Julia Lappin

Julia Lappin is an Associate Professor at UNSW's National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), specializing in psychosis spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder. Her research bridges clinical and service-oriented investigations, focusing on early intervention, optimizing outcomes in severe mental illness, physical healthcare integration, comorbid substance misuse, treatment resistance, and health service reform. She maintains collaborative ties with the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, particularly through the AESOP-10 longitudinal study tracking outcomes in first-episode psychosis.

Primary research examines trajectories of psychotic disorders, service contact patterns, and cognitive remediation therapies. Current projects investigate crystal methamphetamine's role in psychosis development, integrated care models for comorbid conditions, and cognitive effects of substance use. Her work emphasizes translating research into practice, evidenced by her leadership in developing the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust's Early Intervention Pathway prior to joining UNSW.

Physical healthcare for severe mental illness and digital mental health interventions constitute emerging research priorities. Lappin supervises postgraduate researchers (ILP, Masters, PhD) in psychiatric epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and substance use comorbidities.