Dr Barbara Murphy

Experts / Dr Barbara Murphy

Dr Barbara Murphy

Associate Director, Australian Centre for Heart Health, Melbourne; Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne; Researcher at MMResearch, Melbourne

Dr Barbara Murphy (PhD, BA Hons) has over 30-year career in psychosocial and behavioural research, program development and program evaluation. Most of Dr Murphy’s work has focussed on psychocardiology, particularly the psychosocial and mental health impacts of cardiac disease. She has undertaken numerous longitudinal studies and randomised controlled trial to investigate the prevalence and predictors of post-cardiac event mental health problems, and the benefits of interventions to support cardiac patients and their families. She initiated the Cardiac Blues Program and her recent work has focussed on the psychosocial and mental health impacts of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD). She is also involved in the management of the ACHH’s Cardiac Counselling Clinic which provides psychological counselling to Australia’s cardiac patients and their families, including those with SCAD.

Dr Murphy has published over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles and has delivered over 50 presentations at national and international conferences, including several recent publications and presentations on the psychosocial impacts of SCAD.

Women’s heart attacks: The emotional and psychological impact

By Prof Robert M Graham, Dr Barbara Murphy