Professor David Forbes is the Director of Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, in the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne. Professor Forbes completed his clinical training (MA Clinical Psychology) and PhD at the University of Melbourne.
He is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of mental health problems following trauma, and has worked in both acute crisis and continuing care settings across the community mental health system and in specialist traumatic stress services. Professor Forbes is an international expert in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and military mental health, with strong national and international links with other researchers and experts in the field. He was Chair of the Working Party for the inaugural the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) approved Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in 2007 and co-chair of the steering group the revised Guidelines in 2013. Professor Forbes has published more than 110 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and sits on the editorial boards of leading international journals. He has been awarded in excess of $8 million in competitive research grants, and more than $6 million in research translation grants. Professor Forbes is a member of many advisory committees for governments and other organisations, including the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence, and the Australian Psychological Society. He has a strong track record in leading initiatives to improve outcomes for people affected by trauma through the translation of research into effective policy and practice. He is a passionate advocate for the use of evidence-based responses following trauma in order to reduce the mental health effects on survivors, their families and communities.
Find out more about David Forbes' experience
David Forbes' highlights
FEATURED Journal article
The effect of group involvement on post-disaster mental health: A longitudinal multilevel analysis
Read moreDavid Forbes' selected work
Bushfires, Social Connectedness and Mental Health
Research Grant
A powerful opportunity for change
NEWS ARTICLE
Mental Health and Social Networks After Disaster
Journal article
A documentary promoting resilience in men and boys at key transition points in their lives
Research Grant
What is COVID-19 doing to our mental health?
NEWS ARTICLE
Mental Health Following Separation in a Disaster: The Role of Attachment
Journal article
David Forbes' selected work
Projects
Displaying the 9 most recent projects by David Forbes.
Project Types
6
Research Grant
3
Research Contracts
Additional Information
Forbes, D., Creamer, M., Perry, D. & Bryant. The effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for VVCS clients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Applied Research Program, Department of Veterans Affairs (2007): $352,000
Forbes, D., Barton, D., Wolfgang, B. & Creamer (2007) Development, testing and dissemination of a clinical algorithm for PTSD. Applied Research Program, Department of Veterans Affairs (2007):
O’Donnell, M.L., Forbes, D., Creamer, M., Holmes, A., Ellen, S., Bryant, R. Telephone-administered early psychological intervention for depression and anxiety following serious injury. beyondblue (2009): $300,000
Forbes, D., Lloyd, D., Creamer, M., Couineau, A-L., Nixon, R. & O’Donnell, M. Examining the effectiveness of the implementation of cognitive processing therapy across the VVCS service system: The next steps in implementation research. $262,550 Applied Research Program, Department of Veterans Affairs
Wade, D., Forbes, D., Hetrick, S. & Varker, T. Meta-analysis of gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder treatment outcomes $97, 200 Applied Research Program, Department of Veterans Affairs
Wade, D., Forbes, D. & Varker, T. Gender differences in mental health among military personnel and veterans: A Review of the Literature $54,912 Applied Research Program, Department of Veterans Affairs
Creamer, M., Forbes, D., McFarlane, A. C., Bryant, R., Devilly, G., & Mathews, L. The development of clinical practice guidelines for Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Emergency Management Australia Research Award (2005): $99,500.
Forbes, D. A longitudinal analysis of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and their relationship with fear and anxious-misery disorders: Implications for DSM-V. Sir Edward Dunlop Foundation (2009). $7,500.
Forbes, D., Lloyd, D. & Phelps, A. A pilot study of the effectiveness of an on-line self-help mental health and wellbeing program (The Wellbeing Toolbox) for veterans and other ex-service personnel and their families aged 25-45 years. 64,000 Applied Research Program, Department of Veterans Affairs (2013)
Scholarly Works
Displaying the 10 most recent scholarly works by David Forbes.
News
Displaying the 4 most recent news articles by David Forbes.
Credentials
Positions
Positions
Professor Director
Psychiatry
Member
Australian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
Member
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
Member
Australian Psychological Society, College of Clinical Psychologists
Fellow
Australian Psychological Society
Education
Education
Bachelor of Arts
University of Melbourne
Master of Arts
University of Melbourne
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Melbourne