPharmacological interventions for managing wandering in the community: a narrative review of the evidence base. Health and Social Care in the Community, 27 (2), 306-319. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12590
Brooks, Deborah, Fielding, Elaine, Beattie, Elizabeth, Edwards, Helen and Hines, Sonia (2018). Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on the psychological health and emotional well-being of family carers of people with dementia following residential care placement: a systematic review. JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports, 16 (5), 1240-1268. doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003634
Beattie, Elizabeth, Fielding, Elaine, O’reilly, Maria, Brooks, Deborah, MacAndrew, Margaret and McCrow, Judy (2018). Recruitment of individuals with dementia and their carers for social research: lessons learned from nine studies. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 11 (3), 119-128. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20180308-01
Agar, Meera, Luckett, Tim, Luscombe, Georgina, Phillips, Jand, Beattie, Elizabeth, Pond, Dimity, Mitchell, Geoffrey, Davidson, Patricia M., Cook, Janet, Brooks, Deborah, Houltram, Jennifer, Goodall, Stephen and Chenoweth, Lynette (2017). Effects of facilitated family case conferencing for advanced dementia: a cluster randomised clinical trial. PLoS One, 12 (8) e0181020, e0181020. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181020
Luckett, Tim, Chenoweth, Lynnette, Phillips, Jane, Brooks, Deborah, Cook, Janet, Mitchell, Geoffrey, Pond, Dimity, Davidson, Patricia M., Beattie, Elizabeth, Luscombe, Georgina, Goodall, Stephen, Fischer, Thomas and Agar, Meera (2017). A facilitated approach to family case conferencing for people with advanced dementia living in nursing homes: Perceptions of palliative care planning coordinators and other health professionals in the IDEAL study. International Psychogeriatrics, 29 (10), 1713-1722. doi: 10.1017/S1041610217000977
Brooks, Deborah, Fielding, Elaine, Beattie, Elizabeth, Edwards, Helen and Hines, Sonia (2017). Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on the psychological health and wellbeing of family carers of people with dementia following residential care placement: a systematic review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 15 (5), 1228-1235. doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2016-003067
Travers, Catherine, Brooks, Deborah, Hines, Sonia, O'Reilly, Maria, McMaster, Mitchell, He, Wei, MacAndrew, Margaret, Fielding, Elaine, Karlsson, Lina and Beattie, Elizabeth (2016). Effectiveness of meaningful occupation interventions for people living with dementia in residential aged care: a systematic review. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 14 (12), 163-225. doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2016-003230
Travers, Catherine, MacAndrew, Margaret, Hines, Sonia, O'Reilly, Maria, Fielding, Elaine, Beattie, Elizabeth and Brooks, Deborah (2015). The effectiveness of meaningful occupation interventions for people living with dementia in residential aged care: a systematic review protocol. The JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 13 (4), 87-99. doi: 10.11124/jbisrir-2015-2058
Nayton, Kate, Fielding, Elaine, Brooks, Deborah, Graham, Frederick A. and Beattie, Elizabeth (2014). Development of an education program to improve care of patients with dementia in an acute care setting. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 45 (12), 552-558. doi: 10.3928/00220124-20141023-04
Burrow, Simon and Brooks, Deborah (2012). Atdementia: An information resource on assistive technologies that help support the independence of people with dementia. Dementia, 11 (4), 553-557. doi: 10.1177/1471301212437822
Savitch, Nada, Brooks, Deborah and Wey, Stephen (2012). AT Guide: Developing a new way to help people with dementia and their carers find information about assistive technology. Journal of Assistive Technologies, 6 (1), 76-80. doi: 10.1108/17549451211214391
Hutchings, Deborah, Vanoli, Alessandro, McKeith, Ian, Brotherton, Sue, Mcnamee, Paul and Bond, John (2010). Cholinesterase inhibitors and alzheimer's disease: Patient, carer and professional factors influencing the use of drugs for Alzheimer's disease in the United Kingdom. Dementia, 9 (3), 427-443. doi: 10.1177/1471301210375340
Hutchings, Deborah, Vanoli, Alessandro, McKeith, Ian, Brotherton, Sue, Mcnamee, Paul and Bond, John (2010). Good days and bad days: The lived experience and perceived impact of treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease in the United Kingdom. Dementia, 9 (3), 409-425. doi: 10.1177/1471301210375339
Savings from sub-groups?: Policy guidance and Alzheimer's disease treatments
McNamee, Paul, Vanoli, A., Hutchings, D., McKeith, I. and Bond, J. (2010). Savings from sub-groups?: Policy guidance and Alzheimer's disease treatments. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 14 (8), 664-668. doi: 10.1007/s12603-010-0313-5
Balancing rights and risks: Conflicting perspectives in the management of wandering in dementia
Robinson, L., Hutchings, D., Corner, L., Finch, T., Hughes, J., Brittain, K. and Bond, J. (2007). Balancing rights and risks: Conflicting perspectives in the management of wandering in dementia. Health, Risk and Society, 9 (4), 389-406. doi: 10.1080/13698570701612774
Robinson, L., Hutchings, D., Dickinson, H. O., Corner, L., Beyer, F., Finch, T., Hughes, J., Vanoli, A., Ballard, C. and Bond, J. (2007). Effectiveness and acceptability of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce wandering in dementia: A systematic review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22 (1), 9-22. doi: 10.1002/gps.1643
Robinson, L., Hutchings, D., Corner, L., Beyer, F., Dickinson, H., Vanoli, A., Finch, T., Hughes, J., Ballard, C., May, C. and Bond, J. (2006). A systematic literature review of the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent wandering in dementia and evaluation of the ethical implications and acceptability of their use. Health Technology Assessment, 10 (26). doi: 10.3310/hta10260
Heather, Nick, Dallolio, Emma, Hutchings, Deborah, Kaner, Eileen and White, Martin (2004). Implementing routine screening and brief alcohol intervention in primary health care: A Delphi survey of expert opinion. Journal of Substance Use, 9 (2), 68-85. doi: 10.1080/14659890410001665014
Alcohol screening and brief intervention in primary care: Which way now?
