
Overview
Background
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
- Understanding factors that promote and support the mental health of people living with dementia within residential aged care.
- Co-design, development, testing and implementation of a Mental Health Care Indicator Tool for use in Residential Aged Care Facilities (MHICare).
- Understanding models of care that promote quality of life for Indigenous populations living in residential care settings.
Telehealth psychotherapy and counselling programs
- Adaptation, evaluation, and implementation of a tailored telehealth counselling program to support family carers of people with dementia during the transition (pre and post) to residential care placement (RCTM).
- Evaluation and implementation of technology-assisted CBT for people living with dementia and anxiety in community-based settings (Tech-CBT).
Cognitive evaluation in Parkinson’s disease
- Barriers and enablers to cognitive assessment in Parkinson’s disease; evaluation and implementation of the PDCogniCare program.
Availability
- Dr Deborah Brooks is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Works
Search Professor Deborah Brooks’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
The estimation of health state utility values for psychological distress in Australia: implications for future economic evaluations
Keramat, Syed Afroz, Comans, Tracy, Basri, Rabeya, Bailey, Daniel, Brooks, Deborah and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). The estimation of health state utility values for psychological distress in Australia: implications for future economic evaluations. Value in Health, 28 (3), 368-378. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2024.12.002
2024
Conference Publication
Barriers and enablers to cognitive assessment in Parkinson’s disease: perspectives of clinicians and people living with PD
Brooks, D., Worthy, P., Shrubsole, K. and Dissanayaka, N. (2024). Barriers and enablers to cognitive assessment in Parkinson’s disease: perspectives of clinicians and people living with PD. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
2024
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
Conference Publication
Technology assisted and remotely delivered anxiety psychotherapy intervention for people living with dementia and their care partners: Tech-CBT project
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.
2024
Conference Publication
Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare project
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.
2024
Conference Publication
Neuropsychological predictors of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review (PDCogniCare)
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.
2024
Journal Article
Tailored videoconferencing counselling program to support family carers of people living with dementia during the transition to permanent residential care: a pilot and feasibility randomised trial
Brooks, Deborah, Wyles, Katy, Pachana, Nancy A., Beattie, Elizabeth and Gaugler, Joseph E. (2024). Tailored videoconferencing counselling program to support family carers of people living with dementia during the transition to permanent residential care: a pilot and feasibility randomised trial. BMC Geriatrics, 24 (1) 375, 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-04907-4
2024
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
2024
Journal Article
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
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
2024
Journal Article
Feasibility and acceptability of a videoconferencing CBT intervention for anxiety in people with Parkinson’s Disease
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
2024
Conference Publication
“It’s really important that we do have a voice.” Residents’ perspectives on the factors that promote and support mental health within aged care homes
Brooks, D., Burley, C., Sriram, D., Brimelow, R. and Dissanayaka, N. (2024). “It’s really important that we do have a voice.” Residents’ perspectives on the factors that promote and support mental health within aged care homes. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
2023
Journal Article
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
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
2023
Conference Publication
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.
2023
Conference Publication
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.
2023
Conference Publication
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
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.
2023
Conference Publication
Barriers and facilitators to the delivery of CBT interventions to people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: technology assisted and non-technology assisted approaches
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.
2023
Conference Publication
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
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.
2023
Conference Publication
Towards better mental health of people living with dementia in residential aged care: Co-design of the Mental Health Care Indicator (MHICare) tool
Brooks, D., Sriram, D., Brimelow, R., Burley, C. and Dissanayaka, N. (2023). Towards better mental health of people living with dementia in residential aged care: Co-design of the Mental Health Care Indicator (MHICare) tool. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2023, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 29-31 May 2023.
2022
Journal Article
Elements of long-term care that promote quality of life for Indigenous and First Nations Peoples: a mixed methods systematic review
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
2022
Journal Article
Long-term care placement: The transitional support needs and preferences of spousal dementia caregivers
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
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Deborah Brooks is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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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.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Development and implementation of a standardised toolkit to improve evaluation of cognitive impairment in Parkinsons disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Leander Mitchell, Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka
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Doctor Philosophy
Technology-assisted telehealth psychotherapy intervention for people with dementia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Leander Mitchell, Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka
Media
Enquiries
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