Flinders University
Dr Helen Wright
Dr
Helen
Wright
Flinders University
http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/helen.wright
| Phone: | +61 8 82012377 |
| Email: | helen.wright@flinders.edu.au |
| Location: | Social Sciences North (356) |
| Postal address: | GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia |
Biography
I have been involved in sleep research at Flinders University since 1990.
My main research interests are in the areas of sleep, circadian rhythms and insomnia. I am particularly interested in cognitive-behaviour and bright light therapies for the treatment of insomnia experienced by adolescents and adults.
I have developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a novel portable light device to change the timing of circadian rhythms and sleep/wake cycles. More recently I have co-authored a book "Sleep Well Live Better" designed to educate people about sleep and sleeping difficulties.
Qualifications
PhD, MPsych(clinical)
Key responsibilities
Research Fellow supervising NH&MRC grant 'Comparing light and cognitive-behaviour therapies for the treatment of sleep maintenance insomnia in older adults
Research and consultancy
Postgraduate research supervision
Nicole Lovato "Evaluating a non-phrmacological treatment for insomnia in older adults"
Publications
Refereed journal articles
Harris, J., Lack, L.C., Kemp, k., Wright, H.R., & Bootzin, R.R., 2012. A randomised controlled trial of intensive sleep retraining (ISR): A brief conditioning treatment for chronic insomnia. Sleep, 35(1), 49-60.
Short, M., Gradisar, M.S., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Carskadon, M.A., 2012. The discrepancy between actigraphic and sleep diary measures of sleep in adolescents. Sleep Medicine, 13, 378-384.
Gradisar, M.S., Dohnt, H.K., Gardner, G.P., Paine, S., Starkey, K., Menne, A., Slater, A.E., Wright, H.R., Hudson, J., Weaver, E.A., et al., 2011. A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behaviour therapy plus bright light therapy for adolescent delayed sleep phase disorder. Sleep, 34(12), 1671-1680.
Short, M., Gradisar, M.S., Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., Dohnt, H.K., & Carskadon, M.A., 2011. Time for bed: Parent-set bedtimes associated with improved sleep and daytime functioning in adolescents. Sleep, 34, 797-800.
Carney, C.E., Edinger, J.D., Morin, C.M., Manber, R., Rybarczyk, B., Stepanski, E.J., Wright, H.R., & Lack, L.C., 2010. Examining maladaptive beliefs about sleep across insomnia patient groups. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 68(1), 57-65.
Short, M., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2010. Does subjective sleepiness predict objective sleep propensity?. Sleep, 123-129.
Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Bootzin, R.R., 2009. Delayed sleep-phase disorder. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 4(2), 229-239.
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2007. Chronobiology of sleep in humans. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 64(10), 1205-1215.
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2007. Clinical Management of Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder. Behavioural Sleep Medicine, 5(1), 57-76.
Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Paynter, D.L., 2007. The treatment of sleep onset insomnia with bright morning light. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 5(3), 173-179.
Refereed journal articles
Harris, J., Lack, L.C., Kemp, k., Wright, H.R., & Bootzin, R.R., 2012. A randomised controlled trial of intensive sleep retraining (ISR): A brief conditioning treatment for chronic insomnia. Sleep, 35(1), 49-60.
Short, M., Gradisar, M.S., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Carskadon, M.A., 2012. The discrepancy between actigraphic and sleep diary measures of sleep in adolescents. Sleep Medicine, 13, 378-384.
Gradisar, M.S., Dohnt, H.K., Gardner, G.P., Paine, S., Starkey, K., Menne, A., Slater, A.E., Wright, H.R., Hudson, J., Weaver, E.A., et al., 2011. A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behaviour therapy plus bright light therapy for adolescent delayed sleep phase disorder. Sleep, 34(12), 1671-1680.
Short, M., Gradisar, M.S., Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., Dohnt, H.K., & Carskadon, M.A., 2011. Time for bed: Parent-set bedtimes associated with improved sleep and daytime functioning in adolescents. Sleep, 34, 797-800.
