Dr Catherine Franklin
Senior Research Fellow
Mater Research Institute-UQ
+61 7 3163 1625
Researcher biography
Dr Cathy Franklin is passionate about improving the health of people with intellectual disability and those on the autism spectrum. Cathy is a psychiatrist who has specialised in the psychiatry of intellectual disability and autism in adolescents and adults since 2004. Her career focussed on clinical work and education until 2015, when she commenced a part-time research appointment, in addition to her clinical work. Cathy is the inaugural Director of the Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service (MIDAS), a state-wide clinical service established in 2018 that works to improve the health and mental health of adults with intellectual disability and those on the autism spectrum. Cathy is also Director of QCIDD, the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, a centre established in 1997 by Professor Nick Lennox, and best known for its many contributions to health of people with intellectual disability, including the CHAP health assessment tool and the AbleX massive open-online course that Cathy contributed mental health content to.
Cathy's research interests include health services research and the biological underpinnings and health sequelae of conditions occurring in this population. She is Chief Investigator on several projects, including the EASY-Health (Enhancing Access to Services for Your Health) Project, funded by the Australian Government NDIS ($2.3 million 2020-2024) and the NHMRC funded grant ($1.5M), Bridge to Better Health, investigating whether specialised support to primary care nurses can improve the health of people with intellectual disability attending their practice. Cathy also led MIDAS' successful application as a lead consortium member for the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health ($22.6M over 4 years; consortium led by UNSW). Cathy is a regular presenter at national and internaitonal conferences, often as an invited speaker. She has served on the committee of the RANZCP Section of Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability for over 10 years, is chair of the Qld Branch of the Section and also serves as Vice-President of the Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine (AADDM). In 2020 she was awarded the Mater Research Sister Regis Dunne award for Outstanding Contribution to research relative to opportunity.
Book Chapters
Franklin, Catherine (2023). Forensic Aspects of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: An Australasian Perspective. Forensic Aspects of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Forensic Aspects of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Clinician's Guide. (pp. 277-299) edited by Jane M. McCarthy, Regi T. Alexander and Eddie Chaplin. Cambridge, United Kingdom: University of Cambridge. doi: 10.1017/9781108955522.023
Franklin, Catherine (2012). Psychiatric disorders: assessment. Management Guidelines: Developmental Disability. (pp. 143-151) edited by Susie Rogers. West Melbourne, Australia: Therapeutic Guidelines.
Journal Articles
Santoro, Jonathan, Khoshnood, Mellad, Jafarpour, Saba, Nguyen, Lina, Boyd, Natalie, Vogel, Benjamin, Kammeyer, Ryan, Patel, Lina, Manning, Melanie, Filipink, Robyn, Santoro, Stephanie, Franklin, Catherine, Tamrazi, Benita, Worley, Gordon, Espinosa, Joaquin and Rafii, Michael (2024). Neuroimaging Abnormalities Predict Immunotherapy Responsiveness in Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (S37.009). Neurology, 102 (17_supplement_1). doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000205290
Brooker, K. S., De Greef, R., Trollor, J. N., Franklin, C. S. and Weise, J. (2024). Intellectual disability healthcare in Australia: Progress , challenges, and future directions. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 21 (1) e12497. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12497
Santoro, Jonathan D., Khoshnood, Mellad M., Jafarpour, Saba, Nguyen, Lina, Boyd, Natalie K., Vogel, Benjamin N., Kammeyer, Ryan, Patel, Lina, Manning, Melanie A., Rachubinski, Angela L., Filipink, Robyn A., Baumer, Nicole T., Santoro, Stephanie L., Franklin, Catherine, Tamrazi, Benita, Yeom, Kristen W., Worley, Gordon, Espinosa, Joaquin M. and Rafii, Michael S. (2024). Neuroimaging abnormalities associated with immunotherapy responsiveness in Down syndrome regression disorder. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 11 (4), 1034-1045. doi: 10.1002/acn3.52023
Ware, Robert S., Franklin, Catherine, McPherson, Lyn and Lennox, Nicholas G. (2024). Health checks for people with down syndrome: a pooled analysis of three randomized controlled trials. Disabilities, 4 (1), 101-110. doi: 10.3390/disabilities4010007
Edwards, Nicole, Franklin, Catherine, king, Julie and Watling, Hanna (2024). Australian psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists’ perceptions of chemical restraint of adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 17 (1), 65-77. doi: 10.1080/19315864.2023.2192689
