Dr Lou Farrer
Areas of expertise
- Mental Health 111714
- Public Health And Health Services 1117
Research interests
e-mental health, prevention and treatment research, depression and anxiety disorders, technology in mental health care, university student mental health, implementation science
Biography
Dr Lou Farrer is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Research. Dr Farrer graduated with a PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2011. Her thesis examined the effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy among users of Lifeline’s crisis counselling service.
Dr Farrer’s primary research interest is in the development, evaluation, and implementation of technology-based mental health treatment programs. To date, her research has focused on conducting trials of automated, online therapy programs targeting depression and anxiety disorders. As a clinically-trained researcher, Dr Farrer is interested in the intersection of clinical service delivery and research, namely, exploring different methods for supporting users of online programs, examining factors that predict response and adherence to these programs, and trialling innovative models for disseminating and implementing online interventions in different settings. She is also interested in the mental health of university students, having recently completed a project funded by the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre to develop and evaluate an innovative Virtual Clinic for mental health designed specifically for tertiary student populations (The Uni Virtual Clinic). She is also involved in research examining different pathways for implementing e-mental health services in the community. In 2018 Dr Farrer was awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) to examine how digital mental health interventions are used in clinical practice.
Researcher's projects
Use of digital mental health tools in practice
Uni Virtual Clinic Project
ImpleMentAll Project
Current student projects
2014 - current: Ms Kathina Ali. An effectiveness study of the benefits of online peer-to-peer support for young people at risk for eating disorders: ProYouth Oz.
Past student projects
2018 Masters of Public Health (Adv) candidate:
Ms Amelia Yazidjoglou: “Combining work and study: time and health trade-offs”
2018 PhD candidate:
Ms Marita Cooper: “Getting shredded: Improving our understanding of muscle dysmorphia and related symptomology”
2012-2018 PhD candidate:
Ms Rebecca Randall: “I want to do something positive with my experiences” – An exploration of young people’s perspectives on their involvement in youth mental health research”.
Publications
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Sunderland, M et al 2019, 'A brief intervention to increase uptake and adherence of an online program for depression and anxiety: Protocol for the Enhancing Engagement with Psychosocial Interventions (EEPI) Randomized Controlled Trial', Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 78, no. March 2019, pp. 107-115.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Gulliver, A et al 2019, 'Efficacy of a transdiagnostic, video-based online program for reducing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in adults: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial', Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, vol. 14.
- Batterham, P, Calear, A, Farrer, L et al 2018, 'FitMindKit: Randomised controlled trial of an automatically tailored online program for mood, anxiety, substance use and suicidality', Internet Interventions, vol. 12, pp. 91-99pp.
- Gulliver, A, Farrer, L, Bennett, K et al 2018, 'University staff experiences of students with mental health problems and their perceptions of staff training needs', Journal of Mental Health, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 247-256pp.
- Karyotaki, E, Kemmeren, L, Riper, H et al 2018, 'Is self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) harmful? An individual participant data meta-analysis', Psychological Medicine, vol. 48, no. 15, pp. 2456-2466.
- Farrer, L, Walker, J, Harrison, C et al 2018, 'Primary care access for mental illness in Australia: Patterns of access to general practice from 2006 to 2016', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 1-12pp.
- Gulliver, A, Farrer, L, Bennett, K et al 2017, 'University staff mental health literacy, stigma and their experience of students with mental health problems', Journal of Further and Higher Education, vol. Online.
- Ali, K, Farrer, L, Fassnacht, D et al 2017, 'Perceived Barriers and Facilitators Towards Help-seeking for Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review', International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 9-21.
- Leach, L, Butterworth, P, Poyser, C et al 2017, 'Online Recruitment: Feasibility, Cost, and Representativeness in a Study of Postpartum Women', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 5pps.
- Karyotaki, E, Riper, H, Twisk, J et al 2017, 'Efficacy of self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) in treatment of depressive symptoms: An individual participant data meta-analysis', JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 351-359pp.
- Chan, J, Farrer, L, Gulliver, A et al 2016, 'University Students' Views on the Perceived Benefits and Drawbacks of Seeking Help for Mental Health Problems on the Internet: A Qualitative Study', JMIR Human Factors, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. e3.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Bennett, K et al 2016, 'Demographic and psychosocial predictors of major depression and generalised anxiety disorder in Australian university students', BMC Psychiatry, vol. 16, no. 241, pp. 1-9.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Chan, J et al 2015, 'A VIRTUAL MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF END USER SERVICE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES', JMIR Mental Health, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. e2-e2.
- Gulliver, A, Bennett, K, Bennett, A et al 2015, 'PRIVACY ISSUES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIRTUAL MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS A QUALITATIVE STUDY', JMIR Mental Health, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. e9-e9.
