Katrina Prior

I am a Research Fellow at The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, based at the University of Sydney. My research focuses on the interrelationship between mental health and substance use disorders, particularly anxiety and alcohol use disorders, to inform the development, evaluation and implementation of effective prevention, early intervention, and treatment programs. My work predominantly focuses on digital health interventions, to increase the reach and sustainability of my mental health and substance use interventions.

I have made independent, original, and significant contributions to the existing body of knowledge in this area by leading two independent programs of research that seek to: 1) develop and trial an innovative online Cognitive Bias Modification brain training program to reduce the severity and impact of anxiety and hazardous alcohol use among young adults (‘Re-Train Your Brain’, funded by a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship), and 2) understand the prevalence and impact of “drinking to cope” among postpartum mothers to inform the co-development of a novel, innovative and evidence-based anxiety-alcohol intervention tailored for new mothers (‘Healthy Mum, Healthy Bub’).

These programs of research build on my experience in developing, coordinating, and evaluating other interventions in world-first randomised controlled trials, including an internet-delivered early intervention for young adults who drink to cope with anxiety (the ‘Inroads’ study), and an integrated intervention for depression and substance use disorders (the ‘Activate’ study).

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

2014– 2018: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Public Health & Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney.
Thesis title: “Substance use, depression and social phobia: an examination of co-occurring disorders.”

2012: B.Sci(Psych)(Hons), First Class (83/100), Australian National University, Canberra.
Thesis title: “Students’ expectations of ageing: An evaluation of the impact of imagined intergenerational contact and the mediating role of ageing anxiety.”

2008– 2011: B.Com/Sci(Psych), Australian National University, Canberra.