Dr Avril Brereton - Researcher Profile

Biography

Avril works in the Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences at Monash University as a Senior Research Fellow.  She has worked in the field of autism for over thirty years in a vriety of settings.

She has research and teaching interests in the area of developmental psychiatry with a praticular focus in the area of Pervasive Developmental Disorders.  Avril also provides consultatio to community health, education and welfare agencies and educational workshops for parents and professionals.

Related Links:

• Psych: Research Themes
• Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology

Research & Supervision Interests

Autism: parent - based interventions, early childhood and adolescence, genetic basis of autism, and parental mental health

Keywords

Adolescents and young adults, Asperger's disorder, Autism, Autism spectrum disorders, Comorbidity, Education and skills training

Qualifications

PHD

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2000

Publications

Books

Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2005, Pre-Schoolers with Autism: An Education and Skills Training Programme for Parents - Manual for Clinicians, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London UK.

Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2005, Pre-schoolers with autism: An Education and Skills Training Programme for Parents - Manual for Parents, Jessica Kingley Publishers, London UK.

Book Chapters

Bull, K.J., Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2012, Pervasive developmental disorders, in Contemporary approaches to infant and child mental health, eds Louise Newman and Sarah Mares, IP Communications Pty Ltd, Australia, pp. 112-148.

Gray, K., Brereton, A., Tonge, B., 2010, Autism, in Chiropractic Pediatrics, eds Neil J. Davies, Joan Fallon, Dana J. Lawrence, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, UK, pp. 207-216.

Bradley, E., Summers, J., Brereton, A.V., Einfeld, S.L., Havercamp, S.M., Holt, G., Levitas, A., Tonge, B.J., 2007, Intellectual disabilities and behavioural, emotional and psychiatric disturbances, in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, eds A. Prof Vian Brown and Prof. Maire Percy, Brookes Publishing, USA, pp. 643-664.

Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., Kiomall, M.C., Lourey, E.J., Taffe, J.R., 2007, Somatoform, facticious, and dissociative disorders, in Diagnostic Manual - Intellectual Disability: A clinical guide for diagnosis of mental health in persons with intellectual disability, eds Mr Robert Fletcher, Em. Prof Earl Loschen, Prof Chrissoula Stavrakaki and Prof Michael First, National Association for the Dually Diagnosed, USA, pp. 225-248.

Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2002, Asperger's Disorder, in Autism and Related Disorders: The basic handbook for mental health, primary care and other professionals, eds Geraldine Holt and Nick Bouras, Henry Ling Limited, Dorchester UK, pp. 25-31.

Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2002, Autism, in Autism and Related Disorders: The basic handbook for mental health, primary care and other professionals, eds Geraldine Holt and Nick Bouras, Henry Ling Limited, Dorchester UK, pp. 1-24.

Journal Articles

Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., Kiomall, M.C., Mackinnon, A.J., Rinehart, N.J., 2012, A randomised group comparison controlled trial of `preschoolers with autism?: A parent education and skills training intervention for young children, Autism : the international journal of research and practice [P], issue 1, Sage Publications Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1-18.

Gray, K.M., Keating, C., Taffe, J.R., Brereton, A.V., Einfeld, S.L., Tonge, B.J., 2012, Trajectory of behavior and emotional problems in autism, American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities [P], vol 117, issue 2, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, United States, pp. 121-133.

Tonge, B., Brereton, A., 2011, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Australian Family Physician [P], vol 40, issue 9, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australia, pp. 672-677.

Moseley, D., Tonge, B., Brereton, A., Einfeld, S., 2011, Psychiatric comorbidity in adolescents and young adults with autism, Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities [P], vol 4, issue 4, Taylor & Francis, US, pp. 229-243.

Rinehart, N.J., Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., Bradshaw, J.L., 2010, Attentional blink in young people with high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder, Autism : the international journal of research and pra..., vol 14, Sage Publications Ltd, UK, pp. 47-66.

May, T., Brewer, W., Rinehart, N., Enticott, P., Brereton, A., Tonge, B., 2010, Differential olfactory identification in children with autism and Asperger's Disorder: A comparative and longitudinal study, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders [P], vol 41, Springer, USA, pp. 837-847.

Rinehart, N.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Moss, S.A., Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2008, Brief report: Inhibition of return in young people with autism and Asperger's disorder, Autism, vol 12, issue 3, Sage Publications Ltd., UK, pp. 249-260.

Brewer, W.J., Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2008, Dissociation of age and ability on a visual analogue of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test in children with autism, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, vol 2, issue 4, Elsevier Inc., USA, pp. 612-620.

Rinehart, N.J., Bellgrove, M.A., Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., Howells-Rankin, D., Bradshaw, J.L., 2006, An examination of movement kinematics in young people with high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder: further evidence for a motor planning deficit, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol 36, issue 6, Springer/Plenum Publishers, USA, pp. 757-767.

Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., Kiomall, M.C., Mackinnon, A.J., King, N.J., Rinehart, N.J., 2006, Effects on parental mental health of an education and skills training program for parents of young children with autism: a randomized controlled trial, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, vol 45, issue 5, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA, pp. 561-569.

Rinehart, N.J., Tonge, B.J., Iansek, R., McGinley, J., Brereton, A.V., Enticott, P.G., Bradshaw, J.L., 2006, Gait function in newly diagnosed children with autism: Cerebellar and basal ganglia related motor disorder, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, vol 48, issue 10, Cambridge University Press, New York USA, pp. 819-824.

Rinehart, N.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Moss, S.A., Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2006, Pseudo-random number generation in children with high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder: Further evidence for a dissociation in executive functioning?, Autism, vol 10, issue 1, SAGE Publications Ltd, London England, pp. 70-85.

Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., Einfeld, S.L., 2006, Psychopathology in children and adolescents with autism compared to young people with intellectual disability, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol 36, issue 7, Springer, USA, pp. 863-870.

Gray, K.M., Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., 2006, Screening for autism in infants, children, and adolescents, International Review of Research in Mental Retardation, vol 32, Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, San Diego USA, pp. 197-227.

Rinehart, N.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., Bellgrove, M., 2002, A Neurobehavioural Examination of Individuals with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's Disorder Using a Fronto-striatal Model of Dysfunction, Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews, vol 1, issue 2, Sage Publications, USA, pp. 164-177.

Rinehart, N.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2002, A clinical and neurobehavioural review of high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder, The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, vol 36, issue 6, Blackwell Publishing Asia, Carlton South Vic Australia, pp. 762-770.

Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2002, Autism and related disorders in adults, Current Opinion, vol 15, issue 5, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Maryland USA, pp. 483-487.

Rinehart, N.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2002, Lateratlization in Individuals with high-functioning Autism and Asperger's Disorder: a Frontostriatal Model, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol 32, issue 4, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishing, USA, pp. 321-331.

Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., Mackinnon, A.J., Einfeld, S.L., 2002, Screening young people for autism using the Developmental Behaviour Checklist, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol 41, issue 11, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Hagerstown USA, pp. 1369-1375.

Rinehart, D.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Moss, S., Brereton, A., Tonge, B.J., 2001, A deficit in shifting attention present in high-functioning autism but not Asperger's disorder, Austism, vol 5, issue 1, Sage Publications Ltd, UK, pp. 67-80.

Rinehart, D.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Brereton, A., Tonge, B.J., 2001, Movement preparation in high-functioning autism and Asperger Disorder: a serial choice reaction time task involving motor reprogramming, Journal of Austism and Developmental Disorders, vol 31, issue 1, Kluwer Academic - Plenum Publishers, USA, pp. 79-88.

Rinehart, N.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Moss, S., Brereton, A.V., Tonge, B.J., 2000, A typical interference of local detail on global processing in high-functioning autism and Asperger's Disorder, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, vol 41 issue 6, Cambridge University Press, New York NY USA, pp. 769-778.

Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., Gray, K.M., Einfeld, S.L., 1999, Behavioural and emotional disturbance in high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome, Austism, vol 3 issue 2, Sage Publications and The National Autistic Soc., London UK, pp. 117-130.

Conference Proceedings

Rinehart, N.J., Tonge, B.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Iansek, R., Brereton, A.V., McGinley, J., Enticott, P.G., 2005, Cerebellar - gait features in young children (3-6) with autism, Australian Journal of Psychology: Combined Abstracts of 2005 Australian Psychology Conferences, 28 September 2005 to 2 October 2005, Taylor & Francis Ltd, UK, p. 249.

Rinehart, N.J., Bradshaw, J.L., Brereton, A.P., Tonge, B.J., 1999, High functioning autism and Asperger's disorder: A dissociation in visual-perceptual and executive functioning, Australian Journal of Psychology, Sydney NSW 9-11 April 1999, The Australian Psychological Society Ltd, Carlton Vic Australia, p. 40.

Other

Brereton, A., 2000, Psychopathology in children and adolescents with autism.

Tonge, B.J., Brereton, A.V., 1997, International Perspectives: Australia, Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, vol donald j cohel, fred r kmar, John Wiley and Sons, New York NY USA, pp. 951-956.

Grants

Title:

A Parent Education and Skills Training Early Intervention for Children With Autism.

Investigators:

Tonge, B, King, N, Brereton, A

Funding:

(2000 - 2004). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Title:

A parent education and skills training intervention for young adolescents with autism.

Investigators:

King, N, Tonge, B, Brereton, A, Mackinnon, A

Funding:

(2004 - 2008). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Title:

A parent education and skills training intervention for young adults with Autism.

Investigators:

Tonge, B, Brereton, A, Mohr, C

Funding:

(2010 - 2014). Department of Human Services (Victoria).

Title:

Autism Spectrum Disorders Youth Research Project.

Investigators:

Tonge, B, Brereton, A, Bull, K, Flower, T

Funding:

(2007 - 2011). Department of Human Services (Victoria).

Title:

Early Detection of Children With Autism "the Sooner the Better".

Investigators:

Tonge, B, Brereton, A, Gray, K

Funding:

(1999 - 1999). Forest Hill Early Childhood Foundation.

Title:

Early Detection of Children With Autism - The Sooner the Better.

Investigators:

Tonge, B, Brereton, A, Gray, K

Funding:

(1999 - 2003). Australian Higher Education Industrial Association.

(2002 - 2006). Australian Higher Education Industrial Association.

Title:

Understanding autism: promoting family mental health.

Investigators:

Fraser, M, Brereton, A, Tonge, B

Funding:

(2002 - 2006). Department of Human Services (ACT).

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Completed Supervision

Student:

Bogaty, E.

Program of Study:

THE CONTRIBUTION OF TEMPERAMENT AND INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING TO SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN CHILDREN. (PHD) 2004.

Supervisors:

Jenvey, V (Main), Lill, A (Associate), Brereton, A (Associate).

Student:

Bull, K.

Program of Study:

The Mansfield Autism Statewide Services Travelling Teacher Service: an investigation of an innovative intervention model and its impact on the adjustment and wellbeing of children and young people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and their parents. (PHD) 2012.

Supervisors:

Tonge, B (Main), Brereton, A (Associate).

Student:

Moseley, D.

Program of Study:

COMORBID MENTAL DISORDER IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM. (PHD) 2003.

Supervisors:

Tonge, B (Main), Brereton, A (Associate).