- Karyotaki, E, Kleiboer, A, Smit, F et al 2015, 'Predictors of treatment dropout in self-guided web-based interventions for depression: an 'individual patient data' meta-analysis', Psychological Medicine, vol. 45, no. 13, pp. 2717-2726.
- Ali, K, Farrer, L, Gulliver, A et al 2015, 'ONLINE PEER TO PEER SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW', JMIR Mental Health, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. e19-e19.
- Gulliver, A, Farrer, L, Chan, J et al 2015, 'Technology-based interventions for tobacco and other drug use in university and college students: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 1-10pp.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Bennett, K et al 2015, 'Exploring the acceptability of online mental health interventions among university teaching staff: Implications for intervention dissemination and uptake', Internet Interventions, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 359-365.
- Farrer, L, Griffiths, K, Christensen, H et al 2014, 'Predictors of Adherence and Outcome in Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy Delivered in a Telephone Counseling Setting', Cognitive Therapy and Research, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 358-367.
- Van Spijker, B, Batterham, P, Calear, A et al 2014, 'The Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS): Community-Based Validation Study of a New Scale for the Measurement of Suicidal Ideation', Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 408-419.
- Cunningham, J, Gulliver, A, Farrer, L et al 2014, 'Internet Interventions for Mental Health and Addictions: Current Findings and Future Directions', Current Psychiatry Reviews, vol. 16, no. 12, pp. 521-521.
- Christensen, H, Farrer, L, Batterham, P et al 2013, 'The effect of a web-based depression intervention on suicide ideation: Secondary outcome from a randomised controlled trial in a helpline', BMJ Open, vol. 3, no. 6.
- Farrer, L, Griffiths, K & Bennett, K 2013, 'Young and Well CRC', The Australasian Student Residences Management Journal, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 32-35.
- Batterham, P, Gulliver, A & Farrer, L 2013, Explainer: what is depression?, pp. online.
- Farrer, L, Gulliver, A, Chan, J et al 2013, 'Technology-based interventions for mental health in tertiary students: Systematic review', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. e101-e101.
- Farrer, L., Gulliver, A., Chan, J., Batterham, P.J., Reynolds, J., Calear, A., Tait, R., Bennett, K., Griffiths, K. M. (2013). Technology-based interventions for mental health in tertiary students: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(5): e101.
- Farrer, L, Christensen, H, Griffiths, K et al 2012, 'Web-Based cognitive behavior therapy for depression with and without telephone tracking in a national helpline: Secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 60-69.
- Griffiths, K, Mackinnon, A, Crisp, D et al 2012, 'The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group for Members of the Community with Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 7, no. 12, pp. 1-9.
- Farrer, L, Christensen, H, Griffiths, K et al 2011, 'Internet-Based CBT for Depression with and without Telephone Tracking in a National Helpline: Randomised Controlled Trial', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 6, no. 11, pp. e28099-e28099.
- Burgess, N, Christensen, H, Griffiths, K et al 2010, 'Recruitment challenges associated with a randomised controlled trial within a general telephone counselling service', Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare, vol. 16, no. 7, pp. 409-413.
- Griffiths, K, Farrer, L & Christensen, H 2010, 'The efficiacy of internet interventions for depression and anxiety disorders: A review of randomised controlled trials', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 192, no. 11, pp. S4-S11.
- Christensen, H, Griffiths, K & Farrer, L 2009, 'Adherence in Internet interventions for anxiety and depression', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. e23.
- Burgess, N, Christensen, H, Leach, L et al 2008, 'Mental health profile of callers to a generalist telephone counselling service', Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 42-47.
- Farrer, L, Leach, L, Griffiths, K et al 2008, 'Age differences in mental health literacy', BMC Public Health, vol. 8, no. 125, p. 8.
- Griffiths, K, Farrer, L & Christensen, H 2007, 'Clickety-Click: e-mental health train on track', Australasian Psychiatry, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 100-108.
- Griffiths, K, Farrer, L & Christensen, H 2006, Effective treatments a click away, InPsych.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Randomised controlled trial of a transdiagnostic online program to reduce the symptoms of mental illness in Australian tertiary students (Primary Investigator)
- Optimising digital mental health care: how is technology used in practice? (Primary Investigator)
- Uni-screen: a comprehensive audit of mental health problems in ACT universities (Primary Investigator)
- Identifying the psychosocial conditions of 'work at home' caring for an infant - what are the potential links with postnatal depression and anxiety? (Secondary Investigator)
- Keep it clever? Keep it healthy! Piloting a new method to treat mental health problems in young people at university (Primary Investigator)
- A randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a fully-tailored adaptive intervention in reducing mental health symptoms among young people (Secondary Investigator)
- Young People, Technology and Wellbeing Cooperative Research Centre (Secondary Investigator)
