My research seeks to understand how to reduce the gap between what we Know and what we Do when it comes to scaling up brief evidence-based interventions in poorly resourced settings. My research is focused on understanding the mechanisms that underlie scalable psychological programs within resource-constrained settings. I work with the World Health Organization to design programs that meet the needs and wants of adversity-affected communities within high-income and low-and-middle income countries. I am particularly interested in leveraging implementation science methods to understand the mechanisms that underpin the uptake of scalable psychological programs within such settings.
Publications
Media
Grants
Awards
Research Activities
Engagement
Teaching and Supervision
Journal articles | 2025
Bryant RA; Dawson KS; Yadav S; Tran J; Choi-Christou J; Rawson N; Tockar J; Stech E; Garber B; Broomfield C; Harrison A; Keyan D; Azevedo S, 2025, 'Augmenting trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder with memory specificity training: a randomized controlled trial', World Psychiatry, 24, pp. 113 - 119, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wps.21280
Journal articles | 2025
Keyan D; Dawson KS; Yadav S; Azevedo S; Choi-Christou J; Maliakkal DJ; Pillai MK; Chokani R; Thomas E; George TS; Bryant RA, 2025, 'Efficacy of a peer-delivered group psychological intervention to reduce psychological distress among university students in India: a randomised controlled trial using an active control condition.', Eur J Psychotraumatol, 16, pp. 2503603, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2025.2503603
Journal articles | 2025
Keyan D; Hall J; Jordan S; Watts S; Au T; Dawson KS; Sway RA; Crawford J; Sorsdahl K; Luitel NP; de Graaff AM; Ghalayini H; Habashneh R; El-Dardery H; Fanatseh S; Malik A; Servili C; Faroun M; Abualhaija A; Said Aqel I; Hamdani SU; Dardas L; Akhtar A; Bryant RA; Carswell K, 2025, 'The development of a World Health Organization transdiagnostic chatbot intervention for distressed adolescents and young adults', Frontiers in Digital Health, 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1528580
Journal articles | 2025
de Graaff AM; Habashneh R; Fanatseh S; Keyan D; Akhtar A; Abualhaija A; Faroun M; Aqel IS; Dardas L; Servili C; van Ommeren M; Bryant R; Carswell K, 2025, 'Evaluation of a Guided Chatbot Intervention for Young People in Jordan: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial', Jmir Mental Health, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/63515
Journal articles | 2024
Akhtar A; de Graaff AM; Habashneh R; Keyan D; Abualhaija A; Fanatseh S; Faroun M; Aqel IS; Dardas L; Servili C; van Ommeren M; Bryant R; Carswell K, 2024, 'Scalable Technology for Adolescents and Youth to Reduce Stress in the Treatment of Common Mental Disorders in Jordan: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial', Jmir Research Protocols, 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/54585
Journal articles | 2024
Bryant RA; Azevedo S; Yadav S; Cahill C; Kenny L; Maccallum F; Tran J; Choi-Christou J; Rawson N; Tockar J; Garber B; Keyan D; Dawson KS, 2024, 'Cognitive Behavior Therapy vs Mindfulness in Treatment of Prolonged Grief Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial', JAMA Psychiatry, 81, pp. 646 - 654, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.0432
Journal articles | 2024
Bryant RA; Dawson KS; Azevedo S; Yadav S; Cahill C; Kenny L; Maccallum F; Tran J; Rawson N; Tockar J; Garber B; Keyan D, 2024, 'A pilot study of the role of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in response to exercise-augmented exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder', Psychoneuroendocrinology, 167, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107106
Journal articles | 2024
Keyan D; Garland N; Choi-Christou J; Tran J; O’Donnell M; Bryant RA, 2024, 'A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Predictors of Response to Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder', Psychological Bulletin, 150, pp. 767 - 797, http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000438
Journal articles | 2024
Keyan D; Habashneh R; Akhtar A; El-Dardery H; Faroun M; Abualhaija A; Aqel IS; Dardas LA; Bryant R, 2024, 'Evaluating a stepped care model of psychological support for adults affected by adversity: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in Jordan', BMJ Open, 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078091
Journal articles | 2024
Keyan D; Hadzi-Pavlovic D; Akhtar A; Dawson K; Koyiet PN; Bryant R, 2024, 'Dimensionality of the Swahili version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in a Kenyan population: A confirmatory factor analysis', Global Mental Health, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2024.46
Journal articles | 2023
Bryant R; Dawson K; Azevedo S; Yadav S; Tran J; Choi-Christou J; Andrew E; Beames J; Keyan D, 2023, 'Positive affect training to reduce mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: A proof-of-concept randomised clinical trial', BMJ Mental Health, 26, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2023-300737
Journal articles | 2023
Bryant RA; Azevedo S; Yadav S; Keyan D; Rawson N; Dawson K; Tockar J; Garber B; Hadzi-Pavlovic D, 2023, 'Habituation of distress during exposure and its relationship to treatment outcome in post-traumatic stress disorder and prolonged grief disorder', European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2193525
Journal articles | 2023
