Dr Cathy Franklin is a psychiatrist who specialises in the psychiatry of intellectual disability and autism in adolescents and adults. Cathy has worked in this area since 2004, and her career has largely focussed on clinical work and education until 2015, when she commenced a part-time research appointment. Cathy is the inaugural Director of the Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service (MIDAS), a statewide clinical service established in 2018 that works to improve the health and mental health of adults with intellectual or developmental disability (including autism). MIDAS has recently delivered an 18 month project commissioned by the Queensland Health Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Service, working to support mental health service clients who have intellectual and developmental disability, including support to access NDIS. Cathy has also recently become Director of QCIDD, the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, a centre established in 1997 by Professor Nick Lennox and best known for its many contributions to health of people with intellectual disability, including the CHAP health assessment tool and the AbleX massive open-online course that Cathy contributed to.
Cathy's research interests include health services research and the biological underpinnings and health sequelae of conditions occurring in this population. She is Chief Investigator on several projects, including the ICARDS (Investigation of Catatonia and Acute Regression in Down Syndrome) Study, funded by the BICARE grant ($120,000) and also the EASY-Health (Enhancing Access to Services for Your Health) Project, funded by the Australian Government NDIS ($2.3 million 2020-2023). Cathy has presented at several different national and international conferences and meetings including numerous times at the Bi-National RANZCP Congress. She has served on the committee of the RANZCP Section of Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability for over 10 years, is chair of the Qld Branch of the Section and also serves as Vice-President of the Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine (AADDM). In 2020 she was awarded the Mater Research Sister Regis Dunne award for Outstanding Contribution to research relative to opportunity.
Conference Publication: Immunotherapy responsiveness and risk of relapse in Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (S34.003)
Santoro, Jonathan, Spinazzi, Noemi, Filipink, Robyn, Rezvan, Penteha, Kammeyer, Ryan, Patel, Lina, Sannar, Elise, Dwyer, Luke, Banerjee, Abhik, Khoshnood, Mellad, Jafarpour, Saba, Boyd, Natalie, Partidge, Rebecca, Gombolay, Grace, Christy, Alison, del Carmen Ortega, Maria, Manning, Melanie, Van Mater, Heather, Worley, Gordon, Franklin, Cathy, Stanley, Maria, Brown, Ruth, Capone, George, Quinn, Eileen and Rafii, Michael (2023). Immunotherapy responsiveness and risk of relapse in Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (S34.003). Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Philadelphia, PA USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000202313
Journal Article: Australian psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists’ perceptions of chemical restraint of adults with intellectual disability
Edwards, Nicole, Franklin, catherin, king, Julie and Watling, Hanna (2023). Australian psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists’ perceptions of chemical restraint of adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/19315864.2023.2192689
Journal Article: Cardiometabolic profiles in children and adults with overweight and obesity and down syndrome
Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Baumer, Nicole T., Di Camillo, Chiara, Cornachia, Michelle, Franklin, Catherine, Hart, Sarah J., Kishnani, Priya S., McCormick, Andrew, Milliken, Anna L., Patsiogiannis, Vasiliki, Pawlowski, Katherine G., Santoro, Stephanie L., Sargado, Sabrina, Scoppola, Vittorio, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore, Villani, Alberto and Skotko, Brian G. (2023). Cardiometabolic profiles in children and adults with overweight and obesity and down syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A, 191 (3), 813-822. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63088
(2023–2027) NHMRC Targeted Research
EASY Health: Enhancing Access to Services for Your Health
(2022–2024) Mater Misericordiae Ltd
(2020–2022) Diabetes Australia Research Program
Developmental Disability, at eTG online
Hall, Caroline, Amor, David, Cohen, Jonathan, Davis, Robert, Durvasula, Seeta, Franklin, Catherine, Hemsley, Bronwyn, Karve, Avanti, Kyrkou, Margaret, Lennox, Nicholas, Leonard, Helen, Marraffa, Catherine, McVilly, Keith, Ng, Raphael, Palmer, Hugh, Shek, Annie, Siegel-Brown, Natalie, Small, Jacqueline, Somerville, Ernest, Tracy, Jane, Wilson, Nathan J., Wishart, Jo and Zimmet, Marcel eds. (2021). Developmental Disability, at eTG online. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Therapeutic Guidelines.