Santoro, Jonathan D, Spinazzi, Noemi A, Filipink, Robyn A, Hayati-Rezvan, Panteha, Kammeyer, Ryan, Patel, Lina, Sannar, Elise A, Dwyer, Luke, Banerjee, Abhik K, Khoshnood, Mellad, Jafarpour, Saba, Boyd, Natalie K, Partridge, Rebecca, Gombolay, Grace Y, Christy, Alison L, Real de Asua, Diego, Del Carmen Ortega, Maria, Manning, Melanie A, Van Mater, Heather, Worley, Gordan, Franklin, Cathy, Stanley, Maria A, Brown, Ruth, Capone, George T, Quinn, Eileen A and Rafii, Michael S (2023). Immunotherapy responsiveness and risk of relapse in Down syndrome regression disorder. Translational Psychiatry, 13 (1) 276, 276. doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02579-z
Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Baumer, Nicole T., Di Camillo, Chiara, Cornachia, Michelle, Franklin, Catherine, Hart, Sarah J., Kishnani, Priya S., McCormick, Andrew, Milliken, Anna L., Patsiogiannis, Vasiliki, Pawlowski, Katherine G., Santoro, Stephanie L., Sargado, Sabrina, Scoppola, Vittorio, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore, Villani, Alberto and Skotko, Brian G. (2023). Cardiometabolic profiles in children and adults with overweight and obesity and down syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A, 191 (3), 813-822. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63088
Santoro, Stephanie L., Baumer, Nicole T., Cornacchia, Michelle, Franklin, Catherine, Hart, Sarah J., Haugen, Kelsey, Hojlo, Margaret A., Horick, Nora, Kishnani, Priya S., Krell, Kavita, McCormick, Andrew, Milliken, Anna L., Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Pawlowski, Katherine G., Sargado, Sabrina, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore and Skotko, Brian G. (2023). Response to Letter to the Editor by Palffy and Ghaziuddin. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A, 191 (5), 1470-1473. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63116
Santoro, Stephanie L., Baumer, Nicole T., Cornacchia, Michelle, Franklin, Catherine, Hart, Sarah J., Haugen, Kelsey, Hojlo, Margaret A., Horick, Nora, Kishnani, Priya S., Krell, Kavita, McCormick, Andrew, Milliken, Anna L., Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Pawlowski, Katherine G., Sargado, Sabrina, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore and Skotko, Brian G. (2022). Unexplained regression in Down syndrome: Management of 51 patients in an international patient database. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A, 188 (10), 3049-3062. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62922
Flavell, Joshua, Franklin, Catherine and Nestor, Peter J. (2022). A systematic review of fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 35 (2), 110-120. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.21110282
Santoro, Jonathan D., Patel, Lina, Kammeyer, Ryan, Filipink, Robyn A., Gombolay, Grace Y., Cardinale, Kathleen M., Real de Asua, Diego, Zaman, Shahid, Santoro, Stephanie L., Marzouk, Sammer M., Khoshnood, Mellad, Vogel, Benjamin N., Tanna, Runi, Pagarkar, Dania, Dhanani, Sofia, Ortega, Maria del Carmen, Partridge, Rebecca, Stanley, Maria A., Sanders, Jessica S., Christy, Alison, Sannar, Elise M., Brown, Ruth, McCormick, Andrew A., Van Mater, Heather, Franklin, Cathy, Worley, Gordon, Quinn, Eileen A., Capone, George T., Chicoine, Brian ... Rafii, Michael S. (2022). Assessment and diagnosis of Down syndrome regression disorder: international expert consensus. Frontiers in Neurology, 13 940175, 940175. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.940175
Santoro, Stephanie L., Cannon, Sheila, Capone, George, Franklin, Cathy, Hart, Sarah J., Hobensack, Victoria, Kishnani, Priya S., Macklin, Eric A., Manickam, Kandamurugu, McCormick, Andrew, Nash, Patricia, Oreskovic, Nicolas M., Patsiogiannis, Vasiliki, Steingass, Katherine, Torres, Amy, Valentini, Diletta, Vellody, Kishore and Skotko, Brian G. (2019). Unexplained regression in Down syndrome: 35 cases from an international Down syndrome database. Genetics in Medicine, 22 (4), 767-776. doi: 10.1038/s41436-019-0706-8
White, Melissa and Franklin, Catherine (2018). Adult with autism spectrum disorder presenting with insidious onset of catatonia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52 (11), 1092-1093. doi: 10.1177/0004867418802898
Theodoratos, Oreste, McPherson, Lyn, Franklin, Catherine, Tonge, Bruce, Einfeld, Stewart, Lennox, Nicholas and Ware, Robert S. (2017). Psychopathology of adolescents with an intellectual disability who present to general hospital services. Australasian Psychiatry, 25 (5), 481-485. doi: 10.1177/1039856217706820
Trollor, Julian N., Salomon, Carmela and Franklin, Catherine (2016). Prescribing psychotropic drugs to adults with an intellectual disability. Australian Prescriber, 39 (4), 126-130. doi: 10.18773/austprescr.2016.048
Franklin, Cathy (2014). Obituary: Professor Gregory O'Brien (1955-2014). Australasian Psychiatry, 22 (6), 601-602. doi: 10.1177/1039856214558986c
Conference Papers
Franklin, C. S. (2023). Down Syndrome regression disorder. 25th SSBP International Research Symposium: Expanding a Global Perspective on Behavioural Phenotypes, Virtual, 14 – 15 September 2023. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley.
