Depression & Pain Treatment
Professor James McAuley
Professor James McAuley
Professor James McAuley
Professor James McAuley is a psychologist, Professor in the School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health at UNSW and Senior Research Scientist at NeuRA.
James completed his PhD at Brunel University, London (2003). After immigrating to Australia in 2004 he took up a post-doctoral position at the University of Sydney and then at the George Institute for Global Health. In 2010 he moved to NeuRA where he set up the Centre for Pain IMPACT (investigating mechanisms of pain to advance clinical translation). In 2017 he was appointed as Associate Professor to the Exercise Physiology department at UNSW and in 2020 he was promoted to Professor.
Professor McAuley’s research combines experimental, clinical and translational methods to develop and test new interventions to manage low back pain. He has published more than 190 articles and holds more than $10 million in research funding. He is regularly invited to present at conferences and scientific meetings and has supervised 18 PhD students and mentored four post-doctoral researchers.
Professor McAuley is the chair of the back pain group of SPHERE MSK and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) for the Australian and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network (ANZMUSC). In 2015 he founded the NSW network for pain PhD students/ECRs (SPRiNG).
Low back pain is a common global health issue and the primary cause of disability worldwide. In countries like Australia, the costs associated with managing low back pain and work loss are projected to increase by 60% over the next decade.
There is a growing recognition of the interplay between brain disorders, mental health conditions, and neurological conditions. People with complex depression often also experience chronic back pain, putting a significant burden on individuals and society, necessitating a comprehensive and parallel approach to intervention.
Promising evidence suggests that effective pain management can lead to improvements in depressive symptoms. Researchers are exploring revolutionary models of treatment for chronic back pain that challenge traditional medication and localised treatment methods, instead focusing on the nervous system’s involvement rather than solely targeting the disc, bone, or muscles. By addressing the underlying neural mechanisms contributing to pain, these treatments aim to provide more effective and lasting relief.
This research project was designed for people who are facing the twin challenges of persistent depression and co-occurring low back pain. The trial aimed to offer them a unique opportunity to find relief and improvement in both their depressive symptoms and chronic pain.
About the project
Professor McAuley and his team investigated the effectiveness of an internet-delivered, evidence-based education and psychological intervention to support people living with chronic back pain. The project tested tailored digital technologies to improve the mood of people with low back pain and reduce their pain and disability. They also conducted a scoping plan to review best practice activities for depression and low back pain. This ongoing scoping exercise aims to gather insights and identify effective strategies to inform future research and interventions.
What is involved?
In alignment with best practice, the project team collaborated with a consumer panel and industry partners, HealthShare NSW. They investigated the effectiveness of enabling GPs to prescribe an internet-delivered, evidence-based education and psychological intervention for patients with chronic low back pain and co-occurring psychological concerns to self-manage their recovery.
To test the feasibility of this approach, the team conducted a trial to improve the mood of individuals with low back pain, reduce their pain and disability, and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The team leveraged digital tools from HealthShare to embed evidence-based patient information on low back pain management into the workflow of GPs, with patient response monitored using an IQ code.
Achievements and Outcomes
The project developed a novel, evidence-based education resource for low back pain, currently being trialled by GPs nationwide.
It also saw the publication of a series of international scoping studies determining best-practice evidence for treating lower back pain and the impacts on mental health and medication-use.
The project team was subsequently awarded more than $1 million to continue trialling studies.
Media and Publications
Paper: Antidepressants for low back pain and spine-related leg pain
Project Status
This project has concluded.
Funding Sources
- Commonwealth grant funding awarded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
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Keeping the Body in Mind: Primary Care
Addi Moves: Exercise for People from Refugee and Asylum Seeking Backgrounds
INTERACTION: Intergenerational clinical trial in at risk older adults and pre-school children
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