Psychotropic Guidelines (eTG Complete)
Judd, Fiona, Burkett, Ellen, Chan, Betty, Franklin, Catherine, Isoardi, Katherine, Kalucy, Megan, Kanagarajah, Shanthi, Knott, Jonathon, Koutsogiannis, Zeff, McLorinan, C. Paula, Munir, Venita, Rowles, Greg, Waddell, Lisa and Wilkin, Claire eds. (2021). Psychotropic Guidelines (eTG Complete). Melbourne, VIC Australia: Therapeutic Guidelines.
Psychiatric disorders: assessment
Franklin, Catherine (2012). Psychiatric disorders: assessment. Management Guidelines: Developmental Disability. (pp. 143-151) edited by Susie Rogers. West Melbourne, Australia: Therapeutic Guidelines.
Edwards, Nicole, Franklin, catherin, king, Julie and Watling, Hanna (2023). Australian psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists’ perceptions of chemical restraint of adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/19315864.2023.2192689
Cardiometabolic profiles in children and adults with overweight and obesity and down syndrome
Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Baumer, Nicole T., Di Camillo, Chiara, Cornachia, Michelle, Franklin, Catherine, Hart, Sarah J., Kishnani, Priya S., McCormick, Andrew, Milliken, Anna L., Patsiogiannis, Vasiliki, Pawlowski, Katherine G., Santoro, Stephanie L., Sargado, Sabrina, Scoppola, Vittorio, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore, Villani, Alberto and Skotko, Brian G. (2023). Cardiometabolic profiles in children and adults with overweight and obesity and down syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A, 191 (3), 813-822. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63088
Response to Letter to the Editor by Palffy and Ghaziuddin
Santoro, Stephanie L., Baumer, Nicole T., Cornacchia, Michelle, Franklin, Catherine, Hart, Sarah J., Haugen, Kelsey, Hojlo, Margaret A., Horick, Nora, Kishnani, Priya S., Krell, Kavita, McCormick, Andrew, Milliken, Anna L., Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Pawlowski, Katherine G., Sargado, Sabrina, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore and Skotko, Brian G. (2023). Response to Letter to the Editor by Palffy and Ghaziuddin. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A, 191 (5), 1470-1473. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63116
Santoro, Stephanie L., Baumer, Nicole T., Cornacchia, Michelle, Franklin, Catherine, Hart, Sarah J., Haugen, Kelsey, Hojlo, Margaret A., Horick, Nora, Kishnani, Priya S., Krell, Kavita, McCormick, Andrew, Milliken, Anna L., Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Pawlowski, Katherine G., Sargado, Sabrina, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore and Skotko, Brian G. (2022). Unexplained regression in Down syndrome: Management of 51 patients in an international patient database. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A, 188 (10), 3049-3062. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62922
A systematic review of fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders
Flavell, Joshua, Franklin, Catherine and Nestor, Peter J. (2022). A systematic review of fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 35 (2), 110-120. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.21110282
Assessment and diagnosis of Down syndrome regression disorder: international expert consensus
Santoro, Jonathan D., Patel, Lina, Kammeyer, Ryan, Filipink, Robyn A., Gombolay, Grace Y., Cardinale, Kathleen M., Real de Asua, Diego, Zaman, Shahid, Santoro, Stephanie L., Marzouk, Sammer M., Khoshnood, Mellad, Vogel, Benjamin N., Tanna, Runi, Pagarkar, Dania, Dhanani, Sofia, Ortega, Maria del Carmen, Partridge, Rebecca, Stanley, Maria A., Sanders, Jessica S., Christy, Alison, Sannar, Elise M., Brown, Ruth, McCormick, Andrew A., Van Mater, Heather, Franklin, Cathy, Worley, Gordon, Quinn, Eileen A., Capone, George T., Chicoine, Brian ... Rafii, Michael S. (2022). Assessment and diagnosis of Down syndrome regression disorder: international expert consensus. Frontiers in Neurology, 13 940175, 940175. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.940175