Hagn, M. and Franklin, C. (2022). Intellectual and Developmental Disability in Mainstream Mental Health Services: Findings from a Complex Patient Cohort. RANZCP Congress 2022, Sydney, NSW Australia, 15-19 May 2022. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/00048674221088686
Franklin, C. (2022). How can we build capacity for mainstream mental health services to better support people with intellectual and developmental disability? A review of interventions and methods of evaluation. RANZCP Congress 2022, Sydney, NSW Australia, 15-19 May 2022. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/00048674221088686
Flavell, J., Franklin, C. and Nestor, P. (2022). Fragile X-Associated Neuropsychiatric Conditions (FXANC). RANZCP Congress 2022, Sydney, NSW Australia, 15-19 May 2022. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/00048674221088686
Johnston, M. and Franklin, C. (2022). Treatment of Down Syndrome Regression Disorder with Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Case Series. RANZCP Congress 2022, Sydney, NSW Australia, 15-19 May 2022. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/00048674221088686
Franklin, C. and McAuliffe, J. (2021). Practice Changing Literature In Autism. RANZCP Congress 2021, Hobart, TAS Australia, 16-20 May 2021. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/0004867421100475
McLorinan, C. and Franklin, C. (2021). Institutional Abuse Of People With Developmental Disability: How Do Carers Become Abusers?. RANZCP Congress 2021, Hobart, TAS Australia, 16-20 May 2021. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.1177/00048674211004750
Franklin, C. and Shek, A. (2021). The National Disability Insurance Scheme And Developmental Disability In Mainstream Mental Health Services: The Queensland Experience. RANZCP Congress 2021, Hobart, TAS Australia, 16-20 May 2021. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications.
Franklin, C. (2019). The Relevance of Genetics and Behavioural Phenotypes to Psychiatry. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/0004867419836919
Franklin, C., Galstuch-Leon, J., Shek, A., White, M., White, A., Webster, A. and McLorinan, C. (2019). Chromosomes, Country, Catatonia and Contrasts: Intellectual Disability and
Autism in Queensland. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
O'Connor, D., Bennett, C., Franklin, C., Livingstone, A. and Trollor, J. (2019). Re-building Capacity in the Psychiatry of Intellectual and Developmental Disability: An Australian Jurisdictional Perspective. RANZCP 2019 Congress, Cairns, QLD Australia, 12–16 May 2019. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Franklin, C., Bathgate, D., Starkstein, S. and Trollor, J. (2018). Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults: An Update on Diagnosis, Neurological Comorbidities and the Ageing Process. RANZCP 2018 Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
Franklin, C. (2018). Autism in adulthood: What is the role of psychiatrist?. RANZCP 2018 Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage. doi: 10.1177/0004867418764980
Franklin, C. (2017). COMORBID MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN ADULTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
Franklin, C. (2017). Mental health in adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. RANZCP 2017 Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 30 April - 4 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Zepf, F., Harrison, J., Richardson, C. and Franklin, C. S. (2017). Comorbidity in children and youth. RANZCP 2017 Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 30 April - 4 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Franklin, C., Sellen, M. and Nicollet, C. (2017). Autism spectrum disorder in adulthood: essentials for psychiatrists. RANZCP 2017 Congress, Adelaide, Australia, 30 April - 4 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Franklin, C. (2015). Mental Health in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
Franklin, C., Gattas, M., Dossetor, D. and Lennox, N. (2015). Autism spectrum disorder: Essentials for psychiatrists. RANZCP Congress 2015, Brisbane QLD Australia, 3-7 May 2015. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
d'Abrera, Carlos, Franklin, Catherine, O'Brien, Gregory and Trollor, Julian (2013). Psychiatric Illness and Behavioural Disorders in Adults with Autism: Essential Management Skills for the Psychiatrist. RANZCP 2013 Congress, Sydney, NSW Australia, 26 - 30 May 2013. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications Ltd.. doi: 10.1177/0004867412486854
Bennett, Chad, Lennox, Nick, Franklin, Catherine, Pridding, Andrew and O'Brien, Gregory (2012). Understanding and Managing Challenging Behaviour in People with Intellectual Disability. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
Trollor, Julian, Franklin, Catherine, Townsend, Clare and O'Brien, Gregory (2011). Challenging Behaviour in People with Intellectual Disability: Essentials for the Psychiatrist. NEW YORK: INFORMA HEALTHCARE.
Franklin, Catherine (2011). THE ASSESSMENT OF CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR IN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY: A PRACTICAL GUIDE. NEW YORK: INFORMA HEALTHCARE.
Research Reports
Franklin, Cathy , Brooker, Katie and Vinayagam, Ritwika (2022). Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service (MIDAS), Mater and the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability (QCIDD), Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland Joint submission to the Mental Health Select Committee. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland Parliment.
Brooker, Katie , Bradshaw, Pia , Franklin, Catherine and Urbanowicz, Anna (2022). Tools, strategies, and techniques developed to improve the health and wellbeing for autistic adults. Brisbane, Australia: Cooperation Research Centre for Living with Autism.
Brooker, Katie, Vinayagam, Ritwika and Franklin, Cathy (2021). Religious Freedom Bills Third Exposure Drafts submission by Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability. Canberra, ACT Australia: Parliament of Australia .