Congratulations to Psychotherapy Research Award winner Dr Jai Nathani

Introducing Dr Jai Nathani, and his project on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in enhancing adherence amongst people with treatment-resistant hypertension.

Dr Jai Nathani is an RANZCP Fellow and Consultant Psychiatrist with the Dobney Hypertension Centre at the University of Western Australia. Dr Nathani was awarded the 2025 RANZCP Psychotherapy Research Award for his research project Why don’t I take my meds? Enhancing Medication Adherence through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). 

About the project

Dr Nathani’s research will determine the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and the ways it can improve adherence with medications for blood pressure control in people who have treatment-resistant hypertension and complete non-adherence.

This research will explore how accurately people assess their levels of adherence, through the correlation of self-reported adherence scales with adherence testing using urine spot analysis. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate the acceptability of CBT as an intervention for improving adherence in individuals with complete non-adherence to their medication regimen.

Finally, Dr Nathani’s work will extend to assess the feasibility of the widespread implementation of CBT. This research will examine the long-term effects of CBT in sustaining and enhancing medication adherence in populations suffering from treatment-resistant hypertension.

Award

The RANZCP’s Faculty of Psychotherapy established the RANZCP Psychotherapy Research Award, to encourage research in psychotherapy amongst psychiatry trainees and Fellows in Australia and New Zealand.

Value

Up to A$10,000.

Key dates

Opens 1 September 2025 and closes 31 October 2025.

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