Program Head, Mental Health; NHMRC Career Development Fellow
BSc (Hons) MClin Neuropsych PhD
Dr Ashleigh Lin completed Master of Clinical Neuropsychology and PhD degrees at The University of Melbourne. Ashleigh held postdoctoral research positions at Orygen The National Centre for Youth Mental Health and The University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom before taking up her current role at the Telethon Kids Institute in 2014 as a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellow. She is currently a NHMRC Career Development Research Fellow and Program Head of Mental Health and Youth at the Institute.
Ashleigh's research is focused on early detection and intervention for mental health problems in adolescents and young adults. She is particularly interested the mental health of vulnerable groups, such as gender diverse and Aboriginal young people. Ashleigh works closely with youth mental health service providers across Perth and is an active contributor to reference groups and committees in youth mental health in the state.
Ashleigh is available to supervise honours, masters and PhD students. Her team are currently working on the following projects:
- Assessing youth suicide prevention activities in WA
- A multi-site trial of omega-3 fatty acids for treating depression in young people (YoDA-F)
- A multi-trial of an online intervention for carers of people with psychosis (Altitudes East West)
- Examining the link between stigma and mental health in same-gender attracted adolescents
- Improving the social and emotional wellbeing of LGBTIQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
- Developing a cohort of gender diverse young people attending the Gender Diversity Service at Perth Children’s Hospital to better understand the health and wellbeing outcomes of this group (the GENTLE Cohort)
- A collaborative project to engage Nyoongar young people in mental health services (Building Bridges)
- Adapting a ‘serious game’ for the prevention of depression in gender diverse youth (TranSPARX)
- Co-designing suicide interventions for trans and gender diverse young people
- Studying the wellbeing of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
- Developing a sport-based intervention for young people with psychosis
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Projects
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Publications
August 2018
The school experiences of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Western Australia
Elevated levels of emotional difficulties among school students with T1D and variable levels of support from school staff to assist these students to manage their diabetes at school
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Health Promotion & Education Diabetes and Obesity Youth Mental HealthJune 2018The impact of psychotic experiences in the early stages of mental health problems in young people
Psychotic experiences appear to be particularly associated with depressive symptoms and psychological distress, impaired role functioning and quality of life in help-seeking young people in the medium-term
Published research Youth Mental HealthMay 2018The Ultra-High-Risk for psychosis groups: Evidence to maintain the status quo
Our findings demonstrate that Ultra-High-Risk groups evidence a similar clinical risk profile when we expand this beyond transition to psychosis
Published research Youth Mental HealthMay 2018Autism and psychosis: Clinical implications for depression and suicide
This study examines the association of autism spectrum traits, depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviour in individuals with psychotic experiences
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Youth Mental HealthMarch 2017Cannabis-induced attenuated psychotic symptoms: implications for prognosis in young people at ultra-high risk for psychosis
This study examined UHR transition risk as a function of cannabis use characteristics which vary largely between people, due to a variety of factors.
Published research Autism ResearchFebruary 2018Online interventions for the mental health needs of trans and gender diverse young people
Members of our research team have done an online survey (Trans Pathways) exploring the mental health and care pathways of gender diverse youth in Australia.
Published research Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2018Pre-onset risk characteristics for mania among young people at clinical high risk for psychosis
We aimed to identify the rate and predictors of transition to mania in a cohort of youth with clinical or familial risk for psychosis.
Published research Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2018Bullying and mental health amongst Australian children and young people with cystic fibrosis
This study describes the peer bullying experiences of young people with CF, and examines associations between school bullying and the psychological well-being of these young people
Cystic Fibrosis Published research Health Promotion & Education Youth Mental HealthNovember 2017Psychiatric disorders during early adulthood in those with childhood onset type 1 diabetes: Rates and clinical risk factors from population-based follow-up
To determine the incidence of and risk factors for psychiatric disorders in early adulthood in patients with childhood onset type 1 diabetes (T1D)
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Diabetes and Obesity Youth Mental HealthOctober 2017Puberty suppression in transgender children and adolescents
We review the available empirical evidence on the cognitive, physical, and surgical implications of puberty suppression in gender-incongruent children and adolescents
Published research Youth Health Youth Mental HealthOctober 2017Ventricular volumes across stages of schizophrenia and other psychoses
This study aims to investigate ventricular volumes at different stages of psychosis.
