Dr Simon Byrne
Lecturer in Clinical Psychology
School of Psychology
+61 7 336 56677
Researcher biography
The most important treatment for anxiety disorders is exposure to fear cues. Parents need to support their child to face their fears and meet challenges, yet many struggle with this fundamental process.
Dr Byrne completed a PhD and Masters of Clinical Psychology in child anxiety at Macquarie University in 2015. He has held postdoctoral positions at Yale Child Study Center, as well as psychiatry departments at Westmead Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia. Since 2021 he has been a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at University of Queensland.
His research focusses on unconventional use of psychiatric drugs to treat mental disorders, treatments for anxiety and treatments for children.
Publications
Book Chapters
Byrne, Simon P., Lebowitz, Eli R., Ollendick, Thomas H. and Silverman, Wendy K. (2018). Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents. A Guide to Assessments That Work. (pp. 217-241) edited by Hunsley, John and Mash, Eric J.. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190492243.003.0011
Milliner, Ella, Farrell, Lara, Byrne, Simon and Ollendick, Thomas (2017). Specific Phobias. Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Step-by-Step Treatment Manual . (pp. 212-245) edited by Christopher A. Flessner and John C. Piacentini. New York, NY, United States: The Guilford Press.
Journal Articles
Byrne, Simon P and Morawska, Alina (2024). Enhancing father involvement by increasing flexibility: Meeting fathers halfway. Journal of Child Health Care, 28 (4), 695-699. doi: 10.1177/13674935241295804
Byrne, Simon P., Chawla, Isha and Hides, Leanne (2024). Mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy for problematic alcohol use and disorders: an updated rapid review. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 59 (6) agae073. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agae073
Byrne, S., Cobham, V., Richardson, M. and Imuta, K. (2023). Do parents enhance cognitive behavior therapy for youth anxiety? An overview of systematic reviews over time. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 26 (3), 773-788. doi: 10.1007/s10567-023-00436-5
Byrne, Simon, Richardson, Meg, Riba, Marcos and Imuta, Kana (2023). Parent versus individual cognitive behavior therapy for youth anxiety: protocol for an overview of systematic reviews over time. JMIR Research Protocols, 12 (1) e48077, 1-8. doi: 10.2196/48077
Byrne, Simon, Tohamy, Ahmed, Kotze, Beth, Ramos, Fabio, Starling, Jean, Karageorge, Aspasia, Bhattacharyya, Tuni, Modesto, Oscar and Harris, Anthony (2022). Using a mobile health device to monitor physiological stress for serious mental illness: A qualitative analysis of patient and clinician-related acceptability. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 45 (3), 219-225. doi: 10.1037/prj0000514
Byrne, Simon P., Fogle, Brienna M., Asch, Ruth, Esterlis, Irina, Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan, Tsai, Jack and Pietrzak, Robert H. (2021). The hidden burden of social anxiety disorder in U.S. military veterans: results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 291, 9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.04.088
Byrne, Simon P., McCarthy, Elissa, DeViva, Jason C., Southwick, Steven M. and Pietrzak, Robert H. (2021). Prevalence, risk correlates, and health comorbidities of insomnia in US military veterans: results from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 17 (6), 1267-1277. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9182
Byrne, Simon, Kotze, Beth, Ramos, Fabio, Casties, Achim, Starling, Jean and Harris, Anthony (2020). Integrating a mobile health device into a community youth mental health team to manage severe mental illness: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 9 (11) 19510, e19510. doi: 10.2196/19510
Byrne, Simon, Kotze, Beth, Ramos, Fabio, Casties, Achim and Harris, Anthony (2020). Using a mobile health device to manage severe mental illness in the community: what is the potential and what are the challenges?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54 (10), 964-969. doi: 10.1177/0004867420945782
Byrne, Simon P., Haber, Paul, Baillie, Andrew, Giannopolous, Vickie and Morley, Kirsten (2019). Cue exposure therapy for alcohol use disorders: what can be learned from exposure therapy for anxiety disorders?. Substance Use and Misuse, 54 (12), 2053-2063. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1618328
Byrne, Simon P., Haber, Paul, Baillie, Andrew, Costa, Daniel S.J., Fogliati, Vincent and Morley, Kirsten (2019). Systematic reviews of mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy for alcohol use disorder: Should we be using Third Wave Therapies?. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 54 (2), 159-166. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agy089
Byrne, Simon P., Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan, Tsai, Jack, Southwick, Steven M. and Pietrzak, Robert H. (2019). Latent typologies of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms in U.S. military veterans. Psychiatry Research, 273, 266-273. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.094
