Associate Professor Rhonda Brown
BSc(hons), PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology
ANU College of Health and Medicine
T:
02 6125 0635
Areas of expertise
- Health, Clinical And Counselling Psychology 170106
- Psychiatry (Incl. Psychotherapy) 110319
Research interests
Rhonda has a broad range of medical psychology research interests with emphasis on the chronic illness experience and predictors of disease outcomes in chronic illness patients. Recently this work has focused on: (i) the relationship between stress, psychosocial factors (e.g. coping, psychological distress) and chronic illness outcomes (e.g. fatigue, relapse); (ii) and the impact of chronic illness on psychological outcomes and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis, cancer, and fatiguing illness; (iii) anxiety, depression, and fatigue co-morbidity; (iv) immune and infectious disease disturbances in anorexia nervosa; and (iv) communication skills training, doctor-patient communication, medical decision-making, and work-related stress in doctors and other health workers.
Biography
Dr. Brown received her PhD in the School of Biological & Behavioral Sciences at the University of New South Wales in 1996. She worked as a National Institute of Mental Health Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Behavioral Neuropharmacology, Louisiana State University, USA, and then as a research-only academic in the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore & Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals, with teaching responsibilities in the Graduate Medical Program, University of Sydney. From 2004-11, she was unit coordinator and lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of New England, and she is now unit coordinator and lecturer in Health Psychology at ANU.
Current student projects
HDR students
- Relationship between stress, social support utilization, coping and affective distress in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Deficits in interoceptive functioning in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders and its relationship to affective distress
- Predictors of subjective and objective measures of sleep and predictors of obesity in a community sample
- Predictors of subjective measures of sleep and obesity including disordered eating, sleep-disrupting behaviour and affective distress in a community sample
- Effectiveness of CPAP in treating patients with sleep apnoea
- Role of arousal in mediating the effects of stress on impaired sleep and affective distress over time in a community sample
- Predictors of mental health, self-care and diabetes outcomes in people with Diabetes Mellitus
Honours topics
- Interoceptive awareness as it pertains to stress, affective distress (e.g. anxiety, depression), alexithymia, and unhelpful cognitions (e.g. intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety-sensitivity, worry)
- Interoceptive awareness as it pertains to empathy
- Empathy in doctors, lawyers, and training professionals (e.g. psychology, medicine)
- Precipitants and perpetuators of clinical and non-clinical fatigue
Past student projects
HONOURS PROJECTS
- Predictors and mediators of the sleep quality to BMI relationship
- Relationship between physical activity cognitions, physical activity measures, and fatigue severity in a non-clinical sample
- Mediators and moderators of the stressor – fatigue relationship in non-clinical samples
- Poor sleep quality mediates between affective symptoms to fatigue in a university student sample
- Control cognitions and causal attributions as predictors of fatigue severity in a community sample
- Relationships between stress, psychological distress, rumination, and sleep in a community sample
- Stress, psychological distress, psychosocial factors, menopause symptoms and physical health in women
- Stress, support and burnout in intellectual disability support staff
- Associations between dispositional optimism, time perspective, mood and quality of life in adult cancer survivors
- Stress, psychological distress, fatigue, supports and intention to quit in police officers
- Parental stress, social support and distress in parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Publications
- Bohler, T, Brown, R & Dunn, S 2021, 'Relationship between affective state and empathy in medical and psychology students', Australian Psychologist.
- Brown, R, Muller, T & Olsen PhD, A 2019, 'Australian women's cervical cancer screening attendance as a function of screening barriers and facilitators', Social Science and Medicine, vol. 220, pp. 396-402pp.
- Rai, S, Brown, R, van Haren, F et al 2019, 'Long-term follow-up for Psychological stRess in Intensive CarE (PRICE) survivors: Study protocol for a multicentre, prospective observational cohort study in Australian intensive care units', BMJ Open, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. Article number e023310.
- Thorsteinsson, E, Brown, R & Owens, M 2019, 'Modeling the Effects of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression on Rumination, Sleep, and Fatigue in a Nonclinical Sample', Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, vol. 207, no. 5, pp. 355-359.
- Brown, R, Thorsteinsson, E, Smithson, M et al. 2017, 'Can body temperature dysregulation explain the co-occurrence between overweight/obesity, sleep impairment, late-night eating, and a sedentary lifestyle?', Eating and Weight Disorders, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 599-608pp.
- Hatfield, T, Brown, R, Giummarra, M et al 2017, 'Autism spectrum disorder and interoception: Abnormalities in global integration?', Autism : the international journal of research and practice, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 212-222.
