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Associate Professor Chanaka Wijeratne

Conjoint Associate Professor

MB BS (UNSW), FRANZCP, MD (UNSW)

Medicine & Health
Rural Clin Sch - Coffs Harbour

Conj Assoc Prof Wijeratne is a psychiatrist with expertise in severe mood disorders, neurocognitive disorders, and the assessment of capacity. He is Clinical Lead of Older Persons' Mental Health at Prince of Wales Hospital. He has a longstanding interest in doctors' health, in particular late career practitioners and doctors from an ethnically and racially diverse background, and in medical regulation given his work as an assessor for the Medical Council of NSW. He has been involved in research in a variety of other areas, including chronic fatigue which was the subject of his postgraduate research degree, bipolar disorder and currently psychogeriatric syndromes in the oldest old. 
Phone
9382 3759
E-mail
Chanaka.Wijeratne@health.nsw.gov.au
Location
Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital
  • Book Chapters | 2019
    Wijeratne C, 2019, 'Depression', in Seminars in Old Age Psychiatry, Cambridge University Press, pp. 112 - 122, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781108593946.011
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Wijeratne C, 2019, 'Depression', in Butler R; Katona C (ed.), SEMINARS IN OLD AGE PSYCHIATRY, 2ND EDITION, CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS, pp. 112 - 122, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000682788100011&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Baée J; Draper B; Wijeratne C, 2025, 'A systematic review of reasons for and against euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in older people with a non-terminal condition', Australasian Psychiatry, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10398562251313917
    Journal articles | 2025
    Mooney A; Earl J; Gerrans P; Wijeratne C; Mooney C, 2025, 'Integrating career, health, and finance in a holistic retirement planning intervention for Australian older workers', Work, Aging and Retirement, 11, pp. 28 - 46, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/workar/waad029
    Journal articles | 2025
    Wijeratne C; Karin E; Draper B, 2025, 'Self-reported prevalence of long-term mental health conditions highest in the oldest old: Data from the 2021 Australian Census', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 59, pp. 469 - 472, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00048674251324818
    Journal articles | 2024
    Draper B; Wijeratne C, 2024, 'Electroconvulsive therapy use in New South Wales between 1944 and 1949', AUSTRALASIAN PSYCHIATRY, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10398562241306899
    Journal articles | 2024
    Wijeratne C; Sharma S; Large M, 2024, 'Understanding and addressing racism in clinical encounters', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58, pp. 297 - 299, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00048674231219854
    Journal articles | 2022
    Wijeratne C; Earl J, 2022, 'A guide for medical practitioners transitioning to an encore career or retirement', Medical Journal of Australia, 216, pp. 106, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51378
    Journal articles | 2022
    Wijeratne C; Kay MP; Arnold MH; Looi JCL, 2022, 'Australia needs to implement a national health strategy for doctors', Medical Journal of Australia, 217, pp. 338 - 341, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51714
    Journal articles | 2021
    Meuldijk D; Wuthrich VM; Rapee RM; Draper B; Brodaty H; Cuijpers P; Cutler H; Hobbs M; Johnco C; Jones M; Chen JTH; Partington A; Wijeratne C, 2021, 'Translating evidence-based psychological interventions for older adults with depression and anxiety into public and private mental health settings using a stepped care framework: Study protocol', Contemporary Clinical Trials, 104, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2021.106360
    Journal articles | 2021
    Mooney A; Wijeratne C; Earl JK; Gordon J, 2021, 'Practise till you drop: Trialing an online intervention for late-career medical practitioners to promote planning for retirement', Internet Interventions, 26, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100452
    Journal articles | 2021
    Wijeratne C; Earl J, 2021, 'A guide for medical practitioners transitioning to an encore career or retirement', Medical Journal of Australia, 214, pp. 12 - 14.e1, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50870
    Journal articles | 2021
    Wijeratne C; Johnco C; Draper B; Earl J, 2021, 'Doctors' reporting of mental health stigma and barriers to help-seeking', Occupational Medicine, 71, pp. 366 - 374, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqab119
    Journal articles | 2021
    Wijeratne C; Johnco C; Draper B; Earl JK, 2021, 'Older Physicians’ Reporting of Psychological Distress, Alcohol Use, Burnout and Workplace Stressors', American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29, pp. 478 - 487, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.09.010