Hutchings, Deborah, Heather, Nick, Dallolio, Emma, Kaner, Eileen, Lock, Catherine and Cassidy, Paul (2001). Alcohol screening and brief intervention in primary care: Which way now?. Drugs and Alcohol Today, 1 (2), 28-33. doi: 10.1108/17459265200100014
Evaluating multidisciplinary teams: An example of an audit framework
Hutchings, Deborah (1996). Evaluating multidisciplinary teams: An example of an audit framework. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 3 (7), 371-390. doi: 10.12968/bjtr.1996.3.7.14800
Garner, Ruth, Butler, Graham and Hutchings, Deborah (1996). A Study of the Relationship between the Patterns of Planned Activity and Incidents of Deliberate Self-Harm within a Regional Secure Unit. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59 (4), 156-160. doi: 10.1177/030802269605900402
Welsh, K., Brooks, D., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N. (2024). Barriers and facilitators of cognitive behavioural therapy interventions for people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
Au, T., Bailey, D., Beattie, E., Brooks, D., Broome, A., Byrne, G., Chatfield, M., Dissanayaka, N., Keramat, S.A., Lehn, A., Liddle, J., Marsh, R., Mitchell, L., Naismith, S., Nestor, S., O’Sullivan, J., Pachana, N., Pourzinal, D., Robertson, S., Shrubsole, K., Sivakumaran, K., Spooner, D., Tinson, H., Verreynne, M.L., Worthy, P. and Yang, J. (2024). Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare project. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
Pourzinal, D., Sivakumaran, K., Yang, J., Bailey, D.X., Mitchell, L.K., Brooks, D. and Dissanayaka, N. (2024). Neuropsychological predictors of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review (PDCogniCare). Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
Au, T., Beattie, E., Bennett, S., Brooks, D., Broome, A., Byrne, G., Chatfield, M., Comans, T., Dissanayaka, N., Guy, R., Keramat, S.A., King, T., Lehn, A., Liddle, J., Mitchell, L., Oram, J., O’Sullivan, J., Pacas Fronza, G., Pachana, N., Pietsch, A., Tan, J., Welsh, K. and Worthy, P. (2024). Technology assisted and remotely delivered anxiety psychotherapy intervention for people living with dementia and their care partners: Tech-CBT project. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
Welsh, K., Brooks, D., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N. (2023). Barriers and facilitators to the delivery of CBT interventions to people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: technology assisted and non-technology assisted approaches. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2023, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 29-31 May 2023.
Co-designing better conversations with smart assistants to support self-managed therapy practice
Worthy, P., Brooks, D., Pacas Fronza, G., Liddle, J., Mitchell, L., Pachana, N., Frost, D., Robertson, S. and Dissanayaka, N. (2023). Co-designing better conversations with smart assistants to support self-managed therapy practice. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2023, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 29-31 May 2023.
King, T., Brooks, D., Worthy, P., Bennett, S., Liddle, J., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N. (2023). Development of a digital training package to upskill psychologists in the delivery of a technology assisted CBT program (Tech-CBT) to target anxiety in people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2023, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 29-31 May 2023.
Welsh, K., Brooks, D., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N. (2023). Improving implementation: protocol for a mixed-methods process evaluation of a technology-assisted CBT program for anxiety in people living with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2023, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 29-31 May 2023.
New technology assisted interventions to combat anxiety and depression in dementia
Dissanayaka, N.N., Pacas Fronza, G., Mitchell, L., Pachana, N., Worthy, P., Byrne, G., Keramat, S.A., Comans, T., Bennett, S., Liddle, J., Chatfield, M., Broome, A., Oram, J., Appadurai, K., Beattie, E., Welsh, K., King, T., Brimelow, R., Burley, C., Pietsch, A., Brooks, D. and Au, T. (2023). New technology assisted interventions to combat anxiety and depression in dementia. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2023, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 29-31 May 2023.
(2024–2026) Dementia Australia Research Foundation
(2023–2027) NHMRC MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
(2022–2024) Dementia Australia Research Foundation Project Grants
(2021–2026) NHMRC MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
Technology-assisted telehealth psychotherapy intervention for people with dementia
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Developing and testing a mental health indicator tool for residential aged care
Principal Advisor: Dr Deborah Brooks
Email: deborah.brooks@uq.edu.au
Organisational unit: UQ Centre for Clinical Research
Research group: Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit
Mental health practices in residential aged care (RAC) are often poor, with an increased risk of prescribing medication for those who experience psychological symptoms and changed behaviours such as agitation. Additionally, psychological, social, and person-centred care can be poorly implemented. However, there is currently no measure with which to monitor and promote mental health for people living in residential care. We aim to co-design a Mental Health Indicator Tool for Residential Aged Care (MHICare Tool) that can be rolled out across RACs in Australia to improve mental health practices and outcomes for residents. We are seeking a PhD candidate with an interest in mental health and residential aged care. You will have the opportunity to develop skills in mixed methods research and implementation science.