Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The long-term mental health impact of COVID-19

Professor Richard Bryant discusses the financial and emotional impacts of COVID-19, and need for appropriate long term support for individuals.

Watch his keynote for the 2020 Australian Mental Health Prize Launch here.

Read the Sydney Morning Herald April 2020 article here.

Listen to his 3AW Great Australian Lives February 2022 radio interview here.


The 2019 Christchurch attacks and vicarious trauma
March 20, 2019

In light of the recent Christchurch attacks, Professor Richard Bryant discusses the psychological risks of media exposure to traumatic events and provides suggestions for coping and treatment.

Click here to read the article.


Stepping it up in the world of scientific research
May 22, 2018

Professor Richard Bryant has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science for his outstanding research on psychological responses to trauma.

To read more about this achievement, click here.


Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Firefighters
August 8, 2017

Professor Richard Bryant discusses the nature and treatment of PTSD in fire fighters to the International Association of Fire Fighters at the Redmond Health and Safety Symposium in Vancouver. 


ABC News Lateline: Why ageing makes PTSD worse for some war veterans
July 6, 2017

In this segment, Professor Richard Bryant discusses how complications of ageing can impact symptoms of PTSD in elderly war veterans. 

Click here to watch the interview.


'Time and Refugee Status Determination'

The Kaldor Centre hosted it's annual conference focusing on Refugees. This year, Professor Richard Bryant and Belinda Liddell spoke about pathways to trauma recovery for Refugees. If you'd like to have a listen, press play on the link below.

Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law Conference 2016 FROM REFUGEE EMERGENCY TO PROTRACTED EXILE: THE ROLE OF 'TIME' IN INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION 18 November 2016 Panel 1 - Time and refugee status determination 'Pathways to refugee trauma recovery: what does the psychological and neurobiological research tell us?' Professor Richard Bryant & Dr Belinda Liddell, School of Psychology, UNSW Chaired by Farid Varess, Special Counsel, Fragomen For more: http://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/event/save-date-annual-conference


Prof Richard Bryant was awarded the Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia in 2016 for analysing the impact of major disasters and his work investigating posttraumatic stress disorder. Learn more about this achievement and what the clinic have been working on here.

Professor Richard Bryant received Australia’s highest non-military honour – the Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s birthday honours in 2016. 

To read more about this achievement, click here.


ABC Radio: Treating PTSD in Journalists, Presented by Richard Aedy
May 28, 2015

The particular demands of journalism mean that news professionals who contract PTSD get it differently from other people.  Professor Richard Bryant discusses the unique challenges journalists face and comments on treatment for PTSD in journalists.

Click here to listen to the interview.


Rural Health Education Foundation: Natural Disasters and Psychological Trauma

This program examines the psychological impact of recent natural disasters in Australia. Leading trauma experts Brett McDermott and Richard Bryant join the clinicians at the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, in relating the Australian Treatment Guidelines to both the immediate and long term trauma response to floods, cyclones and fires.

The Rural Health Education Foundation produced the program above examining the psychological impact of natural disasters in Australia. Professors Richard Bryant and Brett McDermott with the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health discuss the Australian Treatment Guidelines for both immediate and long-term trauma response to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and fires.


Studio 10: Comments on PTSD

We respond to comments made about to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Studio 10, with PTSD sufferer Rob Pickersgill and psychologist Professor Richard Bryant. Studio 10 | 8:30am on TEN


UNSW Magazine: UNIKEN
September 8, 2011

Interview with Professor Richard Bryant regarding the genetic role in PTSD.

Click here to read the interview.


ABC Radio: All in the Mind, Presented by Natasha Mitchell
February 12, 2011

Interview with Professor Richard Bryant and Dr. Debbie Hawker regarding psychological debriefing as a response to trauma exposure. 

Click here to see the interview.


National Health and Medical Research Council: Ten of the Best Research Projects of 2010

Click here to open the document.


ABC Catalyst: Blast Trauma
April 16, 2009

Virtual Reality treatment has achieved a remarkable 85% success rate for soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's now hoped it may also help with more mild brain injury - the signature injury of the Iraq War. Combat soldiers suffering from PTSD experience a variety of symptoms including high anxiety, depression, memory loss and heightened aggression. Unable to resume normal life after their return from war, many of them cannot shake off the memories of their horrific experiences.

Click here to watch the episode.


Prolonged Grief

ABC Radio: Life Matters, Presented by Hilary Harper
April 6, 2022

Professor Richard Bryant discusses the nature of grief and the impact of Prolonged Grief being officially recognised as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 Text Revision (DSM-V-TR).

Click here to listen to the interview.


The Conversation: Why Prolonged Grief Should be Listed as a Mental Disorder
October 26, 2012

Professor Richard Bryant discusses why Prolonged Grief should be listed as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-V).

Read the article here.


ABC Radio: Life Matters, Presented by Richard Aedy
August 12, 2008

Interview with Professor Richard Bryant, Janet Salli and Peter Roach regarding Prolonged Grief Disorder and the Traumatic Stress Clinic's approach to treatment.

Click here to listen to the interview.


UNSW Newsroom: New Hope for Prolonged Grief
March 28, 2008

Some people grieve for so long that it becomes a significant mental illness. Learn more about prolonged grief and the research being conducted by the Traumatic Stress clinic by reading the article here.