- Scott-Hamilton, J, Schutte, N & Brown, R 2016, 'Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Sports-Anxiety, Pessimism, and Flow in Competitive Cyclists', Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 85-103.
- Clout, D & Brown, R 2016, 'Marital relationship and attachment predictors of postpartum stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms', Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 322-341.
- Scott-Hamilton, J, Schutte, N, Moyle, G et al 2016, 'The relationships between mindfulness, sport anxiety, pessimistic attributions and flow in competitive cyclists', International Journal of Sport Psychology, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 103-121pp.
- Honan, C, Brown, R & Batchelor, J 2015, 'Perceived Cognitive Difficulties and Cognitive Test Performance as Predictors of Employment Outcomes in People with Multiple Sclerosis', Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 156-168.
- Shaw, J, Brown, R & Dunn, S 2015, 'The impact of delivery style on doctors' experience of stress during simulated bad news consultations', Patient Education and Counseling, vol. 98, no. 10, pp. 1255-1259.
- Clout, D & Brown, R 2015, 'Sociodemographic, pregnancy, obstetric, and postnatal predictors of postpartum stress, anxiety and depression in new mothers', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 188, pp. 60-67.
- Ellis, S, Brown, R, Thorsteinsson, E et al 2014, 'Trait Mindfulness Affective Symptoms and Quality of Life in People with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma', Journal of Cancer Therapy, vol. 2014, no. 5, pp. 1114-1126.
- Thorsteinsson, E, Brown, R & Richards, C 2014, 'The Relationship between Work-Stress, Psychological Stress and Staff Health and Work Outcomes in office Workers', Psychology (Irvine), vol. 2014, no. 5, pp. 1301-1311.
- Temple, E, Driver, M & Brown, R 2014, 'Cannabis use and anxiety: is stress the missin gpiece of the puzzle?', Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 5, pp. 168-168.
- Honan, C, Brown, R & Hine, D 2014, 'The Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ): development of a shortened scale', Disability and Rehabilitation, vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 635-641.
- Yeh, S & Brown, R 2014, 'Disordered eating partly mediates the relationship between poor sleep quality and high body mass index', Eating Behaviors, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 291-297.
- Pinniger, R, Thorsteinsson, E, Brown, R et al 2013, 'Intensive tango dance program for people with self-referred affective symptoms', Music and Medicine, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 15-22.
- Read, D, Brown, R, Thorsteinsson, E et al. 2013, 'The theory of planned behaviour as a model for predicting public opposition to wind farm developments', Journal of Environmental Psychology, vol. 36, pp. 70-76.
- Shaw, J, Brown, R, Heinrich, P et al 2013, 'Doctors' experience of stress during simulated bad news consultations', Patient Education and Counseling, vol. 93, no. 2, pp. 203-208.
- Pinniger, R, Brown, R, Thorsteinsson, E et al 2013, 'Tango programme for individuals with age-related macular degeneration', The British Journal of Visual Impairment, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 47-59.
- Croft, C, Brown, R, Thorsteinsson, E et al 2013, 'IS TINNITUS ACCEPTANCE THE SAME AS TINNITUS HABITUATION', The International Tinnitus Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 143-148.
- Croft, C, Brown, R, Thorsteinsson, E et al 2013, 'DEVELOPMENT OF THE TINNITUS RESPONSE SCALES FACTOR ANALYSES SUBSCALE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY ANALYSES', The International Tinnitus Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 45-56.
- Pinniger, R, Thorsteinsson, E, Brown, R et al 2013, 'Tango Dance can reduce distress and insomnia in people with self-referred affective symptoms.', American Journal of Dance therapy. February 2013.
- Shaw, J, Brown, R, Dunn, SM. 2012, 'A qualitative study of stress and coping responses in doctors breaking bad news.', Patient Education & couseling, Article In press.
- Wells, L, Thorsteinsson, E & Brown, R 2012, 'Control Cognitions and Causal Attributions as Predictors of Fatigue Severity in a Community Sample', The Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 152, no. 2, pp. 185-198.
- Longley, W, Tate, R & Brown, R 2012, 'A Protocol for Measuring the Direct Psychological Benefit of Neuropsychological Assessment with Feedback in Multiple Sclerosis', Brain Impairment, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 238-255.
- Pinniger, R, Brown, R, Thorsteinsson, E et al 2012, 'Argentine tango dance compared to mindfulness meditation and a waiting-list control: A randomised trial for treating depression', Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 377-384.
- Honan, C, Brown, R, Hine, D et al 2012, 'The Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire', Multiple Sclerosis, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 871 -880.
