Associate Professor Sharon Naismith

Director, Clinical Research Unit, Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist
Brain & Mind Research Institute, Sydney Medical School

M02 - Mallet Street Campus
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia

T:+61 2 9351 0781
F:+61 2 9351 0855
E:

Biographical details

Associate Professor Naismith is the Director of the Clinical Research Unit at the Brain & Mind Research Institute. She is a Clinical Neuropsychologist who also Heads the Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic. Associate Professor Naismith is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and College of Clinical Neuropsychologists. She is also the Postgraduate Coordinator for the Master of Brain and Mind Sciences at the Brain & Mind Research Institute. She provides supervision to postgraduate research and clinical students.

Research interests

Associate Professor Naismith is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and her research interests are in late-life neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders particularly Parkinson's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment and late-life depression. Her work incorporates multiple facets of these disorders including sleep-wake disturbance, cognition, neuroimaging and genetics. She is also pioneering a Healthy Brain Ageing Cognitive Training for older people is interested in testing early intervention paradigms for older people at risk of dementia.

Current national competitive grants*

2011

Mediators of cognitive decline and neuroplasticity in older people with depression and early neurodegenerative disease
Naismith S
NHMRC Career Development Award ($384,160 over 4 years)

2010

The impact of circadian disturbances on sleep quality, cognition and psychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative disease
Lewis S, Naismith S, Rogers N, Hodges J
NHMRC Project Grant ($479,000 over 3 years)

2009

SR: A RCT of a web-based ontervention to improve depresssion, cognitve function and adherence in people with CVD
Hickie I, Glozier N, Naismith S, Neal B
National Heart Foundation of Australia Cardiovascular Disease and Depression Strategic Research Program ($594,198 over 2 years)

* Grants administered through the University of Sydney

Keywords

Depression; Parkinson's disease; Aging; Cognitive disorders; Sleep disturbance

Publications

2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2007 | 2006

2012

  
  • Shine, J., Moore, S., Bolitho, S., Morris, T., Dilda, V., Naismith, S., Lewis, S. Assessing the utility of Freezing of Gait Questionnaires in Parkinson's Disease. Parkinsonism & related disorders. 2012; 18:25-9. [Abstract]

2011

  
  • Shine, J., Halliday, G., Naismith, S., Lewis, S. Visual misperceptions and hallucinations in Parkinson's disease: Dysfunction of attentional control networks?. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society. 2011; 26:2154-9. [Abstract]
  • Shine, J., Naismith, S., Lewis, S. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying freezing of gait in Parkinson's Disease. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia. 2011; 18:1154-7. [Abstract]
  • Zhong, G., Naismith, S., Rogers, N., Lewis, S. Sleep-wake disturbances in common neurodegenerative diseases: A closer look at selected aspects of the neural circuitry. Journal of the neurological sciences. 2011; 307:9-14. [Abstract]
  • Chudleigh, C., Naismith, S., Blaszczynski, A., Hermens, D., Hodge, M., Hickie, I. How does social functioning in the early stages of psychosis relate to depression and social anxiety?. Early intervention in psychiatry. 2011; 5:224-32. [Abstract]
  • Abbott, L., Naismith, S., Lewis, S. Parkinson's disease in general practice: Assessing knowledge, confidence and the potential role of education. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia. 2011; 18:1044-7. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Rogers, N., Lewis, S., Terpening, Z., Ip, T., Diamond, K., Norrie, L., Hickie, I. Sleep disturbance relates to neuropsychological functioning in late-life depression. Journal of affective disorders. 2011; 132:139-45. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Terpening, Z., Shine, J., Lewis, S. Neuropsychological functioning in Parkinson's disease: Differential relationships with self-reported sleep-wake disturbances. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society. 2011; 26:1537-41. [Abstract]
  • Hamilton, B., Naismith, S., Scott, E., Purcell, S., Hickie, I. Disability is already pronounced in young people with early stages of affective disorders: Data from an early intervention service. Journal of affective disorders. 2011; 131:84-91. [Abstract]
  • Shine, J., Ward, P., Naismith, S., Pearson, M., Lewis, S. Utilising functional MRI (fMRI) to explore the freezing phenomenon in Parkinson's disease. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia. 2011; 18:807-10. [Abstract]
  • Norrie, L., Diamond, K., Hickie, I., Rogers, N., Fearns, S., Naismith, S. Can older "at risk" adults benefit from psychoeducation targeting healthy brain aging?. International psychogeriatrics / IPA. 2011; 23:413-24. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Lewis, S. "DASH" symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease: red flags for early cognitive decline. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 2011; 18:352-355. [Abstract]
  • Hermens, D., Redoblado Hodge, M., Naismith, S., Kaur, M., Scott, E., Hickie, I. Neuropsychological Clustering Highlights Cognitive Differences In Young People Presenting With Depressive Symptoms. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS. 2011; 17:267-76. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Diamond, K., Carter, P., Norrie, L., Redoblado-Hodge, M., Lewis, S., Hickie, I. Enhancing Memory in Late-Life Depression: The Effects of a Combined Psychoeducation and Cognitive Training Program. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. 2011; 19:240-8. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Lewis, S., Rogers, N. Sleep-wake changes and cognition in neurodegenerative disease. Progress in Brain Research. 2011; 190:21-52. [Abstract]
  • Paradise, M., Glozier, N., Naismith, S., Davenport, T., Hickie, I. Subjective memory complaints, vascular risk factors and psychological distress in the middle-aged: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry. 2011; 11:108. [Abstract]
  • Donkin, L., Christensen, H., Naismith, S., Neal, B., Hickie, I., Glozier, N. A Systematic Review of the Impact of Adherence on the Effectiveness of e-Therapies. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2011; 13:e52. [Abstract]
  • Komadina, N., Terpening, Z., Huang, Y., Halliday, G., Naismith, S., Lewis, S. Utility and Limitations of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised for Detecting Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. 2011; 31:349-57. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Pereira, M., Shine, J., Lewis, S. How well do caregivers detect mild cognitive change in Parkinson's disease?. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society. 2011; 26:161-4. [Abstract]
  • Cockayne, N., Glozier, N., Naismith, S., Christensen, H., Neal, B., Hickie, I. Internet-based treatment for older adults with depression and co-morbid cardiovascular disease: protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2011; 11:10. [Abstract]