Byrne, Simon P., Mayo, Alexandria, O'Hair, Cayla, Zankman, Melissa, Austin, Grace M., Thompson-Booth, Chloe, McCrory, Eamon J., Mayes, Linda C. and Rutherford, Helena J.V. (2019). Facial emotion recognition during pregnancy: examining the effects of facial age and affect. Infant Behavior and Development, 54, 108-113. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2018.09.008
Louie, Eva, Giannopoulos, Vicki, Baillie, Andrew, Uribe, Gabriela, Byrne, Simon, Deady, Mark, Teesson, Maree, Baker, Amanda, Haber, Paul S. and Morley, Kirsten C. (2019). Translating evidence-based practice for managing comorbid substance use and mental illness using a multimodal training package. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 14 (2), 111-119. doi: 10.1080/15504263.2018.1437496
Shimshoni, Yaara, Silverman, Wendy K., Byrne, Simon P. and Lebowitz, Eli R. (2018). Maternal acceptance moderates fear ratings and avoidance behavior in children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 49 (3), 460-467. doi: 10.1007/s10578-017-0765-5
Rutherford, Helena J. V., Byrne, Simon P., Crowley, Michael J., Bornstein, Jonathan, Bridgett, David J. and Mayes, Linda C. (2018). Executive functioning predicts reflective functioning in mothers. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27 (3), 944-952. doi: 10.1007/s10826-017-0928-9
Byrne, Simon P., Krystal, John H., Rosenheck, Robert A., Vessicchio, Jennier and Pietrzak, Robert H. (2017). Correlates of nonimprovement to pharmacotherapy for chronic, antidepressant-resistant, military service-related posttraumatic stress disorder: Insights from the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study No. 504. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 37 (6), 717-721. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000777
Byrne, Simon P., Rapee, Ronald M. and Sweller, Naomi (2017). Factors associated with parental consent to use D-Cycloserine for child anxiety. Behaviour Change, 34 (1), 66-75. doi: 10.1017/bec.2017.5
Rutherford, Helena J.V., Byrne, Simon P., Austin, Grace M., Lee, Jonathan D., Crowley, Michael J. and Mayes, Linda C. (2017). Anxiety and neural responses to infant and adult faces during pregnancy. Biological Psychology, 125, 115-120. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.03.002
Byrne, Simon P., Rapee, Ronald M., Malhi, Gin S., Sweller, Naomi and Hudson, Jennifer (2016). An examination of harm beliefs in dog fearful children. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 7 (2), 153-159. doi: 10.5127/jep.048015
Byrne, Simon P., Rapee, Ronald M., Richardson, Rick, Malhi, Gin S., Jones, Michael and Hudson, Jennifer L. (2015). D-cycloserine enhances generalization of fear extinction in children. Depression and Anxiety, 32 (6), 408-414. doi: 10.1002/da.22356
Byrne, Simon Patrick, Hunt, Caroline Jane and Chang, Betty P.I. (2015). Comparing the roles of ambiguity and unpredictability in intolerance of uncertainty. Behaviour Change, 32 (1), 26-34. doi: 10.1017/bec.2014.27
Byrne, Simon P., Farrell, Lara J., Storch, Eric A. and Rapee, Ronald M. (2014). D-Cycloserine augmented treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: a review of preliminary research. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, a1 (1), 157-168. doi: 10.5127/pr.033013
Curran, Genevieve, Walter, Garry, Soh, Nerissa, Herman, Michael, Baker, Martin, Paton, Michael, Newton, Liz and Byrne, Simon (2011). Staff experience, knowledge and attitudes regarding the management of adolescent patients in adult mental health units. Australasian Psychiatry, 19 (5), 420-425. doi: 10.3109/10398562.2011.602079
Byrne, Simon P., Farrell, Lara J. and Rapee, Ronald M. (2011). Using cognitive enhancers to improve the treatment of anxiety disorders in young people: Examining the potential for D-cycloserine to augment exposure for child anxiety. Clinical Psychologist, 15 (1), 1-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-9552.2011.00005.x
Byrne, Simon, Walter, Garry, Hunt, Glenn, Soh, Nerissa, Cleary, Michelle, Duffy, Paul, Crawford, Geoff, Krabman, Peter, Concannon, Patrick and Malhi, Gin (2010). Self-reported side effects in children and adolescents taking risperidone. Australasian Psychiatry, 18 (1), 42-45. doi: 10.3109/10398560903033381
Walter, Garry, Byrne, Simon, Griffiths, Oren, Hunt, Glenn, Soh, Nerissa, Cleary, Michelle, Duffy, Paul, Crawford, Geoff, Krabman, Peter, Concannon, Patrick and Malhi, Gin (2010). Editorial: Can young people reliably rate side effects of low-dose antipsychotic medication using a self-report survey?. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 22 (4), 168-173. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5215.2010.00475.x
Byrne, Simon, Soh, Nerissa, Walter, Garry, Hunt, Glenn, Cleary, Michelle and Malhi, Gin (2010). Observations from postal research involving families of young people taking antipsychotic medication. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 22 (2). doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5215.2010.00454.x
Stevens, Garry, Byrne, Simon, Raphael, Beverley and Ollerton, Richard (2008). Disaster medical assistance teams: what psychosocial support is needed?. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 23 (2), 202-207. doi: 10.1017/s1049023x00005859
Conference Papers
Byrne, S., Chawla, I. and Hides, L. (2024). A rapid review of mindfulness and ACT for alcohol use disorders. Society for Mental Health Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 6-8 November 2024.