Carney, C.E., Edinger, J.D., Morin, C.M., Manber, R., Rybarczyk, B., Stepanski, E.J., Wright, H.R., & Lack, L.C., 2010. Examining maladaptive beliefs about sleep across insomnia patient groups. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 68(1), 57-65.
Short, M., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2010. Does subjective sleepiness predict objective sleep propensity?. Sleep, 123-129.
Lack, L.C., Bailey, M.E., Lovato, N., & Wright, H.R., 2009. Chronotype differences in circadian rhythms of temperature, melatonin, and sleepiness as measured in a modified constant routine protocol. Nature and Science of Sleep, 1, 1-8.
Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Bootzin, R.R., 2009. Delayed sleep-phase disorder. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 4(2), 229-239.
Gradisar, M.S., Dohnt, H.K., Wright, H.R., Robinson, J.A., Paine, S., & Gamble, A., 2008. Adolescent napping behavior: Dysfunctional cognitions and negative affect. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 6(4), 260-263.
Gradisar, M.S., Wright, H.R., Robinson, J.A., Paine, S., & Gamble, A., 2008. Adolescent napping behavior: Comparisons of school week versus weekend sleep patterns. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 6(3), 183-186.
Lack, L.C., Gradisar, M.S., Van Someren, E.J., Wright, H.R., & Lushington, K., 2008. The relationship between insomnia and body temperatures. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 12(4), 307-317.
Taylor, A.M., Wright, H.R., & Lack, L.C., 2008. Sleeping-in on the weekend delays circadian phase and increases sleepiness the following week. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 6(3), 172-179.
Harris, J., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., Gradisar, M.S., & Brooks, A., 2007. Intensive sleep retraining treatment for chronic primary insomnia: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Sleep Research, 16(3), 276-284.
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2007. Chronobiology of sleep in humans. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 64(10), 1205-1215.
Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Paynter, D.L., 2007. The treatment of sleep onset insomnia with bright morning light. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 5(3), 173-179.
Lack, L.C., Bramwell, T., Wright, H.R., & Kemp, K.L., 2007. Morning blue light can advance the melatonin rhythm in mild delayed sleep phase syndrome. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 5(1), 78-80.
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2007. Treating chronobiological components of chronic insomnia. Sleep Medicine, 8(6), 637-644.
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2007. Clinical Management of Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder. Behavioural Sleep Medicine, 5(1), 57-76.
Gradisar, M.S., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., Harris, J., & Brooks, A., 2006. Do chronic primary insomniacs have impaired heat loss when attempting sleep?. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 290(4), R1115-R1121.
Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., & Bootzin, R.R., 2006. Relationship between dim light melatonin onset and the timing of sleep in sleep onset insomniacs. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 4(1), 78-80.
Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., Kemp, K.L., & Gibbon, S., 2005. The treatment of early-morning awakening insomnia with two evenings of bright light. Sleep, 28(5), 616-623.
Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., & Kennaway, D., 2004. Differential effects of light wavelengths in phase advancing the melatonin rhythm. Journal of Pineal Research, 36(2), 140-144.
Wright, H.R. & Lack, L.C., 2001. Effect of Light Wavelength on Suppression and Phase Delay of the Melatonin Rhythm. Chronobiology International, 18(5), 801-808.
Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., & Partridge, K., 2001. Light Emmitting Diodes can be used to Phase Delay the Melatonin Rhythm. Journal of Pineal Research, 31, 350-355.
Books
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2010. Sleep Well, Live Better : Three Steps to Good Sleep, Double Bay, NSW, Australia: Media21 Publishing Pty Ltd.
Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Bearpark, H., 2003. Insomnia : how to sleep easy, Sydney, NSW: Australian Consolidated Press.
Book chapters
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2011. Sleep Disorders. In General practice: The integrative approach. Chatswood, NSW: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 623-636.
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2011. The use of bright light in the treatment of insomnia. In Behavioral treatments for sleep disorders. A comprehensive primer of behavioral sleep medicine trea. United Kingdom: Elsevier, pp. e1-e6.
