Research

Tamara completed her PhD in 2013 which explored the academic, neuropsychological and mental health profiles of primary school aged girls and boys with autism over time and has been a senior research fellow. She is currently a research affiliate at Monash University. She has a particular research focus on gender and exploring why girls and women are less likely to be diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Tamara has also published more recently on the prevalence of autism within Australia. In addition, she has researched schema therapy in depression and complex trauma, and the profile of adults with ADHD. Tamara was recently involved in the development of the 2022 Australian evidence-based ADHD guideline as project manager and guideline development group member.

Tamara has over 80 peer reviewed journal articles, six book chapters and has presented her work at numerous national and international conferences.

Selected publications

  • May, T., Murrup-Stewart, C., & Bellgrove, M. (2023). Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The Role of Psychologists. Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, 33(1), 18–34.
  • May T, Birch E, Chaves K, et al. & Bellgrove, M. (2023), The Australian evidence-based clinical practice guideline for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. doi:10.1177/00048674231166329
  • Pilkington, P. D., May, T., & Karantzas, G. (2022). Recollections of Parental Mental Illness and Substance Use and Early Maladaptive Schemas in Adulthood. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1-18.
  • Chan, C., Williams, K., May, T., Wan, W., & Brignell, A. (2022) ls language ability associated with behaviors of concern in autism? A systematic review. Autism research. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2855
  • May, T., & Williams, K. (2022). Mother and child mental health over time in children with Autism and/or ADHD in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Development and Psychopathology, 1-11. doi:10.1017/S0954579422001067
  • Brignell, A., Harwood, R. C., May, T., Woolfenden, S., Montgomery, A., Iorio, A., & Williams, K. (2022). Overall prognosis of preschool autism spectrum disorder diagnoses. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9).
  • Brignell A, Marraffa C, Williams K, May T. Memantine for autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, Issue 8.
  • Bernie, C., Williams, K., Graham, F., & May, T. (2022). Coaching While Waiting for Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment: A Pilot Feasibility Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial on Occupational Performance Coaching and Service Navigation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-10.
  • May, T., Younan, R., & Pilkington, P. (2022). Adolescent Maladaptive Schemas and Childhood Abuse and Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy.
  • Adams, C. & May, T. (2021). Diagnosis of autism in older women: reflections of a psychologist and a client. Good Autism Practice, 22(2).
  • May, T., Pilkington, P. D., Younan, R., & Williams, K. (2021). Overlap of autism spectrum disorder and borderline personality disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Autism Research.
  • May,T., Aizenstros, A., & Aizenstros, J. (2021) Characteristics of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder consecutively referred to an Australian private psychiatric clinic, Australian Psychologist, DOI: 10.1080/00050067.2021.1969211
  • May, T., & Coscini, N. (2021). Cognitive behavioural therapy is better than no treatment for anxiety in children. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.
  • Tollit, M. A., May, T., Maloof, T., Telfer, M. M., Chew, D., Engel, M., & Pang, K. (2021). The clinical profile of patients attending a large, Australian pediatric gender service: a 10-year review. International Journal of Transgender Health, 1-11.
  • Pilkington, P., Noonan, C, May, T., Younan, R & Holt, R. (2021) Early Maladaptive Schemas and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy.
  • Brignell  A, Prakash  C, Marraffa  C, Williams  K, & May  T. (2021) Memantine for autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD013845. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013845.
  • McPhate, L.,… & May, T. (Accepted, 2021). Gender Variance in Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Conditions from Australia, Archives of Sexual Behaviour
  • May, T., Brignell, A. and Williams, K. (2021), Parent‐reported Autism Diagnostic Stability and Trajectories in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Autism Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2470
  • Bernie C, Williams K, Graham F, & May T.(2021) Coaching While Waiting for Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment: Protocol of a Pilot Feasibility Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial on Occupational Performance Coaching and Service Navigation Support, JMIR Res Protoc 2021;10(1):e20011, doi: 10.2196/20011, PMID: 33410761
  • May, T., Lee, K., Loveland, K., Vollenhoven, B., & Williams, K. (2020). Overlap of autism and conditions associated with atypical sex hormone levels or response: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Bernie, C., Williams, K., O’Connor, B., Rogers, S., & May, T. (2020). Referral, Assessment and Use of Screening Measures Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder at a Tertiary Hospital Setting. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
  • Pridmore, S., Rybak, M., Morey, R., & May, T. (2020) The impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on irritability occurring with acute major depressive disorder (MDD). Australasian Psychiatry
  • Pridmore, S. Turnier-Shea, Y, Erger, S., & May, T. (2020). The impact of ‘cluster maintenance TMS’ on irritability occurring in major depressive disorder. Australasian Psychiatry.
  • May, T., Brignell, A., & Williams, K. (Accepted February 2020). Autism spectrum disorder prevalence in children aged 12-13 years from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Autism Research
  • Blewitt, C., O’Connor, A., May, T., Morris, H., Mousa, A., Bergmeier, H., Jackson, K., Barrett, H., Skouteris, H. (Accepted Dec 2019). Strengthening the Social and Emotional Skills of Pre-schoolers with Mental Health and Developmental Challenges in Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care Settings: A Narrative Review of Educator-Led Interventions. Early Child Development and Care.
  • Blewitt, C., O’Connor, A., Morris, H., May, T., Mousa, A., Bergmeier, H., Nolan, A., Jackson, K., Barrett, H. Skouteris, H. (Accepted Dec 2019). A Systematic Review of Targeted Social and Emotional Learning Interventions in Early Childhood Education and Care Settings. Early Child Development and Care
  • McMahon, J., Harvey, A., Reid, S., May, T., & Antolovich, G. (Accepted Nov 2019)Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
  • May, T. & Harris, K. (2019). Parent training programs can improve parenting skills in parents with intellectual disabilities. Cochrane Commentary. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
  • Pridmore, S., Erger, S., Rybak, M., & May, T. (2019). Tiredness in Acute and Chronic Depression Treated with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. American Journal of Medical Research 6(2): 7–18. doi:10.22381/AJMR6220191
