research

child neuropsychology

summary

Child Neuropsychology is the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute arm of the Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychology Studies and aims to understand the effects of brain injury during pregnancy and childhood. Enhancing the quality of life for children and families with brain injury and developmental disorders is a key focus of our group. We seek to develop and evaluate intervention programs that will enhance clinical practice and maximise medical, educational and psychosocial outcomes.

Child Neuropsychology aims to understand brain behaviour relationships within a developmental context through the development and implementation of innovative and multi-disciplinary research initiatives.

Research conducted by the group has contributed to knowledge about outcomes following brain damage (eg. head injury, stroke, tumours) and conditions influencing brain function and development (eg. ADHD). Our research is designed to assist in the identification of children at risk for serious intellectual, educational and social problems resulting from early brain insult and the development and evaluation of interventions for treating these areas.

group leader(s)

Vicki AndersonProfessor Vicki Anderson
  Theme Director, Critical Care & Neurosciences
  West, Level 4
  Royal Children's Hospital
  Flemington Road
  Parkville Victoria 3052

  T +61 3 9936 6738
  E vicki.anderson@rch.org.au

   group leader biography

current research projects

Project 1:   Evaluation of a cognitive behavioural therapy program for managing social anxiety in young people following traumatic brain injury

The prevalence of anxiety following traumatic brain injury has been documented across a number of studies. Anxiety in social situations affects a number of areas of a young person's life resulting in reduced participation in everyday activities. This study aims to evaluate an adapted cognitive behavioural therapy program for managing social anxiety in youth with traumatic brain injury. Adaptation of the program focused on accounting for neuropsychological difficulties often associated with brain injury (e.g. memory impairments). Our aim is to develop a manual based on the program used in this trial. This will assist in the program's applicability in a range of therapeutic settings, and provide opportunity for clinicians to incorporate an evidence-based program in their practice.

Project 2:   The neuropsychological implications of cleft and craniofacial disorders

Our research program is focused on investigating the neuropsychological implications of cleft and craniofacial disorders, such as cleft lip and/or palate and genetic syndromes. We are also interested in understanding the neuroanatomical and genetic correlates of these conditions, with our inter-disciplinary research programs combining neuroimaging and genetic methodologies. Our research has a particular emphasis on identifying the neuropsychological implications of disruption to early brain development across the developmental trajectory. Our clinical population ranges in age from birth to adolescence.Current research studies include:

  • The neurodevelopmental and genetic features of infants with craniosynostosis.
  • Cognition, behaviour and the relationship to brain morphology and genotype in paediatric orofacial clefts.


Project 3:   Outcome from early traumatic brain injury

Children under three years of age are the most likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet little research has focussed on the long-term outcomes. This project involves evaluating a group of children aged four to six years old who sustained a TBI under three years of age. As research in this area is so limited, information on a wide range of outcomes such as attention, learning, and language skills, as well as behaviour and social abilities, is being collected. The second tier of this project involves gathering information on the causes of TBIs for possible future prevention programs.

Project 4:   Cognitive, behavioural and social skills in childhood-onset multiple sclerosis and childhood demyelination

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) largely affects adults, with most research activity and clinical recourses targeted towards them. The number of children being diagnosed with MS and other demyelinating conditions is steadily increasing, largely due to technological advances and increased awareness. Adults with MS commonly experience difficulties in cognition, behaviour and social functioning however, little is known about how childhood MS and demyelination affects these domains. This study aims to investigate the impact of childhood MS and demyelination on family, social and academic functioning.  Children will be followed for two years from the time of diagnosis, to identify patterns of impairments, change over time, and establish the key support needs.