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2010. Circadian rhythms and insomia. In Clinical Handbook of Insomnia. London: Springer, pp. 243-253.
Wright, H.R. & Lack, L.C., 2006. The effect of different wavelengths of light in changing the phase of the melatonin circadian rhythm. In Melatonin: Biological Basis of Its Function in Health and Disease. Texas, USA: Eurekah.com, pp. 170-183.
Conference publications
Lovato, N., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., Cant, M.L., & Humphreys, J., 2011. Do older adults with insomnia have impaired working memory performance. 25th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Minneapolis, USA.
Lovato, N., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2011. A randomized controlled trial of a combined treatment of cognitive behaviour therapy and evening bright light therapy for insomnia in older adults. 25th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Minneapolis, USA.
Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., Lovato, N., & Smith, R.A., 2011. Day to day functioning is related to prior night sleep in insomniacs but not good sleepers. 25th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Minneapolis, USA.
Lack, L.C., De Bruyn, A.M., Micic, G., Wright, H.R., & Lovato, N., 2011. The endogenous circadian period in delayed sleep phase disorder. 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association, Sydney, Australia.
Short, M., Gradisar, M.S., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Carskadon, M.A., 2011. The discrepancy between actigraphic and sleep diary measures of sleep in adolescents. 6th World Congress of the World Sleep Federation, Kyoto, Japan.
Short, M., Gradisar, M.S., Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., & Carskadon, M.A., 2011. A cross-national comparison of teen sleep between Australia and the US: The role of school start time, parental limit-setting and extra-curricular activities. 6th World Congress of the World Sleep Federation, Kyoto, Japan.
Short, M., Gradisar, M.S., Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., Dohnt, H.K., & Carskadon, M.A., 2010. The relationship of sleep to depression, academic performance and daytime functioning in adolescents: The semi-tangled web. 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Slelep Technologists Association.
Lovato, N., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2010. The working memory performance of older adults with insomnia. Adelaide Sleep Retreat.
Lovato, N., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2010. The working memory performance of older adults with insomnia. 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association.
Lovato, N., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2010. The evaluation of cognitive behaviour therapy and evening bright light for insomnia in older adults. Adelaide Sleep Retreat.
Gradisar, M.S., Dohnt, H.K., Gardner, G.P., Paine, S., Menne, A., Slater, A.E., Starkey, K., Hudson, J., & Wright, H.R., 2010. A randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy for adolescent delayed sleep phase disorder. 20th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society.
Cant, M.L., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Lovato, N., 2010. Is working memory performance impaired in older adults with insomnia?. 20th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society.
Short, M., Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., Dohnt, H.K., & Carskadon, M.A., 2009. Time for bed: the impact of parent-set bedtimes on the sleep and daytime functioning of a representative sample of adolescents. Sleep and Biological Rhythms : Abstracts of visions of the night : sleep, science and research on the world stage, 7(s1), A22-A22.
Lovato, N., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2009. The napping behaviour of Australian university students. Sleep and Biological Rhythms : Visions of the night : sleep, science and research on the world stage, 7(s1), A47-A47.
Dalmeyer, M.A., Lack, L.C., Gradisar, M.S., Wright, H.R., & Harris, J., 2009. Is non-drug treatment of insomnia impaired by the presence of co-morbid OSA [Poster]. Sleep 2009.
Andrews-Cooper, C.L., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Gradisar, M.S., 2009. The relationship between insomnia and OSA severity. Sleep 2009 : 23rd annual meeting of the associated professional sleep societies.
Sukovic, A., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2008. Quantifying the differences in meaning between "sleepy", "tired", and "fatigued". Journal of Sleep Research: Abstracts of the 19th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society, 17(S1), 176-176.
Sukovic, A., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2008. What do the terms "sleepy", "tired", and "fatigued" mean?. Sleep on it - healthy functions of sleep: the 20th ASA/ASTA Annual Scientific Meeting, 6(s1), a41-a42.