    Journal articles | 2020
    Wijeratne C, 2020, 'Cognitive Screening of Older Practitioners', JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association, 323, pp. 1973 - 1974, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.4257
    Journal articles | 2019
    Peisah C; Luscombe GM; Earl JK; Wijeratne C, 2019, 'Aging women and men in the medical profession: The effect of gender and marital status on successful aging and retirement intent in Australian doctors', Journal of Women and Aging, 31, pp. 95 - 107, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2018.1412391
    Journal articles | 2018
    Wijeratne C; Peisah C; Earl J; Luscombe G, 2018, 'Occupational Determinants of Successful Aging in Older Physicians', American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26, pp. 200 - 208, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2017.07.008
    Journal articles | 2017
    Wijeratne C; Earl JK; Peisah C; Luscombe GM; Tibbertsma J, 2017, 'Professional and psychosocial factors affecting the intention to retire of Australian medical practitioners', Medical Journal of Australia, 206, pp. 209 - 214, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja16.00883
    Journal articles | 2016
    Kwan E; Wijeratne C, 2016, 'Presentations of anxiety in older people', Medicine Today, 17, pp. 34 - 41
    Journal articles | 2016
    Shah A; Sava-Shah S; Wijeratne C; Draper B, 2016, 'Are elite cricketers more prone to suicide? A psychological autopsy study of Test cricketer suicides', Australasian Psychiatry, 24, pp. 295 - 299, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1039856216641311
    Journal articles | 2016
    Shah A; Savla-Shah S; Wijeratne C; Draper B, 2016, 'Are elite cricketers more prone to suicide? Further comments on suicides from individual countries of test cricketers', Australasian Psychiatry, 24, pp. 624, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1039856216665284
    Journal articles | 2016
    Wijeratne C; Reutens S, 2016, 'When an elder is the abuser', Medical Journal of Australia, 205, pp. 246 - 247.e1, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja16.00333
    Journal articles | 2016
    Wijeratne C, 2016, 'Clinical assessment of the late-career medical practitioner', Australasian Psychiatry, 24, pp. 140 - 143, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1039856215626649
    Journal articles | 2015
    Peisah C; Strukovski JA; Wijeratne C; Mulholland R; Luscombe G; Brodaty H, 2015, 'The development and testing of the quality use of medications in dementia (QUM-D): A tool for quality prescribing for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)', International Psychogeriatrics, 27, pp. 1313 - 1322, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1041610214002816
    Journal articles | 2015
    Wijeratne C, 2015, 'Professional capacity and the late career medical practitioner', INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS, 27, pp. S185 - S186, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000369706400119&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2014
    Peisah C; Wijeratne C; Waxman B; Vonau M, 2014, 'Adaptive ageing surgeons', ANZ Journal of Surgery, 84, pp. 311 - 315, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ans.12506
    Journal articles | 2014
    Wijeratne C, 2014, 'Sex, drugs and gambling: Disinhibition in older people', Medicine Today, 15, pp. 47 - 52
    Journal articles | 2013
    Wijeratne C; McKay R; Looi J, 2013, 'AN OVERVIEW OF THE NSW HEALTH HANDBOOK FOR BEHAVIOURAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA (BPSD)', AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 47, pp. 37 - 38, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000329542900089&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2013
    Wijeratne C; Peisah C, 2013, 'Accepting the challenges of ageing and retirement in ourselves: The need for psychiatrists to adopt a consensus approach', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 47, pp. 425 - 430, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0004867413477220
    Journal articles | 2013
    Wijeratne C; Sachdev S; Wen W; Piguet O; Lipnicki D; Malhi G; Mitchell PB; Sachdev PS, 2013, 'Hippocampal and amygdala volumes in an older bipolar disorder sample', International Psychogeriatrics, 25, pp. 54 - 60, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1041610212001469
    Journal articles | 2012
    Aarons S; Peisah C; Wijeratne C, 2012, 'Neuropsychiatric effects of Parkinson's disease treatment', Australasian Journal on Ageing, 31, pp. 198 - 202, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6612.2012.00632.x
    Journal articles | 2012
    Blignault I; Manicavasagar VL; Parker GB; Wijeratne C; Sumathipala , 2012, 'Building capacity in identification and management of mood disorders: an Australia–Sri Lanka collaboration', Australasian Psychiatry, 20, pp. 53 - 56
    Journal articles | 2012
