The Sydney Health and Pain Interventions (HAPI) research group studies the psychological processes that affect pain and health. Through uncovering these mechanisms, we aim to improve treatments for people living with a broad range of health conditions, including chronic pain, cancer, diabetes, endometriosis, cardiovascular and rheumatic diseases, mental health conditions, and climate change anxiety.
Our research aims to understand how cognitive and emotional processes shape physical and mental health outcomes. We investigate mechanisms such as attention to and interpretation of health information, fear of disease progression, and mental imagery, and how these influence pain, quality of life, emotional wellbeing, and health-related behaviour. We also examine the impact of social and systemic factors, such as healthcare interactions and experiences of invalidation.
In addition to understanding mechanisms of distress and disability, we are interested in identifying cognitive targets for early intervention and reducing the long-term burden of chronic conditions. This includes interventions such as:
Our current research focuses on how different cognitive and emotional factors influence pain and health outcomes in experimental settings as well as across a range of health conditions, to drive intervention development.
In the laboratory, we use specialised equipment to conduct controlled experiments. For example, we employ virtual reality systems, cold pressor devices (for inducing controlled pain), contact heat stimulation (CHEPS), electrical stimulation (ECS), and eye-tracking equipment. These tools allow us to measure cognitive and emotional responses under carefully managed conditions.
In real-world and clinical settings, we conduct observational research—using cross-sectional surveys, experience sampling (ecological momentary assessment), and longitudinal studies—to examine how cognitive and emotional processes affect health over time.
Key researchers: Dr Jemma Todd, Professor Louise Sharpe, Dr Tessa Rooney, Marloes Duijzings, Brydee Pickup and Charlotte Fowlstone
We are investigating how interpretation bias – the tendency to interpret ambiguous information negatively – contributes to poor health outcomes. Our projects span both lab-based mechanism studies and clinical trials of cognitive bias modification for conditions such as chronic pain, diabetes, cancer, and endometriosis.
This program of research is supported by an ARC DECRA fellowship grant awarded to Dr Jemma Todd.
Key researchers: Dr Jemma Todd, Professor Louise Sharpe, Daelin Coutts-Bain, and Bethany Richmond
Fear of disease recurrence or progression is a significant concern in chronic illness. While this construct was originally investigated in the context of cancer, we have since found that this fear is highly prevalent across a wide range of physical and mental health conditions.
Our interventions in this area have included ConquerFear (directly targeting fear of progression) and interpretation bias modification (indirectly targeting fear of progression).
Key researchers: Dr Jemma Todd, Professor Louise Sharpe, Esrat Jahan and Charlotte Fowlstone
We lead innovative research on how mental imagery shapes pain experiences and behaviour, and how it can also be harnessed for therapeutic treatments. This includes lab-based research such as Virtual Reality augmented imagery for experimental pain, as well as applied interventions that enhance imagery in people with chronic health conditions.
This research is supported by an ARC Discovery Project awarded to Dr Jemma Todd and Professor Louise Sharpe.
Key researchers: Dr Jemma Todd, Professor Louise Sharpe and Brydee Pickup
Endometriosis and pelvic pain remain under-researched and under-funded. We aim to bring attention to this area through our comprehensive program research, including qualitative interviews, large-scale observational studies, experience sampling, and online interventions.
Key researchers: Tom Woldhuis, Brydee Pickup, Dr Jemma Todd, Professor Louise Sharpe, Emily McCann
We are examining how social and systemic factors - particularly experiences of validation or invalidation in healthcare, affect people with chronic pain and chronic illness. Our work includes reviews, qualitative and observational studies, and research with healthcare professionals. We are also collaborating on a project to explore the healthcare experiences of children living with chronic illness.
We also pursue other research areas including:
We are accepting HDR students and occasionally have volunteer, research-assistant or post-doctorate opportunities. We also love to collaborate. If you are interested in learning more about our research or working with our team, please contact Jemma Todd (jemma.todd@sydney.edu.au) or Tessa Rooney (tessa.rooney@sydney.edu.au) with a brief description of your background, expertise, and research interests in the context of our research program.
