Dr Tanya Davison - Researcher Profile

Tanya Davison

Address

Kingston Centre
Warrigal Road

Contact Details

Email: Tanya.Davison@monash.edu


Biography

Dr Tanya Davison is Senior Researcher at the Aged Mental Health Research Unit in the School of Psychology and Psychiatry at Monash University. She has developed a strong research profile in dementia and late-life depression over the past ten years, with her work focusing on improving the management of mental health in aged care settings. She has recently been awarded the Alastair Heron Prize by the Australian Psychological Society, a biannual award for research of exceptional quality in the area of age-related dementias.

With Australians living longer than ever before, it is important that we consider the quality of life and wellbeing of older adults. Unfortunately, older people who require nursing home care, often have poor outcomes, and we find high rates of depression and anxiety. Busy nursing home staff and GPs often fail to detect these disorders, which remain untreated much of the time. Only a small minority of aged care residents are offered counselling or psychological therapy to assist them to cope at this stage of life. Dr Tanya Davison's overall goal is to work towards solutions to this situation.

Tanya's research has focused on improving the detection and treatment of depression and BPSD (behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia) among older adults in nursing homes. In collaboration with her colleagues, she developed training programs in depression and BPSD for nursing home staff, as well as depression training for palliative care staff. These programs have been evaluated in studies funded by the NHMRC, ARC, Alzheimer’s Australia, and the Department of Health and Ageing. Most recently, Tanya has been interested in understanding risk and resilience factors for late-life depression, with a view to developing appropriate preventative and treatment strategies for depression in aged care settings. She is currently reviewing the effectiveness of psychological interventions in improving the mental health and wellbeing of aged care residents.


 

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Keywords

depression, dementia, agitated behaviour, long-term care, residential care, anxiety, training

Qualifications

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Institution: Deakin University
Year awarded: 2010
DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY (CLINICAL)
Institution: Deakin University
Year awarded: 2003
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY
Institution: Glasgow Caledonian University
Year awarded: 1999

Clinical Activity

Dr Davison is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked in academic and clinical roles in aged mental health since graduating in 2003. She worked as a consultant psychologist in multiple aged persons’ mental health teams, and continues to provide psychological services to older adults and their families and professional carers in residential aged care facilities. She has also provided specialist training to Doctor of Psychology students in the assessment and treatment of older adults over several years.