Published research Youth Mental HealthJune 2017Clinical presentation of Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome in children and adolescents: Is there an age effect?
Older age at presentation of Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome was associated with less functional impairment, but age was not associated with psychotic symptoms
Published research Youth Mental HealthJune 2017Long-term employment among people at ultra-high risk for psychosis
We sought to investigate the long-term unemployment rate and baseline predictors of employment status at follow-up in a large ultra-high risk cohort.
Published research Youth Mental HealthJune 2017Using clinical information to make individualized prognostic predictions in people at ultra high risk for psychosis
Recent studies have shown an association between psychopathology and subsequent clinical and functional outcomes in people at UHR for psychosis.
Published research Youth Mental HealthMay 2017Mental health problems among 4–17-year-olds with hearing problems: results from a nationally representative study
Clinicians caring for children and young people with hearing problems should be alert for heightened risk of specific mental health problems based on age and the nature of hearing problems.
Published research Health Promotion & Education Human Capability Ear Health Youth Mental HealthMarch 2017Neuroanatomical Predictors of Functional Outcome in Individuals at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis
The poorest functional outcomes have the lowest grey matter densities at identification as ultra-high risk for psychosis
Published research Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2017Evidence of a reduction over time in the behavioral severity of autistic disorder diagnoses
This study provides the first clear evidence of a reduction over time in the behavioral severity of individuals diagnosed with Autistic Disorder during a period of stability in diagnostic criteria
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Academic Biostatistics Autism Research Youth Mental HealthAugust 2017Prevalence and treatment of psychiatric disorders other than psychosis in children and adolescents with 22q11DS: Examining associations with social and role functioning
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and treatment of non-psychotic psychiatric disorders
Published research Depression and Anxiety Youth Mental HealthNovember 2016Obesity and associated factors in youth with an autism spectrum disorder
Prevalence of overweight/obesity in children and youth with autism spectrum disorder, and associations between weight status and range of factors
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism ResearchJuly 2016Humility, inquisitiveness, and openness: key attributes for meaningful engagement with Nyoongar people
The rebuilding of trust requires the development of meaningful relationships in order to break down the barriers so as to increase access and develop culturally secure responses by services
Published research Aboriginal Health Aboriginal Mental Health & Wellbeing Youth Mental HealthJuly 2016Further examination of the reducing transition rate in ultra high risk for psychosis samples: The possible role of earlier intervention
The rate of transition to psychotic disorder in ultra high risk (UHR) patients has declined in recent cohorts. The reasons for this are unclear, but may...
Published research Autism Research Youth Mental HealthJuly 2016What bridges the gap between self-harm and suicidality? The role of forgiveness, resilience and attachment
There is a lack of understanding of why some people who self-harm escalate to suicidal behaviour when others do not. Psychological factors such as attachment...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Autism Research Youth Mental HealthJune 2016Baseline grey matter volume of non-transitioned "ultra high risk" for psychosis individuals with and without attenuated psychotic symptoms at long-term follow-up
This study found that differences in regional grey matter volume are discernible at an early stage of ultra-high risk psychosis
Published research Youth Mental HealthJune 2016Psychotic experiences and their significance
Clinical perspective from the ultra high risk (UHR) paradigm, that aims to identify people at high risk of psychotic disorder
Published research Autism Research Youth Mental HealthMay 2016Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder
We examine the level of comorbidity found between Autism spectrum disorder and Schizophrenia spectrum disorders at a clinical and trait level
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research Youth Mental HealthApril 2016Risk perception and risk-taking behaviour during adolescence: The influence of personality and gender
This study investigated the influence of personality characteristics and gender on adolescents' perception of risk and their risk-taking behaviour.
Published research Autism Research Youth Health Youth Mental HealthFebruary 2016Longer-term increased cortisol levels in young people with mental health problems
Hair segment analyses revealed longer-term increased levels of cortisol in the past 3 months in early mental health problems
Published research Youth Health Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2016Are UHR patients who present with hallucinations alone at lower risk of transition to psychosis?
Hallucinations alone at baseline were not significantly associated with a reduced risk of transition to psychosis.
Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2016Baseline grey matter volume of non-transitioned "ultra high risk" for psychosis individuals with and without attenuated psychotic symptoms
Differences in regional GMV are discernible at an early stage of UHR and may be specific to individuals who have APS and psychopathology at follow-up
Published research Autism ResearchJanuary 2016Do affective or dissociative symptoms mediate the association between childhood sexual trauma and transition to psychosis in an ultra-high risk cohort?
At the point of transition, the mechanistic pathway from sexual trauma to psychosis does not appear to operate through affective symptoms
Published researchJanuary 2016Is it still correct to differentiate between early and very early onset psychosis?
Larger samples of patients are needed to better understand if the differentiation between very early onset psychosis and early onset psychosis is justified
Published research Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2016Declining transition rates to psychotic disorder in "ultra-high risk" clients: Investigation of a dilution effect
Later ultra-high risk psychosis cohorts presented with different clinical intake characteristics than earlier cohorts
Published research Youth Mental HealthOctober 2015Cognitive and behavioral factors associated with insomnia in inpatients with schizophrenia and related psychoses
This study examines cognitive and behavioral factors linked to insomnia in individuals with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
Published researchSeptember 2015Neighbourhood characteristics and the rate of identification of young people at ultra-high risk for psychosis
This study aimed to determine if the rate of identification of young people at ultra-high risk for psychosis was associated with the level of social deprivation
Published research Youth Mental HealthAugust 2015Response to Comment on Lin et al. Risk Factors for Decline in IQ in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Over the 12 Years From Diagnosis/Illness Onset
This editorial response addresses each of the concerns raised by Lin et al. RE: Risk Factors for Decline in IQ in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Over the 12...
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Youth Mental HealthJuly 2015Childhood maltreatment and transition to psychotic disorder independently predict long-term functioning in young people at ultra-high risk for psychosis
Individuals identified as at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis are at risk of poor functional outcome regardless of development of psychotic disorder.
Published researchJune 2015Discrete alterations of brain network structural covariance in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis.
The aim of the present study was to investigate whole-brain structural covariance patterns of eight large-scale networks in young people identified as...
Published research Youth Mental HealthMay 2015The association between autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A review of eight alternate models of co-occurrence
Understanding how and why these disorders co-occur has important implications for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, as well as for developing fundamental...
Autism Spectrum Disorders Published researchMarch 2015Outcomes of nontransitioned cases in a sample at ultra-high risk for psychosis.
Two-thirds of individuals identified as at ultra-high risk for psychosis do not develop psychotic disorder over the medium term.
Published researchJanuary 2015Risk factors for decline in IQ in youth with type 1 diabetes over the 12 years from diagnosis/illness onset
This study examined illness-related change in intelligence quotient (IQ) in a cohort of youth with type 1 diabetes studied prospectively from disease onset...
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Youth HealthJanuary 2015Olfactory identification deficits at identification as ultra-high risk for psychosis are associated with poor functional outcome
We have previously reported that olfactory identification (OI) deficits are a promising premorbid marker of transition from ultra-high risk...
Published researchJanuary 2015A systematic review: Identifying the prevalence rates of psychiatric disorder in Australia's Indigenous populations
A systematic review: Identifying the prevalence rates of psychiatric disorder in Australia's Indigenous populations.
Published research Aboriginal Health Aboriginal Mental Health & Wellbeing Youth Mental HealthJanuary 2015Social environmental risk factors for transition to psychosis in an Ultra-High Risk population.
Despite social environmental factors such as deprivation, urbanicity, migration and adversity being established risk factors for psychotic disorders...
Published research Youth HealthNovember 2014Discrete Alterations of Brain Network Structural Covariance in Individuals at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis
Whole-brain structural covariance analyses revealed subtle changes of connectivity of the default-mode, executive control, salience, motor, and auditory networks in UHR individuals for psychosis
Published research Youth Mental HealthJuly 2014Shame amplifies the association between stressful life events and paranoia amongst young adults using mental health services
Shame is associated with a range of psychological disorders, and is a trans-diagnostic moderator of the association between stressors and symptoms of disorder.
Published research Depression and AnxietyJanuary 2014The relationship between personality traits and psychotic like experiences in a large non-clinical adolescent sample
Our findings suggest that the chance of having psychotic like experiences is more likely for adolescents with certain personality traits.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Autism Research