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Biography
Dr. Sahithya BR is a clinical psychologist, registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India, with over a decade of clinical and research experience. Her work is driven by a passion for research, teaching, and clinical practice. She earned her MSc in Psychology in 2011, opting for Clinical and Counseling Psychology as her subjects in the second year, followed by two years of rigorous clinical training through the MPhil Clinical Psychology program at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, which enabled her to obtain a clinical psychologist license in India. Subsequently she worked in Cadabams Deaddiction Center and in National Institue of Mental health and Neurosciences, Bangalore as Clinical Psychologist. In 2015, she enrolled for PhD in Allied Health Sciences (Clinical Psychology) at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India, focusing on parental personality, parenting styles, and child temperament in children with anxiety disorders. During her PhD, she worked with children at Child Guidance Clinic of St John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, providing assessments and various interventions for children with ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Anxiety, Depression, OCD and other behavioral and clinical disorders. She was awarded PhD in 2021.
Dr. Sahithya is well-versed in psychological assessments, diagnostic interviews and formulations, and evidence-based psychotherapy techniques. She is also a skilled researcher interested in child, adolescent and young adult mental health. Throughout her career, she has worked in both private and public mental health sectors, in both inpatient and outpatient settings focusing on diagnostic assessment, psychotherapy and rehabilitation for vulnerable children, adolescents, and adults presenting with various difficulties. Her professional journey includes roles as a clinician, academician, and researcher at esteemed institutions in India, such as the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Dharwad Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, where she was actively involved in clinical training and supervision of MPhil Clinical Psychology trainees. She has also been actively involved in community mental health initiatives and has led programs aimed at promoting a positive approach to mental health issues and mitigating stigma. she has also conducted workshops aimed at enhancing both academic knowledge and practical skills across various domains of psychology and education.
Since February 2024, she has been a part of the School of Psychology, University of Nottingham Malaysia, where she remains dedicated to contribute to mental health through teaching modules related to mental health, and designing research projects that advance knowledge and awareness of mental health issues.
Other Interests: Community Mental Health
Dr. Sahithya is deeply interested in community mental health. By being actively involved in community programs, she aims to raise awareness, educate the public, and help identify mental health issues early, helping to prevent their escalation. She is committed to developing and implementing initiatives that address both individual and systemic factors, fostering resilience, and improving mental health in vulnerable communities. These efforts not only promote mental well-being but also contribute to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, fostering a more open and supportive environment for addressing these issues.
Professional Membership:
Professional life member of the Clinical Psychology Society of India.
Professional Life member of the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists.
Expertise Summary
Dr. Sahithya BR is a clinician, academician and a researcher whose interests are diverse and focus on a broad range of issues related to mental health and psychopathology in children, adolescents, and young adults, with an emphasis on socio-cultural influences, risk and protective factors, assessment, and psychotherapy.
Teaching Summary
In her teaching, Dr. Sahithya strives to inspire and educate youth by fostering critical thinking, curiosity, and a deep understanding of mental health and clinical psychology. She prioritizes… read more
Research Summary
Dr. Sahithya's research primarily focuses on understanding and enhancing mental health outcomes in children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Her interests is in the assessment and intervention of… read more
Selected Publications
In her teaching, Dr. Sahithya strives to inspire and educate youth by fostering critical thinking, curiosity, and a deep understanding of mental health and clinical psychology. She prioritizes holistic student development, cultivating an environment where students grow into compassionate, insightful professionals. By integrating research, clinical practice, and community engagement, she aims to equip them with the skills to address complex mental health challenges effectively. She serves as the module convener for the following courses:
MSc Developmental Disorders:
- Childhood Clinical and Behavioral Disorders (PSGY4076)
- Final year Research Project (Supervisor)
BSc Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience:
- Introduction to Clinical Psychology (Year 3 -PSGY3030)
- Autism (Year 3 - PSGY3035)
- Final Year Research Project (Supervisor)
Current Research
Dr. Sahithya's research primarily focuses on understanding and enhancing mental health outcomes in children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Her interests is in the assessment and intervention of various mental health conditions-including Neurodevelopmental disorders, behavioral addictions, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, PTSD, and so on-as well as broader aspects of psychological well-being, resilience, and cross-cultural influences.
Her research program encompasses the following key areas:
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Investigating mental health issues affecting children, adolescents, and emerging adults, including conditions like ADHD, autism, and digital addiction. Her work also explores parental influences on child outcomes and the experiences of caregivers to inform early intervention strategies.
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Development and Validation of Screening Tools Designing and validating screening and assessment tools for identifying mental health concerns in children and adolescents, with an emerging interest in AI-driven assessments to enhance diagnostic accuracy and accessibility.
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Young Adult Mental Disorders: Assessment and Intervention Focusing on evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies for mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and PTSD. Her work emphasizes early identification and culturally sensitive psychological support, particularly for vulnerable populations.
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Risk and Protective Factors in Mental Health Examining resilience, social and peer support, and the influence of cultural contexts on mental health. She is particularly interested in how cross-cultural differences shape risk and protective factors in youth populations.
Past Research
Dr. Sahithya's past research has focused on evidence-based assessment and intervention across diverse clinical populations. She has worked with individuals with schizophrenia, developing a manualised intervention for psychosocial rehabilitation, and explored the use of the Object Sorting Test to identify cognitive deficits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she examined parenting stress, and general mental health impacts. Her work also includes extensive work with children with anxiety disorders and other studies such as evaluating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) constructs among individuals with major depressive disorders.
Future Research
Ongoing Research Projects
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Validation of the Revised Childhood Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) in the Malay Language Aims to establish the psychometric properties and cultural appropriateness of the RCADS for use among Malaysian children and adolescents.
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Development and Validation of a Tool to Measure Stressful Life Events Focuses on creating an age-appropriate and culturally sensitive instrument to assess stressful life events among young adults.
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Cultural Differences in Social Support and Its Impact on Mental Health Investigates how social support is perceived and utilized across cultures and its role in moderating mental health outcomes.
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Mental Health, stress and Caregiver Burden Among Parents of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Explores psychological distress, coping mechanisms, and support needs among caregivers of children with conditions such as autism and ADHD.
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Stressful Life Events, Mental Health, and Social Support Among Cancer Patients Examines the psychological impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the buffering role of social support in managing stress.
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Loneliness and Well-being Among Chatbot Users Investigates the psychological implications of using AI-based conversational agents on users' sense of loneliness and overall well-being.
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Autistic Traits, Loneliness, and Mental Health Among University Students in Malaysia Studies the relationship between subclinical autistic traits, social isolation and loneliness, and mental health outcomes in a university population.
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Impact of Adult ADHD Symptoms on the Mental Health of University Students in Malaysia Assesses how undiagnosed or subthreshold ADHD symptoms affect academic functioning, stress, and psychological well-being among young adults.