Short, M., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2008. Investigating the relationship between subjective and objective sleepiness. Abstracts of the 19th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society, 17(suppl1), 266-267.
Short, M., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2008. Assessing the relationship between subjective and objective sleepiness. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 6(1), A17-A17.
Lovato, N., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Ferguson, S., 2008. The effects of a brief nap during night shift. Journal of Sleep Research: Abstracts of the 19th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society, 17(S1), 21-21.
Lovato, N., Lack, L.C., Wright, H.R., & Ferguson, S., 2008. The effects of a brief nap during night shift. Sleep and Biological Rhythms: 20th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association and the 20th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, 6(S1), A33-A33.
Paine, S., Gradisar, M.S., Wright, H.R., Gardner, G.P., & Hudson, J., 2008. Sleep patterns and emotional health of children diagnosed with Behavioural Insomnia of Childhood. AACBT National Conference.
Harris, J., Lack, L.C., Kemp, K.L., Wright, H.R., & Bootzin, R.R., 2008. Intensive sleep retraining (ISR) and stimulus control therapy (SCT) for chronic primary insomnia: a randomised controlled treatment trial. Sleep on it - healthy functions of sleep: the 20th ASA/ASTA Annual Scientific Meeting, 6(s1), a16-a16.
Paine, S., Gradisar, M.S., Slater, A.E., & Wright, H.R., 2007. Sleep and anxiety parameters of children diagnosed with behavioural insomnia of childhood at a university-based insomnia clinic. WorldSleep07: The 5th World Sleep Congress of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies, 5(Suppl. 1), PO249-PO249.
Taylor, A.M., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2006. Is 'sleeping-in' on weekend mornings a good idea?. 19th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association.
Taylor, A.M., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2006. The effect of 'sleeping-in' weekend mornings on circadian rhythms, sleep and daytime sleepiness. Sleep: Journal of sleep and sleep disorders research: 20th Annual Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, 29, A57-A57.
Gradisar, M.S., Lack, L.C., & Wright, H.R., 2005. Closing the eyes: A signal for thermoregulation and sleep. 19th Annual Meeting of the Associ Professional Sleep Studies.
Lack, L.C., Bramwell, T., & Wright, H.R., 2005. Using bright blue light in the morning for the treament of mild delayed-sleep-phase syndrome. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 3, A53-A53.
Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., & Bootzin, R.R., 2005. Relationship between dim light melatonin onset and sleep timing in sleep onset insomniacs [Abstracts]. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 3, A57-A57.
Lack, L.C., Bramwell, T., & Wright, H.R., 2005. Use of morning bright blue light in the treatment of mild delayed sleep phase syndrome. Sleep Abstract Supplement, 28, A61-A61.
Lack, L.C. & Wright, H.R., 2003. Shorter wavelengths light is more effective for changing melatonin phase [Abstract]. Society for light treatment and biological rhythms conference, in Chronobiology International: the journal of biological and medical rhythm research, 20(6), 1179-1181.
Wright, H.R. & Lack, L.C., 2002. Effect of light wavelength on suppression and phase delay of the melatonin rhythm. Sleep Abstract Supplement, 25, A125-A125.
Wright, H.R., Lack, L.C., & Partridge, K., 2001. Light Emitting Diodes Can Phase Delay the Melatonin Rhythm. Actas de Fisiologia, 7(134).
Professional and community engagement
I have been involved in the area of sleep research at Flinders University since 1990. Currently I am a Research Fellow supervising a study evaluating an insomnia treatment programme for older adults.
My main research interests are in the areas of sleep, circadian rhythms and insomnia. I am particularly interested in cognitive behaviour and bright light therapy for the treatment of insomnia in all ages.
I developed and evaluated a novel portable light device comprising blue light to change the timing of circadian rhythms and sleep cycles. These may eventually be further developed and commercially available through Flinders Parnters.
With Professor Leon Lack I am co-author of a book 'Sleep Well, Live Better' aimed at educating people about sleep and improving therr sleep and daytime functioning.