team members

  • Kathleen Allen - RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
  • Michael Anderson - Administrative Assistant
  • Nicholas Anderson - Administrative Assistant
  • Marta Arpone - OCCUPATIONAL TRAINEE
  • Sarah Barton - Research Assistant
  • Miriam Beauchamp - HONORARY FELLOW
  • Robert Berkowitz - HONORARY FELLOW
  • Amy Brown - Research Assistant
  • Cathy Catroppa - Research Fellow
  • Mathilde Chevignard - OCCUPATIONAL TRAINEE
  • Tamera Clancy - RESEARCH ASSISTANT / PSYCHOLOGIST
  • Alex Collie - HONORARY RESEARCH FELLOW
  • Rowena Conroy - Research Coordinator
  • Janine Cooper - Senior Research Officer
  • Emma Couper - PhD Student (LaTrobe PsycholSci)
  • Ali Crichton - PhD Student (UoM Psych)
  • Louise Crossley - RESEARCH COORDINATOR
  • Louise Crowe - Research Officer
  • Annette Da Costa - NHMRC HEALTH PROFESSION RESEARCH FELLOW
  • Ben Deery - HONORARY FELLOW
  • Ashley Di Battista - Research Assistant
  • John Dileo - MASTERS UoM
  • Irene Dinatale - Research Assistant
  • Michael Ditchfield - HONORARY FELLOW
  • Senem Eren - Research Officer
  • Celia Godfrey - Research Officer
  • Alison Gomes - PhD Monash
  • Linda Gonzalez - HONORARY FELLOW MANAGER
  • Anne Gordon - HONORARY FELLOW
  • Mardee Greenham - Research Coordinator
  • Elise Harrison - Master of Psychology (UoM Psych)
  • Stephen Hearps - Research Assistant/Data Analyst
  • Mary Iliadis - Personal Assistant to Theme Director
  • Rani Jacobs - HONORARY RESEARCH FELLOW
  • Lee-Ann Jones - Administrative Assistant
  • Phoebe Kho - PhD Student (UoM Psych)
  • Melissa Lai - RESEARCH ASSISTANT
  • Anna Mandalis - RESEARCH AFFILIATE
  • Vicky Manikas - PhD Student (UoM Paeds)
  • Alissandra Mcilroy - MPsych/PhD Student (UoM Psych)
  • Elisabeth Northam - Senior Research Fellow
  • Intan Riauskina - PhD Student (UoM Paeds)
  • Chantal Roddy - VOLUNTEER
  • Stefanie Rosema - Research Assistant
  • Sarah Rossiter - Masters Student
  • Nick Ryan - Honours Student (UoM Psych/Arts)
  • Alison Schokman - Honours Student (UoM Psych/Arts)
  • Sandy Shultz - RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
  • Cheryl Soo - Research Fellow
  • Megan Spencer-Smith - RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
  • Robyn Stargatt - HONORARY FELLOW
  • Joel Steiner - VISITOR & VOLUNTEERS
  • Kate Stone - Research Assistant
  • Kaitlyn Taylor - Honours Student (UoM Psych/Sci)
  • Josette Vadala - Administrative Officer
  • Jacqueline Williams - HONORARY FELLOW
  • Fiona Zandt - RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