Unexplained regression in Down syndrome: 35 cases from an international Down syndrome database
Santoro, Stephanie L., Cannon, Sheila, Capone, George, Franklin, Cathy, Hart, Sarah J., Hobensack, Victoria, Kishnani, Priya S., Macklin, Eric A., Manickam, Kandamurugu, McCormick, Andrew, Nash, Patricia, Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Patsiogiannis, Vasiliki, Steingass, Katherine, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore and Skotko, Brian G. (2019). Unexplained regression in Down syndrome: 35 cases from an international Down syndrome database. Genetics in Medicine, 22 (4), 767-776. doi: 10.1038/s41436-019-0706-8
Adult with autism spectrum disorder presenting with insidious onset of catatonia
White, Melissa and Franklin, Catherine (2018). Adult with autism spectrum disorder presenting with insidious onset of catatonia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52 (11), 1092-1093. doi: 10.1177/0004867418802898
Theodoratos, Oreste, McPherson, Lyn, Franklin, Catherine, Tonge, Bruce, Einfeld, Stewart, Lennox, Nicholas and Ware, Robert S. (2017). Psychopathology of adolescents with an intellectual disability who present to general hospital services. Australasian Psychiatry, 25 (5), 481-485. doi: 10.1177/1039856217706820
Prescribing psychotropic drugs to adults with an intellectual disability
Trollor, Julian N., Salomon, Carmela and Franklin, Catherine (2016). Prescribing psychotropic drugs to adults with an intellectual disability. Australian Prescriber, 39 (4), 126-130. doi: 10.18773/austprescr.2016.048
Obituary: Professor Gregory O'Brien (1955-2014)
Franklin, Cathy (2014). Obituary: Professor Gregory O'Brien (1955-2014). Australasian Psychiatry, 22 (6), 601-602. doi: 10.1177/1039856214558986c
Immunotherapy responsiveness and risk of relapse in Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (S34.003)
Santoro, Jonathan, Spinazzi, Noemi, Filipink, Robyn, Rezvan, Penteha, Kammeyer, Ryan, Patel, Lina, Sannar, Elise, Dwyer, Luke, Banerjee, Abhik, Khoshnood, Mellad, Jafarpour, Saba, Boyd, Natalie, Partidge, Rebecca, Gombolay, Grace, Christy, Alison, del Carmen Ortega, Maria, Manning, Melanie, Van Mater, Heather, Worley, Gordon, Franklin, Cathy, Stanley, Maria, Brown, Ruth, Capone, George, Quinn, Eileen and Rafii, Michael (2023). Immunotherapy responsiveness and risk of relapse in Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (S34.003). Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Philadelphia, PA USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000202313
Chromosomes, Country, Catatonia and Contrasts: Intellectual Disability and Autism in Queensland
Franklin, C., Galstuch-Leon, J., Shek, A., White, M., White, A., Webster, A. and McLorinan, C. (2019). Chromosomes, Country, Catatonia and Contrasts: Intellectual Disability and Autism in Queensland. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
O'Connor, D., Bennett, C., Franklin, C., Livingstone, A. and Trollor, J. (2019). Re-building Capacity in the Psychiatry of Intellectual and Developmental Disability: An Australian Jurisdictional Perspective. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
The Relevance of Genetics and Behavioural Phenotypes to Psychiatry
Franklin, C. (2019). The Relevance of Genetics and Behavioural Phenotypes to Psychiatry. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Franklin, C., Bathgate, D., Starkstein, S. and Trollor, J. (2018). Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults: An Update on Diagnosis, Neurological Comorbidities and the Ageing Process. RANZCP 2018 Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
Autism in adulthood: What is the role of psychiatrist?