2010

  
  • Gregory-Roberts, E., Naismith, S., Cullen, K., Hickie, I. Electroconvulsive therapy-induced persistent retrograde amnesia: Could it be minimised by ketamine or other pharmacological approaches?. Journal of affective disorders. 2010; 126:39-45. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Lagopoulos, J., Ward, P., Davey, C., Little, C., Hickie, I. Fronto-striatal correlates of impaired implicit sequence learning in major depression: An fMRI study. Journal of affective disorders. 2010; 125:256-61. [Abstract]
  • Hermens, D., Ward, P., Hodge, M., Kaur, M., Naismith, S., Hickie, I. Impaired MMN/P3a complex in first-episode psychosis: Cognitive and psychosocial associations. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry. 2010; 34:822-9. [Abstract]
  • Hermens, D., Naismith, S., Redoblado Hodge, M., Scott, E., Hickie, I. Impaired verbal memory in young adults with unipolar and bipolar depression. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. 2010; 4:227-233. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Lewis, S. A novel paradigm for modelling freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia. 2010; 17:984-7. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Shine, J., Lewis, S. The specific contributions of set-shifting to freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society. 2010; 25:1000-4. [Abstract]
  • Mowszowski, L., Batchelor, J., Naismith, S. Early intervention for cognitive decline: can cognitive training be used as a selective prevention technique?. International psychogeriatrics / IPA. 2010; 22:537-48. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Rogers, N., Mackenzie, J., Hickie, I., Lewis, S. The relationship between actigraphically defined sleep disturbance and REM sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson's Disease. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery. 2010; 112:420-3. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Rogers, N., Hickie, I., Mackenzie, J., Norrie, L., Lewis, S. Sleep Well, Think Well: Sleep-Wake Disturbance in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology. 2010; 23:123-30. [Abstract]
  • Gunn, D., Naismith, S., Lewis, S. Sleep disturbances in Parkinson disease and their potential role in heterogeneity. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology. 2010; 23:131-7. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Redoblado-Hodge, M., Lewis, S., Scott, E., Hickie, I. Cognitive training in affective disorders improves memory: A preliminary study using the NEAR approach. Journal of affective disorders. 2010; 121:258-62. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Hickie, I., Lewis, S. The role of mild depression in sleep disturbance and quality of life in Parkinson's disease. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 2010; 22:384-389. [Abstract]
  • Lewis, S., Naismith, S. DASH to the InfoLine: Promoting a healthy brain and mind in Parkinson’s Disease. Australia: LifeBlood, 2010.

2009

  
  • Hickie, I., Naismith, S., Norrie, L., Scott, E. Managing depression across the life cycle: new strategies for clinicians and their patients. Internal Medicine Journal. 2009; 39:720-727. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Norrie, L., Lewis, S., Rogers, N., Scott, E., Hickie, I. Does sleep disturbance mediate neuropsychological functioning in older people with depression?. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2009; 116:139-143. [Abstract]
  • Scott, E., Naismith, S., Whitwell, B., Hamilton, B., Chudleigh, C., Hickie, I. Delivering youth-specific mental health services: the advantages of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary system. Australasian Psychiatry. 2009; 17:189-194. [Abstract]
  • Hermens, D., Lubman, D., Ward, P., Naismith, S., Hickie, I. Amphetamine psychosis: a model for studying the onset and course of psychosis. The Medical Journal of Australia. 2009; 190:S22-S25. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Glozier, N., Burke, D., Carter, P., Scott, E., Hickie, I. Early intervention in cognitive decline: Is there a role for multiple medical or behavioural interventions?. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. 2009; 3:19-27.

2007

  
  • Hickie, I., Naismith, S., Ward, P., Little, C., Pearson, M., Scott, E., Mitchell, P., Wilhelm, K., Parker, G. Psychomotor slowing in older patients with major depression: Relationships with blood flow in the caudate nucleus and white matter lesions. Psychiatry research. 2007; 155:211-220. [Abstract]
  • Hickie, I., Naismith, S., Ward, P., Scott, E., Mitchell, P., Schofield, P., Scimone, A., Wilhelm, K., Parker, G. Serotonin transporter gene status predicts caudate nucleus but not amygdala or hippocampal volumes in older persons with major depression. Journal of affective disorders. 2007; 98:137-42. [Abstract]
  • Naismith, S., Longley, W., Scott, E., Hickie, I. Disability in major depression related to self-rated and objectively-measured cognitive deficits: a preliminary study. BMC psychiatry. 2007; 7:0. [Abstract]

2006

  
  • Naismith, S., Hickie, I., Ward, P., Scott, E., Little, C. Impaired implicit sequence learning in depression: a probe for frontostriatal dysfunction?. Psychological medicine. 2006; 36:313-23. [Abstract]