publications

  • Agar NJ., Berkowitz RG. Airway complications of pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 120 (6) : 353 - 357(2011) PubMed
  • Anderson PJ., De Luca CR., Hutchinson E., Spencer-Smith MM., Roberts G., Doyle LW. Attention Problems in a Representative Sample of Extremely Preterm/Extremely Low Birth Weight Children. DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 36 (1) : 57 - 73(2011) PubMed
  • Anderson V., Brown S., Newitt H., Hoile H. Long-Term Outcome From Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury: Intellectual Ability, Personality, and Quality of Life. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 25 (2) : 176 - 184(2011) PubMed
  • Anderson V., Eren S., Dob R., Le Brocque R., Iselin G., Davern TJ., McKinlay L., Kenardy J. Early Attention Impairment and Recovery Profiles After Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation (2011) PubMed
  • Anderson V., Godfrey C., Rosenfeld JV., Catroppa C. 10 year outcome from childhood traumatic brain injury. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE (2011) PubMed
  • Anderson V., Godfrey C., Rosenfeld JV., Catroppa C. Intellectual ability 10 years after traumatic brain injury in infancy and childhood: What predicts outcome?. JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA 29 (1) : 143 - 153(2011) PubMed
  • Anderson V., Spencer-Smith M., Wood A. Do children really recover better? Neurobehavioural plasticity after early brain insult. BRAIN 134 (8) : 2197 - 2221(2011) PubMed
  • Beauchamp M., Catroppa C., Godfrey C., Morse S., Rosenfeld JV., Anderson V. Selective Changes in Executive Functioning Ten Years After Severe Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury. DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 36 (5) : 578 - 595(2011) PubMed
  • Beauchamp MH., Ditchfield M., Babl FE., Kean M., Catroppa C., Yeates KO., Anderson V. Detecting Traumatic Brain Lesions in Children: CT versus MRI versus Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI). JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA 28 (6) : 915 - 927(2011) PubMed
  • Beauchamp MH., Ditchfield M., Catroppa C., Kean M., Godfrey C., Rosenfeld JV., Anderson V. Focal thinning of the posterior corpus callosum: Normal variant or post-traumatic?. BRAIN INJURY 25 (10) : 950 - 957(2011) PubMed
  • Beauchamp MH., Ditchfield M., Maller JJ., Catroppa C., Godfrey C., Rosenfeld JV., Kean MJ., Anderson VA. Hippocampus, amygdala and global brain changes 10 years after childhood traumatic brain injury. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE 29 (2) : 137 - 143(2011) PubMed
  • Biggs SN., Bourke R., Anderson V., Jackman AR., Killedar A., Nixon GM., Davey MJ., Walker AM., Trinder J., Horne RSC. Working memory in children with sleep-disordered breathing: Objective versus subjective measures. SLEEP MEDICINE 12 (9) : 887 - 891(2011) PubMed
  • Bourke RS., Anderson V., Yang JSC., Jackman AR., Killedar A., Nixon GM., Davey MJ., Walker AM., Trinder J., Horne RSC. Cognitive and academic functions are impaired in children with all severities of sleep-disordered breathing. SLEEP MEDICINE 12 (5) : 489 - 496(2011) PubMed
  • Bourke RS., Anderson V., Yang JSC., Jackman AR., Killedar A., Nixon GM., Davey MJ., Walker AM., Trinder J., Horne RSC. Neurobehavioral function is impaired in children with all severities of sleep disordered breathing. SLEEP MEDICINE 12 (3) : 222 - 229(2011) PubMed
  • Catroppa C., Anderson V., Godfrey C., Rosenfeld JV. Attentional skills 10 years post-paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). BRAIN INJURY 25 (9) : 858 - 869(2011) PubMed
  • Clausen H., Theophilos T., Jachno K., Babl FE. Paediatric arrhythmias in the emergency department. EMERGENCY MEDICINE JOURNAL (2011) PubMed
  • Crowe LM., Beauchamp MH., Catroppa C., Anderson V. Social function assessment tools for children and adolescents: A systematic review from 1988 to 2010. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 31 (5) : 767 - 785(2011) PubMed
  • Efron D., Hazell P., Anderson V. Update on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH 47 (10) : 682 - 689(2011)
  • Galvin J., McDonald R., Catroppa C., Anderson V. Does intervention using virtual reality improve upper limb function in children with neurological impairment: A systematic review of the evidence. BRAIN INJURY 25 (5) : 435 - 442(2011) PubMed
  • Gomes AM., Spencer-Smith MM., Jacobs RK., Coleman L., Anderson VA. Attention and social functioning in children with malformations of cortical deelopment and stroke. Child Neuropsychology (2011) PubMed
  • Horne RSC., Yang JSC., Walter LM., Richardson HL., O'Driscoll DM., Foster AM., Wong S., Ng ML., Bashir F., Patterson R., Nixon GM., Jolley D., Walker AM., Anderson V., Trinder J., Davey MJ. Elevated Blood Pressure During Sleep and Wake in Children With Sleep-Disordered Breathing. PEDIATRICS 128 (1) (2011) PubMed
  • Loporto M., Mcallister C., Williams J., Hardwick R., Holmes P. Investigating central mechanisms underlying the effects of action observation and imagery through transcranial magnetic stimulation. Journal of Motor Behavior 43 (5) : 361 - 373(2011) PubMed
  • Malarbi S., Stargatt R., Howard K., Davidson A. Characterizing the behavior of children emerging with delirium from general anesthesia. PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA 21 (9) : 942 - 950(2011) PubMed
  • Nadebaum C., Anderson VA., Vajda F., Reutens DC., Barton S., Wood AG. Language skills of school-aged children prenatally exposed to antiepileptic drugs. NEUROLOGY 76 (8) : 719 - 726(2011) PubMed
  • O'Driscoll DM., Horne RSC., Davey MJ., Hope SA., Anderson V., Trinder J., Walker AM., Nixon GM. Increased sympathetic activity in children with obstructive sleep apnea: Cardiovascular implications. SLEEP MEDICINE 12 (5) : 483 - 488(2011) PubMed
  • Sciberras E., Ohan J., Anderson V. Bullying and peer victimisation in adolescent girls with ADHD. Child Psychiatry & Human Development (2011) PubMed
  • Soo C., Tate RL., Lane-Brown A. A Systematic Review of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Managing Anxiety: Applicability for People With Acquired Brain Injury?. BRAIN IMPAIRMENT 12 (1) : 54 - 70(2011)
  • Spencer-Smith M., Anderson P., Jacobs R., Coleman L., Long B., Anderson V. Does Timing of Brain Lesion Have an Impact on Children's Attention?. DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 36 (3) : 353 - 366(2011) PubMed
  • Tate RL., Simpson GK., Soo CA., Lane-Brown AT. PARTICIPATION AFTER ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY: CLINICAL AND PSYCHOMETRIC CONSIDERATIONS OF THE SYDNEY PSYCHOSOCIAL REINTEGRATION SCALE (SPRS). JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE 43 (7) : 609 - 618(2011) PubMed
  • Westrupp EM., Northam E., Doyle LW., Callanan C., Anderson PJ. Adult psychiatric outcomes of very low birth weight survivors. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 45 (12) : 1069 - 1077(2011) PubMed
  • Woods DT., Catroppa C., Barnett P., Anderson VA. Parental disciplinary practices following acquired brain injury in children. DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROREHABILITATION 14 (5) : 274 - 282(2011) PubMed