Bryant RA; Dawson KS; Azevedo S; Yadav S; Cahill C; Kenny L; Maccallum F; Tran J; Rawson N; Tockar J; Garber B; Keyan D, 2023, 'Augmenting trauma-focused psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder with brief aerobic exercise in Australia: a randomised clinical trial', Lancet Psychiatry, 10, pp. 21 - 29, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(22)00368-6
Journal articles | 2023
Keyan D; Dawson KS; Bryant RA, 2023, 'Study protocol for a controlled trial of a resilience program on psychological distress in correctional officers in Australia', BMC Psychiatry, 23, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04592-4
Journal articles | 2022
Bryant RA; Dawson KS; Keyan D; Azevedo S; Yadav S; Tran J; Rawson N; Harvey S, 2022, 'Effectiveness of a Videoconferencing-Delivered Psychological Intervention for Mental Health Problems during COVID-19: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Clinical Trial', Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 91, pp. 63 - 72, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000520283
Journal articles | 2022
Keyan D; Dawson K; Azevedo S; Yadav S; Choi-Christou J; Maliakkal DJ; Pillai MK; Thomas E; George TS; Bryant RA, 2022, 'Videoconferencing-delivered psychological intervention for the treatment of COVID-19 related psychological distress in University students: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in India', BMC Psychiatry, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-04471-4
Journal articles | 2021
Keyan D; Dawson K; Azevado S; Yadav S; Tran J; Bryant RA, 2021, 'Brief videoconferencing psychological intervention for reducing COVID-19 related distress: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial', BMC Public Health, 21, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10529-x
Journal articles | 2019
Keyan D; Bryant RA, 2019, 'Acute exercise-induced enhancement of fear inhibition is moderated by BDNF Val66Met polymorphism', Translational Psychiatry, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41398-019-0464-z
Journal articles | 2019
Keyan D; Bryant RA, 2019, 'The capacity for acute exercise to modulate emotional memories: A review of findings and mechanisms', Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 107, pp. 438 - 449, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.033
Journal articles | 2017
Keyan D; Bryant RA, 2017, 'Acute physical exercise in humans enhances reconsolidation of emotional memories', Psychoneuroendocrinology, 86, pp. 144 - 151, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.09.019
Journal articles | 2017
Keyan D; Bryant RA, 2017, 'Brief exercise enhances intrusive memories of traumatic stimuli', Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 141, pp. 9 - 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2017.03.012
Journal articles | 2017
Keyan D; Bryant RA, 2017, 'Role of BDNF val66met polymorphism in modulating exercised-induced emotional memories', Psychoneuroendocrinology, 77, pp. 150 - 157, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.12.013
Journal articles | 2015
Norberg MM; Keyan D; Grisham JR, 2015, 'Mood influences the relationship between distress intolerance and discarding', Journal of Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders, 6, pp. 77 - 82, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2015.06.005
Preprints | 2025
Keyan D; Habashneh R; El-Dardery H; Faroun M; Al-Johary F; Abualhaija A; Aqel IS; Akhtar A; Dardas L; Bryant RA, 2025, A stepped-care programme of brief psychological interventions for adults affected by adversity in Jordan: Lessons from a pilot randomised controlled trial in Jordan, http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.27.25323060
Preprints | 2025
Keyan D; Hall J; Jordan S; Watts S; Au T; Dawson KS; Sway RA; Crawford J; Sorsdahl K; Luitel NP; de Graaff AM; Ghalayini H; Habashneh R; EL-Dardery H; Fanatseh S; Malik A; Servili C; Faroun M; Abualhaija A; Aqel IS; Hamdani SU; Dardas L; Akhtar A; Bryant RA; Carswell K, 2025, The development of a World Health Organization transdiagnostic chatbot intervention for distressed adolescents and young adults, http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.19.25322432
Preprints | 2024
Keyan D; Dawson K; Azevedo S; Yadav S; Choi-Christou J; Maliakkal DJ; Pillai MK; Thomas E; George TS; Bryant RA, 2024, The role of specific and non-specific factors in a brief group psychological intervention for psychological distress: a randomised clinical trial, http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.15.24310464
Preprints | 2024
de Graaff AM; Habashneh R; Fanatseh S; Keyan D; Akhtar A; Abualhaija A; Faroun M; Aqel IS; Dardas L; Servili C; van Ommeren M; Bryant R; Carswell K, 2024, Evaluation of a Guided Chatbot Intervention for Young People in Jordan: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint), http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/preprints.63515
Preprints | 2023
Akhtar A; de Graaff AM; Habashneh R; Keyan D; Abualhaija A; Fanatseh S; Faroun M; Aqel IS; Dardas L; Servili C; van Ommeren M; Bryant R; Carswell K, 2023, Scalable Technology for Adolescents and Youth to Reduce Stress in the Treatment of Common Mental Disorders in Jordan: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint), http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/preprints.54585
2024: Translational Impact Seed Funding
2023: Swiss National Science Foundation - Visiting Researcher grant
2024: Paper titled 'A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Predictors of Response to Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder'(http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000438) selected for Psychological Bulletin Editor's Choice.
2024: UNSW Science Early Career Impact Award
Nov 2021 - present: Consultant for the World Health Organization (Geneva, HQ)