    Randles J; Wijeratne C; Peisah C; Foulkes P, 2012, 'THERE'S NO ESCAPE - AGING, ILLNESS AND RETIREMENT', AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 46, pp. 19 - 20, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000324742400047&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2012
    Wijeratne C, 2012, 'Behaviour and biomarkers in frontotemporal dementia: Implications for general psychiatry', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46, pp. 477 - 478, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0004867412439054
    Journal articles | 2011
    Blignault I; Manicavasagar V; Parker G; Wijeratne C; Sumathipala A, 2011, 'FP03-5 Improving the Identification and Management of Mood Disorders in Developing Countries', Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 4, pp. S32 - S32, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1876-2018(11)60124-x
    Journal articles | 2011
    Blignault I; Manicavasagar VL; Parker GB; Wijeratne C; Sumathipala , 2011, 'Improving the Identification and Management of Mood Disorders in Developing Countries', Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 4S1, pp. S32 - S32
    Journal articles | 2011
    Lamont S; Brunero S; Wijeratne C; Barclay C, 2011, 'Evaluation of an electroconvulsive therapy service in a general hospital', International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 20, pp. 223 - 229
    Journal articles | 2011
    Wijeratne C; Draper B, 2011, 'A reformulation of current recommendations for target serum lithium concentration according to clinical indication, age and physical comorbidity', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 45, pp. 1026 - 1032
    Journal articles | 2011
    Wijeratne PC, 2011, 'Somatization in older people', Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 34, pp. 661 - 671
    Journal articles | 2009
    Wijeratne C; Harris PG, 2009, 'Late life depression and dementia: A mental health literacy survey of Australian general practitioners', International Psychogeriatrics, 21, pp. 330 - 337, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1041610208008235
    Journal articles | 2008
    Wijeratne C; Sachdev PS, 2008, 'Treatment-resistant depression: critique of current approaches', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42, pp. 751 - 762, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048670802277206
    Journal articles | 2007
    Wijeratne C; Hickie IB; Brodaty H, 2007, 'The characteristics of fatigue in an older primary care sample', Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 62, pp. 153 - 158
    Journal articles | 2007
    Wijeratne C; Malhi G, 2007, 'Vascular mania: an old concept in danger of sclerosing? A clinical overview', ACTA Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 116, pp. 35 - 40
    Journal articles | 2007
    Wijeratne C; Malhi GS, 2007, 'A critique of the concept of vascular mania', Bipolar Disorders, 9, pp. 10 - 10
    Journal articles | 2006
    Wijeratne C; Olley A; Mahli G; Philip M, 2006, 'Late-onset bipolar disorder: preliminary results from Sydney.', Acta Neuropsychiatr, 18, pp. 311, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S092427080003180X
    Journal articles | 2006
    Wijeratne PC; Hickie IB; Davenport TA, 2006, 'Is there an independant somatic symptom disension in older people', Journal of Psychosomatic, 61, pp. 197 - 204
    Journal articles | 2005
    Wijeratne C, 2005, 'The relationship between somatic and psychological forms of distress in older people and Somatoform disorders - Theoretical challenges in older people', INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS, 17, pp. 96 - 97, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000233322400183&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2005
    Wijeratne C, 2005, 'What's new in .. old age psychiatry?', AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 39, pp. A110 - A110, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000234806800060&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2004
    Wijeratne C, 2004, 'Somatic presentations of distress in primary care', Geriatrics and Aging, 7, pp. 26 - 29
    Journal articles | 2003
    Wijeratne C; Manicavasagar V, 2003, 'Separation anxiety in the elderly', Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 17, pp. 695 - 702, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0887-6185(02)00239-6
    Journal articles | 2003
    Wijeratne C, 2003, 'Is mobile phone syndrome the new RSI? Socio-cultural factors in the development of somatoform disorders', AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 37, pp. A25 - A25, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000186635700088&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2003
    Wijeratne PC; Brodaty H; Hickie IB, 2003, 'The neglect of somatoform disorders by old age psychiatry:some explanations and suggestions for future research', International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18, pp. 812 - 819
    Journal articles | 2001
    Wijeratne C; Shome S; Hickie IB; Koschera A, 2001, 'An age-based comparison of chronic pain clinic patients', International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, pp. 477 - 483
