Neuropsychiatry of degenerative cerebellar ataxias - lived experience and clinical assessment

Degenerative cerebellar ataxias are complex and heterogeneous diseases defined by a range of debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms. These include neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as emotional dysregulation and social difficulties, which are increasingly recognised as common and functionally impactful disease features. This project will aim to: ● Investigate the phenomenology of neuropsychiatric dysfunction through qualitative interviews of people with ataxia and their close others ● Investigate how neuropsychiatric symptoms are evaluated and addressed in current clinical practice for ataxias ● Understand types of neuropsychiatric symptoms experienced and how they manifest in daily life ● Investigate impact of neuropsychiatric symptoms on family and carer relationships ● Investigate how neuropsychiatric symptoms impact interaction with healthcare system ● Evaluate the effectiveness of clinical scales in capturing neuropsychiatric features of ataxias This project is suited to Clinical Neuropsychology PhD and Clinical Psychology PhD candidates. This research project will be co-supervised by Dr Louisa Selvadurai (psychologist, clinical neuropsychology registrar) and Associate Professor Ian Harding (neuroscientist). Students will have the opportunity to work with local and international clinical and research collaborators, and be embedded in the Ataxia Center of Excellence at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital.