Meaghan O’Donnell
Biographic Data
| ID | 6485829 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Meaghan O’Donnell |
| GIVEN NAMES | Meaghan |
| FAMILY NAME | O’Donnell |
| SIGNATURE | O’DONNELL M |
| AFFILIATIONS | The University of Melbourne |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4349-0022 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 28 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 6 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 28 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Foundations of the Alive National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation
The ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation was established in 2021. Funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council's Special Initiative in Mental Health, the Centre aims to foster innovation in mental health care. Central to this aim is embedding the voices of those with lived experience into all Centre structures and activities including leadership and co-design of research priorities for mental healt…
Co‐Designing Lived Experience Guide Support for First Responder Mental Health
BACKGROUND: Improving the mental health and well-being of first responders has been a priority, leading to increased availability of treatments and services. However, access barriers continue to hinder the effectiveness of these services. Lived experience guides are mental healthcare service navigators who have real-world experience working as a first responder and understand mental health challenges first responders experience. The aim of this s…
Longitudinal Associations Between Sources of Uncertainty and Mental Health Amongst Resettled Refugees During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic may have disproportionately affected forcibly displaced people due to parallel uncertainties such as visa insecurity and family separation. This study explicitly examined whether different sources of uncertainty contributed in specific ways to increased psychological symptoms for refugees during the pandemic. A large cohort of 733 refugees and asylum seekers settled in Australia completed a mental health survey in June 2020 …
Interactive relationship between alexithymia, psychological distress and posttraumatic stress disorder symptomology across time
Alexithymia, psychological distress, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly related constructs. The ongoing debate about the nature and relationship between these constructs is perpetuated by an overreliance on cross-sectional research. We examined the longitudinal interactive relationship between alexithymia, psychological distress, and PTSD. We hypothesised that there is an interactive relationship between the three constructs. Mil…
The Trauma and Mental Health Impacts of Coercive Control
Coercive control is an under researched type of intimate partner violence (IPV). The aims of this review were to (a) synthesize all available evidence regarding associations with coercive control and mental health outcomes including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, and depression; and (b) compare these with associations involving broader categories of psychological IPV. Primary studies which measured associations of coercive c…
Moral injury appraisals and complex PTSD in refugees
Findings highlight the role of moral injury appraisals in exacerbating traditional PTSD symptoms, as well as the broader symptoms characteristic of CPTSD. Further, results indicate that specific types of moral injury appraisals (relating to one's own and others' perceived moral transgressions) may lead to differential psychological reactions, raising important implications for clinical practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights …
It's Like You're a Living Hostage, and It Never Ends”
Coercive control is a complex and poorly understood dimension of intimate partner violence that is associated with trauma and mental health consequences. It is essential to understand the nuanced and varied experiences of coercive control and potential processes of traumatization. In this qualitative phenomenological study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 women who had experienced coercive control and accessed domestic violence se…
Individual and community experiences of posttraumatic growth after disaster
PTG is evident in longer-term disaster recovery. While PTG appears to vary across communities, the findings suggest that it is an individual's own sense of community (rather than community-level cohesion) that is most closely related to this longer-term growth following a bushfire event. While PTG is currently understood as an outcome of individual-level perceptions, community-level experiences shape the potential for positive transformations to …
Understanding the temporal dynamics of problem anger using sequence analysis
Problem anger is a common, and potentially destructive mental health issue in trauma-affected populations, affecting up to 30% of veteran and military populations. Problem anger is associated with a range of psychosocial and functional difficulties and elevated risk of harm to self and others. Increasingly, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is being used to understand the microlevel dynamics of emotions, and this information is valuable to in…
Recognition and responses to intimate partner violence (IPV) in gambler's help services
Accumulating evidence shows a strong association between gambling problems and reports of intimate partner violence (IPV) but provides limited guidance about how to respond to these issues in specialised gambling services. The aim of this study was thus to improve understanding of the potential role of gambling help providers in identifying and responding to IPV. This was addressed via 20 semistructured interviews with gambling help service staff…
Health Service Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence among Military Personnel and Veterans
IPV is a significant concern among active duty (AD) military personnel or veterans, and there is a need for initiatives to address violence perpetrated by such personnel, and IPV victimisation in military and veteran-specific contexts. The aim of this paper was to provide an overview of major IPV intervention approaches and evidence in military and veteran-specific health services. A scoping review was conducted involving a systematic search of a…
Regional Research-Practice-Policy Partnerships in Response to Climate-Related Disparities
Although climate change poses a threat to health and well-being globally, a regional approach to addressing climate-related health equity may be more suitable, appropriate, and appealing to under-resourced communities and countries. In support of this argument, this commentary describes an approach by a network of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to promoting climate-related health equity in Small Island Developing States an…
A Longitudinal Exploration of Self-Reported Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Outcomes in Australian Veterans
OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus, hearing loss, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common conditions among veterans. Shared underlying symptoms, such as hypervigilance and heightened sense of threat, may interfere with talk-based psychological treatments. The aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for self-reported tinnitus and hearing loss among Australian treatment-seeking veterans, as well as links with PTSD symptoms and quality o…
Cross-lagged analyses of anger and PTSD symptoms among veterans in treatment
Anger influences change in specific PTSD symptoms over time among military veterans in treatment and may interfere with treatments for PTSD. Veterans who present to clinical services with anger problems may benefit from anger interventions prior to commencing trauma-focused treatment. The findings have additional implications for conceptual models of the relationship between anger and PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reser…
The Solar group program to promote recovery after disaster and trauma—A randomized controlled feasibility trial among German trauma survivors
The application of the SOLAR group program within a randomized controlled trial was feasible. Its efficacy should be further tested in a larger trial. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Efficacy of Psychoactive Drugs for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Covid-19
The ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, the causal agent of the acute respiratory distress syndrome COVID-19, is placing unprecedented stress on healthcare systems and societies as a whole. The rapid spread of the virus in the absence of targeted therapies or a vaccine, is forcing countries to respond with strong preventative measures ranging from mitigation to containment. In extreme cases, quarantines are being imposed, limiting mobility to …
An Open Label Pilot Study of a Brief Psychosocial Intervention for Disaster and Trauma Survivors
This study provides preliminary evidence that the delivery of the SOLAR program after disaster by trained, frontline workers with little or no mental health experience is feasible, acceptable, safe, and beneficial in reducing psychological symptoms and impairment among disaster survivors. Randomized controlled trials of the SOLAR program are required to advance evidence of its efficacy
The effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on refugees' parenting and their children's mental health
BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents, who account for most of the world's refugees, have an increased prevalence of psychological disorders. The mental health of refugee children is often associated with the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their caregivers. Despite the potential for refugee caregivers' PTSD to affect child mental health, little evidence exists concerning the underlying mechanisms of this association. This stu…
Disaster Reintegration Model
This study sought to describe the mental health problems experienced by Korean disaster survivors, using a qualitative research method to provide empirical resources for effective disaster mental health support in Korea. Participants were 16 adults or elderly adults who experienced one or more disasters at least 12 months ago recruited via theoretical sampling. Participants underwent in-depth individual interviews on their disaster experiences, w…
Associations among Elder Abuse, Depression and PTSD in South Korean Older Adults
Increasing attention is being placed on the prevalence of elder abuse and its impact on mental health. This study conducted a survey of 172 elderly people in South Korea to determine the prevalence of elder abuse and the relationships involving elder abuse, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires, which included the Korean Geriatric Depression Screening Scale (KGDS) and I…
Understanding the early support needs of survivors of traumatic events
These findings can inform posttrauma intervention development for those at risk of later psychological symptoms. In particular, the results support approaches focusing on promoting activity, supporting social relationships, stress and arousal management, and cognitive restructuring. In addition, future interventions might helpfully target rumination, worry, and reexperiencing symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record
A prospective study of rapid breathing and the development of posttraumatic panic disorder
This study tested the theory that rapid breathing at the time of a traumatic event leads to development of panic disorder (PD). Traumatically injured patients (n=1,061) from 4 major trauma hospitals had their respiratory rates (RR) assessed at the scene of traumatic injury, subsequently assessed for lifetime PD, and reassessed 3 months later for PD (n=843). At follow-up, 59 (7%) patients met criteria for new-onset PD. Patients with elevated RR (>…
Exploration of Delayed-Onset Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Severe Injury
OBJECTIVE: The first aim of this work was to conduct a rigorous longitudinal study to identify rates of delayed-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of patients with severe injury. The second aim was to determine what variables differentiated delayed-onset PTSD from chronic PTSD. METHODS: Randomly selected patients with injury who were admitted to four hospitals around Australia were recruited to the study (N = 834) and assessed…
Exploration of Delayed-Onset Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Severe Injury
Objective The first aim of this work was to conduct a rigorous longitudinal study to identify rates of delayed-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of patients with severe injury. The second aim was to determine what variables differentiated delayed-onset PTSD from chronic PTSD. Methods Randomly selected patients with injury who were admitted to four hospitals around Australia were recruited to the study (N = 834) and assessed i…
Evaluation of the Dispositional Hope Scale in injury survivors
It's Like You're a Living Hostage, and It Never Ends”
Coercive control is a complex and poorly understood dimension of intimate partner violence that is associated with trauma and mental health consequences. It is essential to understand the nuanced and varied experiences of coercive control and potential processes of traumatization. In this qualitative phenomenological study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 women who had experienced coercive control and accessed domestic violence se…
Recognition and responses to intimate partner violence (IPV) in gambler's help services
Accumulating evidence shows a strong association between gambling problems and reports of intimate partner violence (IPV) but provides limited guidance about how to respond to these issues in specialised gambling services. The aim of this study was thus to improve understanding of the potential role of gambling help providers in identifying and responding to IPV. This was addressed via 20 semistructured interviews with gambling help service staff…
Tonic and Phasic Heart Rate as Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between acute measures of a) heart rate (HR) immediately after traumatic injury, b) tonic (resting) HR at 1 week post injury, c) phasic (aroused) HR at 1 week post injury, and d) somatic symptoms of arousal in the prediction of subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fear conditioning models propose that HR reactivity shortly after trauma may predict PTSD. METHOD: In a longitudinal study, consecutiv…
Evaluation of the Dispositional Hope Scale in injury survivors
Lifetime Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence in Women and the Relationship With Mental Disorders and Psychosocial Function
CONTEXT: Intimate partner physical violence, rape, sexual assault, and stalking are pervasive and co-occurring forms of gender-based violence (GBV). An association between these forms of abuse and lifetime mental disorder and psychosocial disability among women needs to be examined. OBJECTIVES: To assess the association of GBV and mental disorder, its severity and comorbidity, and psychosocial functioning among women. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICI…
Exploration of Delayed-Onset Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Severe Injury
OBJECTIVE: The first aim of this work was to conduct a rigorous longitudinal study to identify rates of delayed-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of patients with severe injury. The second aim was to determine what variables differentiated delayed-onset PTSD from chronic PTSD. METHODS: Randomly selected patients with injury who were admitted to four hospitals around Australia were recruited to the study (N = 834) and assessed…
Exploration of Delayed-Onset Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Severe Injury
Objective The first aim of this work was to conduct a rigorous longitudinal study to identify rates of delayed-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of patients with severe injury. The second aim was to determine what variables differentiated delayed-onset PTSD from chronic PTSD. Methods Randomly selected patients with injury who were admitted to four hospitals around Australia were recruited to the study (N = 834) and assessed i…
A prospective study of rapid breathing and the development of posttraumatic panic disorder
This study tested the theory that rapid breathing at the time of a traumatic event leads to development of panic disorder (PD). Traumatically injured patients (n=1,061) from 4 major trauma hospitals had their respiratory rates (RR) assessed at the scene of traumatic injury, subsequently assessed for lifetime PD, and reassessed 3 months later for PD (n=843). At follow-up, 59 (7%) patients met criteria for new-onset PD. Patients with elevated RR (>…
Understanding the early support needs of survivors of traumatic events
These findings can inform posttrauma intervention development for those at risk of later psychological symptoms. In particular, the results support approaches focusing on promoting activity, supporting social relationships, stress and arousal management, and cognitive restructuring. In addition, future interventions might helpfully target rumination, worry, and reexperiencing symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record
The effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on refugees' parenting and their children's mental health
BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents, who account for most of the world's refugees, have an increased prevalence of psychological disorders. The mental health of refugee children is often associated with the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their caregivers. Despite the potential for refugee caregivers' PTSD to affect child mental health, little evidence exists concerning the underlying mechanisms of this association. This stu…
Disaster Reintegration Model
This study sought to describe the mental health problems experienced by Korean disaster survivors, using a qualitative research method to provide empirical resources for effective disaster mental health support in Korea. Participants were 16 adults or elderly adults who experienced one or more disasters at least 12 months ago recruited via theoretical sampling. Participants underwent in-depth individual interviews on their disaster experiences, w…
Associations among Elder Abuse, Depression and PTSD in South Korean Older Adults
Increasing attention is being placed on the prevalence of elder abuse and its impact on mental health. This study conducted a survey of 172 elderly people in South Korea to determine the prevalence of elder abuse and the relationships involving elder abuse, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires, which included the Korean Geriatric Depression Screening Scale (KGDS) and I…
Covid-19
The ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, the causal agent of the acute respiratory distress syndrome COVID-19, is placing unprecedented stress on healthcare systems and societies as a whole. The rapid spread of the virus in the absence of targeted therapies or a vaccine, is forcing countries to respond with strong preventative measures ranging from mitigation to containment. In extreme cases, quarantines are being imposed, limiting mobility to …
An Open Label Pilot Study of a Brief Psychosocial Intervention for Disaster and Trauma Survivors
This study provides preliminary evidence that the delivery of the SOLAR program after disaster by trained, frontline workers with little or no mental health experience is feasible, acceptable, safe, and beneficial in reducing psychological symptoms and impairment among disaster survivors. Randomized controlled trials of the SOLAR program are required to advance evidence of its efficacy
A Longitudinal Exploration of Self-Reported Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Outcomes in Australian Veterans
OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus, hearing loss, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common conditions among veterans. Shared underlying symptoms, such as hypervigilance and heightened sense of threat, may interfere with talk-based psychological treatments. The aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for self-reported tinnitus and hearing loss among Australian treatment-seeking veterans, as well as links with PTSD symptoms and quality o…
Cross-lagged analyses of anger and PTSD symptoms among veterans in treatment
Anger influences change in specific PTSD symptoms over time among military veterans in treatment and may interfere with treatments for PTSD. Veterans who present to clinical services with anger problems may benefit from anger interventions prior to commencing trauma-focused treatment. The findings have additional implications for conceptual models of the relationship between anger and PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reser…
The Solar group program to promote recovery after disaster and trauma—A randomized controlled feasibility trial among German trauma survivors
The application of the SOLAR group program within a randomized controlled trial was feasible. Its efficacy should be further tested in a larger trial. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Efficacy of Psychoactive Drugs for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Health Service Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence among Military Personnel and Veterans
IPV is a significant concern among active duty (AD) military personnel or veterans, and there is a need for initiatives to address violence perpetrated by such personnel, and IPV victimisation in military and veteran-specific contexts. The aim of this paper was to provide an overview of major IPV intervention approaches and evidence in military and veteran-specific health services. A scoping review was conducted involving a systematic search of a…
Regional Research-Practice-Policy Partnerships in Response to Climate-Related Disparities
Although climate change poses a threat to health and well-being globally, a regional approach to addressing climate-related health equity may be more suitable, appropriate, and appealing to under-resourced communities and countries. In support of this argument, this commentary describes an approach by a network of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to promoting climate-related health equity in Small Island Developing States an…
Individual and community experiences of posttraumatic growth after disaster
PTG is evident in longer-term disaster recovery. While PTG appears to vary across communities, the findings suggest that it is an individual's own sense of community (rather than community-level cohesion) that is most closely related to this longer-term growth following a bushfire event. While PTG is currently understood as an outcome of individual-level perceptions, community-level experiences shape the potential for positive transformations to …
Understanding the temporal dynamics of problem anger using sequence analysis
Problem anger is a common, and potentially destructive mental health issue in trauma-affected populations, affecting up to 30% of veteran and military populations. Problem anger is associated with a range of psychosocial and functional difficulties and elevated risk of harm to self and others. Increasingly, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is being used to understand the microlevel dynamics of emotions, and this information is valuable to in…
Recognition and responses to intimate partner violence (IPV) in gambler's help services
Accumulating evidence shows a strong association between gambling problems and reports of intimate partner violence (IPV) but provides limited guidance about how to respond to these issues in specialised gambling services. The aim of this study was thus to improve understanding of the potential role of gambling help providers in identifying and responding to IPV. This was addressed via 20 semistructured interviews with gambling help service staff…
Interactive relationship between alexithymia, psychological distress and posttraumatic stress disorder symptomology across time
Alexithymia, psychological distress, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly related constructs. The ongoing debate about the nature and relationship between these constructs is perpetuated by an overreliance on cross-sectional research. We examined the longitudinal interactive relationship between alexithymia, psychological distress, and PTSD. We hypothesised that there is an interactive relationship between the three constructs. Mil…
The Trauma and Mental Health Impacts of Coercive Control
Coercive control is an under researched type of intimate partner violence (IPV). The aims of this review were to (a) synthesize all available evidence regarding associations with coercive control and mental health outcomes including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, and depression; and (b) compare these with associations involving broader categories of psychological IPV. Primary studies which measured associations of coercive c…
Moral injury appraisals and complex PTSD in refugees
Findings highlight the role of moral injury appraisals in exacerbating traditional PTSD symptoms, as well as the broader symptoms characteristic of CPTSD. Further, results indicate that specific types of moral injury appraisals (relating to one's own and others' perceived moral transgressions) may lead to differential psychological reactions, raising important implications for clinical practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights …
It's Like You're a Living Hostage, and It Never Ends”
Coercive control is a complex and poorly understood dimension of intimate partner violence that is associated with trauma and mental health consequences. It is essential to understand the nuanced and varied experiences of coercive control and potential processes of traumatization. In this qualitative phenomenological study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 women who had experienced coercive control and accessed domestic violence se…
Psychiatry (20 works) · Psychology (19 works) · Medicine (17 works) · Clinical Psychology (15 works) · Mental health (14 works) · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research (12 works) · Anxiety (9 works) · Clinical Psychology (9 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Medical emergency (6 works)