Interventional Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
The Interventional Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience research group focuses on developing innovative therapies for mental health conditions.
About
Our research focuses on developing innovative therapies for mental health conditions, particularly treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We conduct clinical trials and investigative studies exploring and developing various treatment approaches, including device-based therapies like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS), as well as novel pharmacotherapies such as psychedelic-assisted therapy (psilocybin, MDMA). We also conduct neuroscience research (Electroencephalography [EEG]; Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI]) to better understand brain function in mental health conditions, aiming to inform and enhance treatment applications.
Together, our approach combines cutting-edge clinical trials with fundamental research, embedded within a strong translational focus. To do so, we hold established partnerships with clinical services throughout Australia, facilitating the implementation of our research findings in real-world settings. We have also developed training programs to educate healthcare professionals on these new treatment approaches, ensuring that the latest advancements in mental health care can be effectively and safely applied. This approach ensures that our research can rapidly transition from research trials to clinical implementation, potentially benefiting more people who have not responded to traditional treatments, and sooner.
Publications
Selected Publications (for a complete list, refer to the ANU Research Portal and ORCID profiles)
Freitas RR, Gotsis ES, Gallo AT, Fitzgibbon BM, Bailey NW, Fitzgerald PB (2025). The safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy: A systematic review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 59, 2, p. 128-151 24 p.
Perera MP, Gotsis ES, Bailey NW, Fitzgibbon BM, Fitzgerald PB (2024). Exploring Functional Connectivity in large-scale brain networks in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systemic review of EEG and fMRI studies. Cerebral Cortex. 34, 8, 26 p., bhae327.
Perera MP, Bailey NW, Fitzgerald PB et al. (2023) Home-Based Individualized Alpha Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Improves Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Preliminary Evidence from a Randomized, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial. Depression and Anxiety. 2023, 1, 11 p., 9958884.
Bailey NW, Fulcher BD, Caldwell B, Hill AT, Fitzgibbon B, van Dijk H, Fitzgerald PB (2023). Uncovering a stability signature of brain dynamics associated with meditation experience using massive time-series feature extraction. Neural Networks. 171, p. 171-185 15 p.
Bailey NW, Biabani M, Hill AT, Miljevic A, Rogasch NC, McQueen B, Murphy OW, Fitzgerald PB (2023). Introducing RELAX: An automated pre-processing pipeline for cleaning EEG data - Part 1: Algorithm and Application to Oscillations. Clinical Neurophysiology. 149, p.178-201 24 p.
Perera MP, Mallawaarachchi S, Bailey NW, Murphy OW, Fitzgerald PB (2023). Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with increased electroencephalographic (EEG) delta and theta oscillatory power but reduced delta connectivity. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 163, p. 310-317 8 p.
Fitzgerald PB, George MS, Pridmore S (2022). The evidence is in: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is an effective, safe and well-tolerated treatment for patients with major depressive disorder (2022). Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 56, 7, p. 745-751 7 p.
Fitzgerald PB, Hoy KE, Daskalakis Z (2021). Left handedness and response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in major depressive disorder. World Journal of Biological Psychiatry. 22, 4, p. 310-314 5 p.
Fitzgerald PB et al. (2019) A pragmatic randomized controlled trial exploring the relationship between pulse number and response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in depression. Brain stimulation 13,145-152
Projects
Members
Leader
Director, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology
Senior Staff Specialist, Canberra Health Services
(EA: Cheryl Morse E: ea.smp@anu.edu.au)
Researcher
Honorary Associate Professor, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology
Paratus Clinical Research Melbourne
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Fitzgerald Research Group), ANU School of Medicine and Psychology
Postdoctoral Fellow, (Fitzgerald Research Group), ANU School of Medicine and Psychology
Clinical Lecturer (Psychiatrist), Fitzgerald Research Group, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology (part-time)
Staff Specialist, Psychiatry, Canberra Health Services
Research support officer
Clinical Trials Coordinator (Fitzgerald Research Group), School of Medicine and Psychology
Clinical Trial Coordinator (Fitzgerald Research Group), School of Medicine and Psychology
Research Officer (Fitzgerald Research Group), School of Medicine and Psychology
Research Officer (Fitzgerald Research Group), School of Medicine and Psychology
Research Officer (Fitzgerald Research Group), ANU School of Medicine and Psychology
Clinical Trials Coordinator (Fitzgerald Research Group)
Administrator
Special Projects Manager, ANU College of Science and Medicine
Student
PhD Scholar, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology
PhD Scholar, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology
PhD Scholar
External members
- Nigel Denning
- Traill Dowie
- Llewellyn Lewis
- Beth Mah
- Suneel Chamoli
- Monica Schweickle
- Jonathan Krygier
- Nicky Miller
- Nikki O'Dwyer
- James Smith
- Natalia Gutierrez
- Diarmuid O'Sullivan
- Michael Jenson
- Kirsten Gainsford, Research Support Officer
- Molly Waldron, Research Support Officer
Location
Canberra