    Journal articles | 2001
    Wijeratne PC; Hickie IB, 2001, 'Somatic distress syndromes in later life: The need for paradigm change', Psychological Medicine, pp. 571 - 576
    Journal articles | 2000
    Wijeratne C, 2000, 'Correspondence', Australasian Psychiatry, 8, pp. 165 - 166, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/103985600353
    Journal articles | 1999
    Wijeratne C; Halliday GS; Lyndon RW, 1999, 'The present status of electroconvulsive therapy: A systematic review', Medical Journal of Australia, 171, pp. 250 - 254, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1999.tb123632.x
    Journal articles | 1999
    Wijeratne C; Shome S, 1999, 'Electroconvulsive therapy and subdural hemorrhage', Journal of ECT, 15, pp. 275 - 279, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00124509-199912000-00007
    Journal articles | 1998
    Wijeratne C, 1998, 'Personality and aging: A case of continuing neglect', Aging and Mental Health, 2, pp. 89 - 91, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607869856768
    Journal articles | 1997
    Burke DJ; Wijeratne PC; Hickie IB, 1997, 'Depression in the elderly: recognition, assessment and treatment of depression saves lives', National Healthcare, pp. 47 - 49
    Journal articles | 1997
    Wijeratne C, 1997, 'Review: Pathways to morbidity in carers of dementia sufferers', International Psychogeriatrics, 9, pp. 69 - 79, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1041610297004225
    Journal articles | 1997
    Wijeratne PC; Hickie IB; Schwartz RS, 1997, 'Erotomania associated with temporal lobe abnormalities following radiotherapy', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, pp. 765 - 768
    Journal articles | 1997
    Wijeratne PC, 1997, 'Pathways to morbidity in carers of dementia sufferers', International Psychogeriatrics, pp. 69 - 79
    Journal articles | 1996
    Sachdev P, 1996, 'The diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome revisited', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 30, pp. 875 - 876, http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00048679609065060
    Journal articles | 1996
    Wijeratne C; Lovestone S, 1996, 'A pilot study comparing psychological and physical morbidity in carers of elderly people with dementia and those with depression', International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 11, pp. 741 - 744, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199608)11:8<741::AID-GPS381>3.0.CO;2-6
    Journal articles | 1996
    Wijeratne C; Stern J; Howard R, 1996, 'Self-mutilation in an elderly patient with personality disorder', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, 11, pp. 75 - 79, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199601)11:1<75::AID-GPS278>3.0.CO;2-H
    Journal articles | 1996
    Wijeratne C; Stern J; Howard R, 1996, 'Self-mutilation in an elderly patient with personality disorder', International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 11, pp. 75 - 79, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199601)11:1<75::AID-GPS278>3.0.CO;2-H
    Journal articles | 1996
    Wijeratne C; Webster P, 1996, 'Risperidone bullous pemphigoid [6]', American Journal of Psychiatry, 153, pp. 735
    Journal articles | 1996
    Wijeratne C, 1996, 'Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and malignant hyperthermia [1]', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 30, pp. 874
    Journal articles | 1994
    Webster P; Wijeratne C, 1994, 'Risperidone-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome', The Lancet, 344, pp. 1228 - 1229, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(94)90542-8
    Journal articles | 1994
    Wijeratne C, 1994, '‘A Shrink writes…’ negative press for psychiatry and the psychiatrist as pressman', Australasian Psychiatry, 2, pp. 285 - 286, http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10398569409079302
  • Conference Abstracts | 2016
    Cartledge B; Wijeratne C; Jakabek D; Walterfang M; Velakoulis D; Looi JCL; Sachdev P, 2016, 'Bipolar affective disorder: the striatal morphological correlates', in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, SAGE Publications (UK and US), Vol. 50, pp. 45 - 46, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0004867416640967
    Conference Papers | 2003
    Wijeratne PC; Hickie IB; Brodaty H, 2003, 'Determining relationships between psychological and somatic distress in older general practice attenders', in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Sage Publications, United Kingdom, pp. 15 - 15, presented at RANZCP: 38th Congress mutual interests, Tasmania, 12 March 2003 - 15 March 2003
    Conference Proceedings (Editor of) | 2003
    Wijeratne PC, (ed.), 2003, 'Australasian Psychiatry', Sage Publications, United Kingdom, presented at RANZCP 38th Conference, 12 May 2003 - 15 May 2003

Current only:

ARC Linkage Project 190100574. Earl J, Gerrans P, Wijeratne C. Designing a holistic model of advice to improve retirement planning.