- Liffman S, Brown RF, Thorsteinsson EB. 2012. Direct and indirect associations between stress, affective symptoms and fatigue in university students. Psychology & Education, 49, 29-44.
- Temple, E & Brown, R 2011, 'A comparison of internet-based participant recruitment methods: Engaging the hidden population of Cannabis users in research', Journal of Research Practice, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 1-15.
- Mutkins, E, Brown, R & Thorsteinsson, E 2011, 'Stress, depression, workplace and social supports and burnout in intellectual disability support staff', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, vol. 55, no. 5, pp. 500-510.
- Valpiani, E, Brown, R, Thorsteinsson, E et al 2011, 'Poor sleep quality mediates between depression to fatigue in a university student sample', Psychology & Education, vol. 48, no. 1-Feb, pp. 59-71.
- Temple, E, Brown, R & Hine, D 2011, 'The 'grass ceiling': Limitations in the literature hinder our understanding of cannabis use and its consequences', Addiction, vol. 106, no. 2, pp. 238-244.
- Temple, E, Brown, R & Hine, D 2011, 'THE GRASSY KNOLL . . . AND AN ELEPHANT', Addiction, vol. 106, no. 2, pp. 251-252.
- Honan-Lowe CA, Brown RF, Hine DW, Vowels L, Wollin JA, Simmons RD, Pollard JD. 2011. Development and validation of the Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Scale: full and short version. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. Published online 6 December 2011
- Nichols, J, Schutte, N, Brown, R et al 2009, 'The impact of a self-efficacy intervention on short-term breast-feeding outcomes', Health Education and Behavior, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 250-259.
- Thorsteinsson, E & Brown, R 2009, 'Mediators and moderators of the stressor-fatigue relationship in nonclinical samples', Journal of Psychosomatic Research, vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 21-29.
- Bauld, R & Brown, R 2009, 'Stress, psychological distress, psychosocial factors, menopause symptoms and physical health in women', Maturitas, vol. 62, no. 2, pp. 160-165.
- Brown, R, Valpiani, E, Tennant, C et al 2009, 'Longitudinal assessment of anxiety, depression, and fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis', Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, vol. 82, no. 1, pp. 41-56.
- Brown, R & Thorsteinsson, E 2009, 'Stressful life-events and fatigue in a nonclinical sample', Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, vol. 197, no. 9, pp. 707-710.
- Brown, R, Dunn, S, Brynes, K et al 2009, 'Doctors' stress responses and poor communication performance in simulated bad-news consultations', Academic Medicine, vol. 84, no. 11, pp. 1595-1602.
- Brown RF, Thorsteinsson EB. 2009. Stressful life-events and fatigue in a non-clinical sample. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 197, 707-710.
- Brown RF, Valpiani E, Tennant CC, Dunn SM, Sharrock M, Hodgkinson S, Pollard JDP. 2009. Longitudinal assessment of anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis. Psychology & Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 82, 41-56.
- Thorsteinsson EB, Brown RF. 2009. Mediators and moderators of the stressor - fatigue relationship in non-clinical samples. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66, 21-29.
- Schutte, N, Malouff, J & Brown, R 2008, 'Efficacy of an emotion-focused treatment for prolonged fatigue', Behavior Modification, vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 699-713.
- Brown, R, Bartrop, R & Birmingham, C 2008, 'Immunological disturbance and infectious disease in anorexia nervosa: A review', Acta Neuropsychiatrica, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 117-128.
- Brown RF, Bartrop R, Birmingham CL. 2008. Immunological disturbance and infectious disease in anorexia nervosa: a review. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 20, 117-128.
- Brown RF, Tennant CC, Sharrock M, Hodgkinson S, Dunn SM, Pollard JD. 2006. Relationship between stress and relapse in multiple sclerosis: Part I. Important features. Multiple Sclerosis, 12: 453-64.
- Brown RF, Tennant CC, Sharrock M, Hodgkinson S, Dunn SM, Pollard JD. 2006. Relationship between stress and relapse in multiple sclerosis: Part II. Direct and indirect relationships. Multiple Sclerosis, 12: 465-75.
- Brown RF, Bartrop R, Beumont P, Birmingham CL. 2005. Bacterial infections in anorexia nervosa: Delayed recognition increases complications. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 37: 161-65.
- Brown RF, Tennant CC, Dunn SM, Pollard JD. 2005. A review of stress-relapse interactions in MS: Important features and stress-mediating and moderating variables. Multiple Sclerosis, 11: 477-84.