  • Pridmore, S., Erger, S., & May, T. (2019) Second Courses of TMS in Major Depressive Episodes for Initial Responders and Non-Responders. Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry.
  • May, T., Adesina, I., Mcgillivray, J., & Rinehart, N. (Accepted May 2019). Sex differences in neurodevelopmental disorders. Current Opinion in Neurology
  • May, T., & Pridmore, S. (Accepted May 2019). A visual analogue scale companion for the 6-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Australian Psychologist
  • May, T., Chan, E.S., Lindor, E., McGinley, J., Skouteris, H., Austin, D., McGillivray, J.A., & Rinehart, N.J (Accepted May 2019). Physical, cognitive, psychological and social effects of dance in children with disabilities: systematic review and meta-analysis. Disability and Rehabilitation
  • May, T. & Pridmore, S., (2019). The impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the symptom profile of major depressive episode (MDE). Australasian Psychiatry.
  • Brignell, A., May, T., Williams, K., & Morgan, A., (2019). Predictors and growth in receptive vocabulary from 4 to 8 years in children with and without autism spectrum disorder: A population-based study. Autism: International Journal of Research and Practice. 23(5), 322-1334
  • Pridmore, S., & May, T. (2018). Relapse prevention (RP) TMS. Brain Stimulation. 11(6), 1391-1392.
  • Pridmore, S., Lawson, F., Turnier-Shea, Y., & May, T. (2018) MDD treated with 5 TMS sessions over 3 days, repeated 4 times: a case report. American Journal of Medical Research, 5(2), 24-27.
  • May, T., & Williams, K. (2018). Brief Report: Gender and age of diagnosis time trends in children with autism using Australian Medicare data. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 48(12), 4056-4062
  • Pridmore, S., Erger, S., Rybak, M., Kelly, E., & May, T. (2018). Early relapse (ER) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in treatment resistant major depression. Brain Stimulation, 11(5) 1098-1102.
  • Brignell. A., Williams, K., Woofenden, S., Klopper, F., May, T., & Morgan, A. (2018). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prognosis of language outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 3
  • Chew, D., Anderson, J., Williams, K., May, T., & Pang, K. (2018). Hormonal treatment in young people with gender dysphoria: a systematic review. Pediatrics, 141(4), e20173742.
  • May, T., Brignell, A., Hawi, Z., Brereton, A., Tonge, B., Bellgrove, M.A., & Rinehart, N.J. (2018). Trends in the Overlap of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Prevalence, Clinical Management, Language and Genetics. Current Developmental Disorder Reports, 5(1), 49-57
  • May, T., Roberts, J., Webber, M., Spreckley, M., Scheinberg, A., Forrester, M., & Williams, K. (2018). Brief history and user’s guide to the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme. Journal of paediatrics and child health, 54(2), 115-120.
  • May, T., Forrester, M.,Webber, M., Roberts, J., Spreckley, M, Scheinberg, A. & Williams, K.  (2018). Current status, opportunities, challenges and the paediatrician’s role as the National Disability Insurance Scheme rolls-out across Australia. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 51(1), 7-10.
  • Younan, R., Farrell, J., & May, T. (2018). Teaching me to parent myself: the feasibility of an inpatient group schema therapy program for complex trauma. Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapy. 46, 463-478.
  • May, T., Pang, K.,O’Connell, M.,& Williams, K. (2017). Typical pubertal timing in an Australian population of girls and boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 47(12), 3983-3993
  • Sivaratnam, C, McGillivray, J, May, T. & Rinehart, N. (2017). A clinician’s quick guide of evidence-based approaches: Autism Spectrum Disorder. Clinical Psychologist, 21(3), 263-265.
  • May, T., Sciberras, E., Brignell, A.,& Williams, K. (2017). Autism spectrum disorder: Updated prevalence and comparison of two birth cohorts in a nationally representative Australian sample. BMJ Open. 7(5), e015549
  • May, T., Pang, K.,& Williams, K. (2017). Brief Report: Sexual Attraction and Relationships in Adolescents with Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 47(6), 1910–1916.
  • Jones RA, Downing K, Rinehart NJ, Barnett LM, May T, McGillivray JA, Papadopoulos, N.P., Skouteris, H., Timperio, A., & Hinkley, T. (2017) Physical activity, sedentary behavior and their correlates in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review. PLoS ONE 12(2): e0172482. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0172482
  • May, T., & Aizenstros, J. (April 2017). Multidisciplinary management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults. InPsych: The Bulletin of the Australian Psychological Society Ltd.
  • May, T., Pang, K.,& Williams, K. (2016). Gender variance in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder from the National Database for Autism Research. International Journal of Transgenderism. 1-9
  • May, T., Cornish, K., & Rinehart, N. J. (2016). Exploring factors related to the anger superiority effect in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain & Cognition, 106, 65-71.
  • May, T., Cornish, K., & Rinehart, N.J. (2016). Gender profiles of behavioural attention in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Attention Disorders. 20(7), 627-635
  • Gargaro, B.A., May, T., Tonge, B.J., Sheppard, D.M., Bradshaw, J.L., & Rinehart, N.J. (Accepted August 2015). Attentional Mechanisms in Autism, ADHD and Autism-ADHD using a Local-Global Paradigm. Journal of Attention Disorders.
  • May, T., Cornish, K., & Rinehart, N.J. (2015). Mechanisms of anxiety related attentional biases in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 45, Issue 10, pp 3339-3350
  • May, T., Cornish, K., & Rinehart, N.J. (2015). Parent-Child Agreement Using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale and a Thermometer in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism Research and Treatment, Volume 2015.
  • May, T., Rinehart, N.J., Wilding, J. & Cornish, K. (2015). Attention and basic literacy and numeracy in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A One-Year Follow-Up Study. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 9,193–201.
  • May, T., Cornish, K., Conduit, R., Rajaratnam, M.W., & Rinehart. N.J. (2015). Sleep in High-Functioning Children with Autism: Longitudinal Developmental Change and Associations with Behaviour Problems, Behavioral Sleep Medicine. 13(1) 2-18.
  • Gargaro, B.A., May, T., Tonge, B.J., Sheppard, D.M., Bradshaw, J.L., & Rinehart, N.J. (2014) Using the DBC-P Hyperactivity Index to screen for ADHD in young people with Autism and ADHD: A pilot study. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 8, 1008-1015.
  • May, T., Cornish, K., & Rinehart, N.J. (2014) Does gender matter? A one year follow-up of autistic, attention and anxiety symptoms in high-functioning children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 44 (5) 1077-1086.
  • May, T., Rinehart, N.J., Wilding, J. & Cornish, K. (2013). The role of attention in the academic attainment of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43 (9), 2147-2158
  • May, T., Brewer, W.J., Enticott, P., Rinehart, N.J., Brereton, A., & Tonge, B. (2011). Differential olfactory identification in children with autism and Asperger’s disorder: a comparative and longitudinal study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, (7), 837-847

