Alexis Whitton

Despite the availability of effective treatments for depression, only a fraction of people who are in need of mental health treatment actually receive it. For those who do access treatment, finding a treatment that works is often a long process of trial-and-error. As a psychologist and Research Fellow at the Black Dog Institute and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, my research aims to improve treatment precision for people with depression by gaining a better understanding of the neurobiological processes that give rise to specific symptoms (e.g., loss of interest or pleasure, negative thinking). This knowledge can then be used to better tailor treatments to a patient’s specific needs. A core aspect of my research also focuses on ways to better integrate mental health screening into primary care, and promote greater access to low-cost, evidence-based online interventions.