Byrne, S., McMahon, H. and Dingle, G. (2024). The ethical clinic: developing valid and immersive role play assessments for clinical psychology training. Society for Mental Health Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 6-8 November 2024.
Hegarty, A. and Byrne, S. (2024). What predicts psychologist confidence to conduct social anxiety exposure therapy?. Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 19 - 21 October 2023.
Byrne, S. and Chawla, I. (2024). Evidence for third wave therapies for alcohol use disorder across two systematic reviews. Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17-19 October 2024.
Kim, N. and Byrne, S. (2023). Mental health help-seeking in Australian international university students. Society for Mental Health Research, Perth, WA, Australia, 29 November - 1 December 2023.
Byrne, S. (2023). Patient and clinician acceptability for using a mobile health device to manage serious mental illness in the community (How could this work?). World Congress of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, Seoul, South Korea, 1-4 June 2023.
Byrne, S., Mellor, R and MacCallum, F (2023). A latent class analysis of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among Australian Vietnam war veterans. World Congress of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy 2023, Seoul, South Korea, 1-4 June 2023.
Byrne, S., Cobham, V., Richardson, M. and Imuta, K. (2023). Parent enhancement of cognitive behaviour therapy for child and adolescent anxiety: An overview of systematic reviews over time. World Congress of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, Seoul, South Korea, 1-4 June 2023.
Byrne, S. (2022). Using a mobile health device to monitor youth psychiatric outpatients: patient and clinician acceptability. Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 13-14 October 2022.
Byrne, S. (2022). Coaching parents to conduct powerful exposure therapy. Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 13-14 October 2022.
Byrne, S. (2021). Coaching parents to conduct powerful exposure therapy with their child. Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Conference, Fremantle, 28-29 October 2021.
Byrne, S. (2021). Prevalence, risk correlates and health comorbidities of insomnia in U.S. military veterans: results from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Conference, Fremantle, WA Australia, 28-29 October 2021.
Byrne, S. (2021). Pushing the boundaries of mobile health for mental health: activity trackers to manage agitation in an acute psychiatric unit. Digital Health Week 2021, Virtual, February 2021.
Byrne, S. (2020). Integrating mobile health devices into a youth mental health team: feasibility and preliminary results of the unWIRED project.. eHealth@Sydney Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, February 2020.
Byrne, S. (2019). Integrating personal health devices into a youth mental health team: the unWIRED Project. Society of Mental Health Research, Melbourne, VIC Australia, December 2019.
Byrne, S. (2016). D-cycloserine enhances generalization of fear extinction in children. Anxiety and Depression Association of America Conference, Philadelphia, PA USA, April 2016.
Byrne, S. (2013). D-cycloserine augmented exposure therapy for children with animal phobia. World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Lima, Peru, July 2013.
Byrne, S. (2012). Using D-cycloserine to augment exposure therapy for children with specific phobia. Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, October 2012.
Byrne, S. (2011). Using antipsychotic to treat childhood behavioural disorders. NSCCAHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Meeting, Sydney, NSW Australia, March 2011.
Byrne, S. (2010). The challenges of conducting long-term clinical research: observations examining antipsychotic side-effects in children. NSCCAHS Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Research Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, June 2010.
Byrne, S. (2009). Duration of treatment and self-reported side effects of low dose risperidone in young people. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Conference, Adelaide, SA Australia, May 2009.
Byrne, S. (2008). Use of a self-report measure to compare risperidone-related side effects in a cross–section of young patients. Scientific Research Meeting at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW Australia, November 2008.
Video Document
Newspaper Article
Byrne, Simon (2023, 07 24). I think my child has anxiety. What are the treatment options? The Conversation
Seminar Papers
Byrne, Simon (2023). Conducting brief, intensive exposure therapy for childhood phobias. School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia.
Byrne, Simon (2023). Coaching your child to be brave: using parents to treat child anxiety. Psychology Seminar Series. School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.