Franklin, C. (2018). Autism in adulthood: What is the role of psychiatrist?. RANZCP 2018 Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
COMORBID MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN ADULTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Franklin, C. (2017). COMORBID MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN ADULTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
Autism spectrum disorder in adulthood: essentials for psychiatrists
Franklin, C., Sellen, M. and Nicollet, C. (2017). Autism spectrum disorder in adulthood: essentials for psychiatrists. RANZCP 2017 Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 30 April - 4 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Comorbidity in children and youth
Zepf, F., Harrison, J., Richardson, C. and Franklin, C. S. (2017). Comorbidity in children and youth. RANZCP 2017 Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 30 April - 4 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Mental health in adolescents and adults with Down syndrome
Franklin, C. (2017). Mental health in adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. RANZCP 2017 Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 30 April - 4 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Mental Health in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Franklin, C. (2015). Mental Health in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
Autism spectrum disorder: Essentials for psychiatrists
Franklin, C., Gattas, M., Dossetor, D. and Lennox, N. (2015). Autism spectrum disorder: Essentials for psychiatrists. RANZCP Congress 2015, Brisbane QLD Australia, 3-7 May 2015. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
d'Abrera, Carlos, Franklin, Catherine, O'Brien, Gregory and Trollor, Julian (2013). Psychiatric Illness and Behavioural Disorders in Adults with Autism: Essential Management Skills for the Psychiatrist. RANZCP 2013 Congress, Sydney, NSW Australia, 26 - 30 May 2013. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications Ltd.. doi: 10.1177/0004867412486854
Understanding and Managing Challenging Behaviour in People with Intellectual Disability
Bennett, Chad, Lennox, Nick, Franklin, Catherine, Pridding, Andrew and O'Brien, Gregory (2012). Understanding and Managing Challenging Behaviour in People with Intellectual Disability. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
Challenging Behaviour in People with Intellectual Disability: Essentials for the Psychiatrist
Trollor, Julian, Franklin, Catherine, Townsend, Clare and O'Brien, Gregory (2011). Challenging Behaviour in People with Intellectual Disability: Essentials for the Psychiatrist. NEW YORK: INFORMA HEALTHCARE.
THE ASSESSMENT OF CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR IN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY: A PRACTICAL GUIDE
Franklin, Catherine (2011). THE ASSESSMENT OF CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR IN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY: A PRACTICAL GUIDE. NEW YORK: INFORMA HEALTHCARE.
Franklin, Cathy , Brooker, Katie and Vinayagam, Ritwika (2022). Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service (MIDAS), Mater and the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability (QCIDD), Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland Joint submission to the Mental Health Select Committee. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland Parliment.
Tools, strategies, and techniques developed to improve the health and wellbeing for autistic adults
Brooker, Katie , Bradshaw, Pia , Franklin, Catherine and Urbanowicz, Anna (2022). Tools, strategies, and techniques developed to improve the health and wellbeing for autistic adults. Brisbane, Australia: Cooperation Research Centre for Living with Autism.
Brooker, Katie, Vinayagam, Ritwika and Franklin, Cathy (2021). Religious Freedom Bills Third Exposure Drafts submission by Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability. Canberra, ACT Australia: Parliament of Australia .
(2023–2027) NHMRC Targeted Research
EASY Health: Enhancing Access to Services for Your Health
(2022–2024) Mater Misericordiae Ltd
(2020–2022) Diabetes Australia Research Program
The RAPID (Reducing Antipsychotics in People with Intellectual Disability) study
(2019–2020) Endeavour Foundation
Project 3.015C Health and Wellbeing for Adults (Autism CRC)
(2014–2021) CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism CRC Limited)
Project 3.012RCb Program 3 Base Resourcing
(2013–2021) CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism CRC Limited)