Selected Book Chapters

  • Aizenstros, J., Chan, E., Aizenstros, A., & May, T. (July 2018) Chapter 12. Sleep in Adults with ADHD – aetiology, impact and treatments. In “Sleep and ADHD”, Eds Hiscock, H., & Sciberras, E. Elsevier
  • May, T., Bernie, C. , Marty, S.C. , Sutherland , R.D., Roberts J.M.A . & Williams, K.J (2018) Chapter 23: Autism, Health and Education: Models and systems for working together In The SAGE Handbook of Autism and Education, Eds Jordan, R., Hume, K., & Roberts., J.
  • Bernie, C., Sutherland R., Williams, K.J.  Marty, S.C., May, T.  & Roberts, J.M.A. (2018) Chapter 24: Autism Health and Education: Professional Roles and Challenges. In The SAGE Handbook of Autism and Education, Eds Jordan, R., Hume, K., & Roberts., J.
  • May, T., & Fitzgerald, P. (2016). Schizophrenia.  In N.J. Rinehart, P. Enticott, & J. Bradshaw (Eds.) Developmental Disorders of the Frontostriatal System, 2nd Edition. Psychology Press.
  • May, T., Sciberras, E., Hiscock, H., & Rinehart, N. (2016). The Comorbid Diagnosis of ASD and ADHD: Clinical and Neuropsychological Perspectives. In Handbook of Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (pp. 259-284). Springer International Publishing.
  • Klimkeit E., Rinehart N., May T., Bradshaw J., Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences. Elsevier. 04-May-2015 doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.03095-6

Guideline Development

Example Government Reports

  • May, T.,& Williams, K. (Nov 2019). Reasons for the increased enrolments in autism and mental health needs in NSW public schools. Report commissioned by NSW Department of Education

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