Health

Behavioural neuroscience and mental health

Overview

Professor David Kavanagh

Professor Kavanagh is studying the impact of web-based psychological programs, phone apps and robots of healthcare. He is also testing ways to help adults and adolescents sustain attempts to change their behaviour using mental imagery.

QUT has established a solid reputation for research across a range of areas including cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, social, clinical and health psychology, pedagogy of psychology, and traffic and injury prevention psychology. Researchers are internationally recognised for their research excellence internationally and are closely involved with researchers in the renowned Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q).

Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q)

CARRS-Q is one of the leading centres in Australia dedicated to research, education and outreach activities in road safety, and is a vital player in the international pursuit of road safety. CARRS-Q works collaboratively with strong networks in the road safety and injury prevention fields.

Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q)

Research programs

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Cognitive neuroscience
  • Developmental, social, clinical and health psychology
  • Pedagogy of psychology
  • Injury prevention psychology

Infrastructure

  • QUT Psychology Clinic
  • Computer assisted telephone interviewing facilities
  • Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research (CYSAR)
  • Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)

Performance

Evidence of research quality

ERA (Excellence in Research for Australia) 2015 scores:

  • 4 (above world standard) -
    • Public Health and Health Services (FOR 1117)
  • 3 (at world standard) -
    • Psychology (FOR 1701).

ERA (Excellence in Research for Australia) evaluates the quality of research undertaken in Australian universities against national and international benchmarks.

Developing new researchers

Research students
45
Early career researchers
4

Publication output

2011

Unique count
Total
133
High quality
20%
Author weighting
Total
5
High quality
14%

Research income

2011 total
$916,922 (funding split)
2007-2011
$6,396,259 (funding split)

Key grants

  • Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)
  • Assessing the effectiveness of early childhood education and care programs in Australian communities - Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage
  • Evaluation of Internet-based treatments for comorbidity of alcohol disorders and depressive mood - National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
  • ARC Future Fellowship (Professor Selena Bartlett)

Partnerships

International linkages

  • USA
  • UK
  • Germany
  • South Africa

Cross-disciplinary engagement

  • Psychology
  • Counselling
  • Information technology
  • Clinical sciences
  • Addiction
  • Social work

Impact

Evidence of impact

  • National and International adoption of the Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP)
  • OnTrack - Online mental health programs
  • Novel interventions for mental health programs
  • Innovative use of technology mediated therapy
  • Targeting interventions to underserved populations
  • Genetic causes of mental disorder

Research enquiries

IHBI research enquiries

Contact us to find out about research and discovery at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI).