Doctor Kathryn Nicholson Perry

• Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
• Current Research Studies
• Grants / Current Projects
• Awards and Recognition
• Publications
• Memberships
• Contact Details

Kathryn completed her undergraduate studies in applied psychology at the University of Wales, College of Cardiff and her clinical psychology training at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. She completed her PhD in the Faculty of Medicine, University Sydney on the utility of the biopsychosocial model in spinal cord injury (SCI) pain and its management. She has worked in both clinical and research roles in the area of clinical health psychology in both the UK and Australia. Recently she has worked with the NSW Statewide Spinal Cord Injury Service on the development of a psychosocial strategy for people with SCI, and collaborating on research studies on attentional biases in pain and adjustment to SCI.

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Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

Rehabilitation psychology; pain; injury; disability.

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Current Research Studies

We are frequently running research projects requiring participants, and information is provided here about some current ones that you may like to participate in:

Where are my virtual hands and feet? (opens in a new window) A study about the effects of pain after a spinal cord injury on body image (those without a spinal cord injury can also participate).

Great Expectations:(opens in a new window) a study about reproductive decision-making in people with spinal cord injury.

Anxiety after spinal cord injury: (opens in a new window) an online survey about post-traumatic symptoms following spinal cord injury.

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Grants / Current Projects

NSW Statewide Spinal Cord Injury Service (Middleton J, Craig A & Nicholson Perry K) Psychosocial aspects of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation: best practice assessment and intervention. Lifetime Care and Support Authority, 2008 – 2011.

Ussher J, Perz J, Gilbert E, Wong T, Narchal R, Nicholson Perry K (UWS); Rae M, Wiesberg E, Newman P (Family Planning, NSW) Pilot project examining the sexual and reproductive health needs of CALD populations School of Psychology, UWS, 2010

Nicholson Perry K Discovering the Power in Me: Evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of an educational intervention for people with spinal cord injury in Australia, School of Psychology, UWS, 2010

Nicholson Perry K and Nicholas M Attached to pain: The effects of attachment avoidance and anxiety on the experience of experimental pain UWS Internal Research Grants Scheme, 2010

Nicholson Perry K and Moseley L Responses to a hand and foot laterality recognition protocol among individuals with chronic spinal cord injury related pain, School of Psychology, UWS, 2009

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Awards and Recognition

Australian Pain Society / Australian Pain Relief Association PhD Scholarship 2005 – 2008 (funded by Mundipharma)

Nicholson, K Clinical Training Scholarship, West Glamorgan Health Authority, 1991 – 1993.

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Publications

Journal Articles

Nicholson Perry, K., Nicholas, M. K., & Middleton, J. Multidisciplinary cognitive behavioural pain management programmes for people with a spinal cord injury: design and implementation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 0(0),1-9.

Sharpe, L., Nicholson Perry, K., Rogers, P., Dear, B. F., Nicholas, M. K., & Refshauge, K. (2010). A comparison of the effect of attention training and relaxation on responses to pain. Pain, 150(3), 469-476.

Nicholson Perry, K., Nicholas, M. K., & Middleton, J. W. (2010). Comparison of a pain management program with usual care in a pain management center for people with spinal cord injury-related chronic pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 26(3), 206-216.

Nicholson Perry, K., Middleton, J. W., Siddall, P. J., & Nicholas, M. (2009). The problem of pain and its management. In A. Craig & Y. Tran (Eds.), Psychological dynamics associated with spinal cord injury rehabilitation: New directions and best evidence. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Nicholson Perry, K., Nicholas, M. K., & Middleton, J. W. (2009). Spinal cord injury-related pain in rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study of relationships with cognitions, mood and physical function. European Journal of Pain, 13(5), 511-517.

Sharpe, L., Nicholson Perry, K., Rogers, P., Dear, B. F., Nicholas, M. K., & Refshauge, K. A comparison of the effect of attention training and relaxation on responses to pain. Pain, In Press, Corrected Proof.

Stiers, W., Nicholson Perry, K., Kennedy, P., & Scherer, M. (in press). Rehabilitation psychology. In P. Martin, F. Cheung, M. Kyrios, L. Littlefield, M. Knowles, B. Overmier & J. M. Prieto (Eds.), The IAAP Handbook of Applied Psychology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Craig, A., & Nicholson Perry, K. (2008). Guide for health professionals on the psychosocial care of people with spinal cord injury. Sydney: NSW Statewide Spinal Cord Injury Service.

Nicholson Perry K, Nicholas MK, Middleton J, Siddall PJ (In press) Psychological Characteristics of People with Spinal Cord Injury-Related Persisting Pain Referred to a Tertiary Pain Management Centre. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development.

Wardle J, Rogers P, Judd P, Taylor MA, Rapoport L, Green M and Nicholson Perry K (2000) Randomized Trial of The Effects of Cholesterol-Lowering Dietary Treatment on Psychological Function. American Journal of Medicine,108 (7) p. 547-53.

Rapoport L and Nicholson Perry K (2000) Do Dietitians Feel That They Have Had Adequate Training In Behaviour Change Methods? Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, 13 (4) p. 287-298.

Books / Chapters

Nicholson Perry K, Siddall P, Middleton J and Nicholas M (in press) The Problem of Pain in Spinal Cord Injury. A Craig and Y Tran (Editors) Psychological Dynamics Associated with Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: New Directions and Best Evidence. New York: Nova Publications.

Nicholson Perry K and Burgess M (2002) Communication in Cancer Care. Oxford: Blackwell Publications.

Nicholson Perry K, Rapoport L and Wardle J (1998) Adherence to Lipid-lowering Dietary Interventions. LB Myers and K Midence (Editors) Adherence to treatment in medical conditions. Harwood Academic Press.

Non-peer Reviewed Publications

Craig A and Nicholson Perry K (in press) A Clinical Guide to Psychosocial Care of People with Spinal Cord Injury. Sydney: NSW State Spinal Cord Injury Service.

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Memberships

Inaugural National Convenor of Australian Psychological Society Interest Group in Rehabilitation Psychology, established in 2007

Member of Local Organising Committee for Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2009 and chair of committee organising inaugural psychology pre-conference workshops

Member of Committee of NSW College of Clinical Psychologists
Member of Australian Psychological Society Professional Practice Advisory Group, 2008 & 2009

Full registration with NSW Psychologists Registration Board (PS0062653) and registered as provider of clinical psychology services with Medicare

Member of the Australian Psychological Society, International Association for the Study of Pain, Australia and New Zealand Spinal Cord Society and the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy

Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society & Chartered Clinical Psychologist

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