Associate Professor Tess Patterson

Contact Details

Phone: +64 21 279 1727
Email: tess.patterson@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position

Associate Professor and Head of Department

Department

Department of Psychological Medicine (Dunedin)

Qualifications

BA PGDipArts PhD(Otago)

Research summary

Clinical research on sexual abuse, sexual offending, forensic interviewing, alcohol and drug disorder

Teaching

Convenor ELM2, Second- , Third- , Fourth- , Fifth-Year Medicine, CBT for registrar programme, Masters and PhD research supervision

Memberships

Member, New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists
Member, New Zealand Psychologist Board
Vice-Chair and founding Trustee, Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust - Otago

Research

Associate Professor Patterson’s research interests are in applied clinical and forensic psychology domains. Her research interests focus on three broad areas:

Childhood sexual abuse, the impact of sexual abuse, treatment, and investigative interviewing of those who may have been sexually abused
Harmful sexual behaviour and sexual offending, the developmental pathways to adolescent harmful sexual behaviour ,and male versus female sexual offending
Alcohol and drug treatment outcomes, evaluation of treatment programmes, and relapse and recovery

Associate Professor Patterson’s research interests in sexual abuse and offending are mirrored in her clinical work. Since 2010 she has worked as a specialist clinical psychologist assessing and treating adolescents and adults who have sexually harmed or offended. In this role she advises and informs legal practitioners, courts, Corrections, CYF social workers, teachers, other practising psychologists / psychiatrists, is called upon as a court witness, and provides comprehensive risk assessments. She is also an ACC registered health provider.

Publications

Lin, C.-C., du Plooy, K., Gray, A., Brown, D., Hobbs, L., Patterson, T., Tan, V., … Hsu, C.-W. (2024). The performance of ChatGPT on short-answer questions in a psychiatry examination: A pilot study. Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry, 38(2), 94-98. doi: 10.4103/TPSY.TPSY_19_24 Journal - Research Other

Barak, Y., Sajjadi, S. F., Hobbs, L., & Patterson, T. (2024). Functional recovery in older adults with schizophrenia: A national interRAI study. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/00207640241230837 Journal - Research Article

Patterson, T., Hobbs, L., Brown, E., & Barak, Y. (2023). Sexual assault in older-age adults: Criminal justice response in New Zealand. Journal of Aging & Social Policy. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2023.2284575 Journal - Research Article

Patterson, T., Egan, R., Gross, J., Leov, J., Hobbs, L., & La Rooy, D. (2023). Mentoring: A traditional Cook Island approach to support men. International Journal of Offender Therapy & Comparative Criminology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/0306624x231172638 Journal - Research Article

Dixon, L., Treharne, G., Pettie, M., Bowden, C., Patterson, T., Beres, M., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Shaw, R., Eketone-Kelly, A., & Ashdown, J. (2023). Male survivors of sexual violence and abuse (SVA): Barriers and facilitators to reporting and accessing services. (pp. 1-110). Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Social Development. [Technical/Scientific Report]. Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

2024

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

2023

Journal - Research Article

Egan, R., Gross, J., Cameron, C., Hobbs, L., & Patterson, T. (2023). Spirituality: A key component of the Salvation Army's Bridge Programme model of treatment in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Religion & Health, 62, 2563-2584. doi: 10.1007/s10943-022-01674-7

Patterson, T., Campbell, A., La Rooy, D., Hobbs, L., Clearwater, K., & Rapsey, C. (2023). Impact, ramifications and taking back control: A qualitative study of male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(1-2), 1868-1892. doi: 10.1177/08862605221094629

Burgstedt, C., Beeby, A., Hayne, H., Hobbs, L., Gross, J., & Patterson, T. (2023). Does gender affect judges' perceptions of sexual assault cases? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(1-2), 466-508. doi: 10.1177/08862605221085034

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

2022

Journal - Research Article

Patterson, T., Hobbs, L., Lorimer, M., & Rapsey, C. (2022). Sexual developmental histories of adolescents who engaged in harmful sexual behaviour. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 33(6), 810-827. doi: 10.1080/14789949.2022.2122856

Patterson, T., Hobbs, L., Treharne, G. J., & Beres, M. (2022). Seeking of help and support after experiencing sexual harm: Considerations for cisgender women, cisgender men and gender-diverse people. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1562), 56-62. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Macleod, E., Hobbs, L., Admiraal, A., La Rooy, D., & Patterson, T. (2022). The use and impact of repeated questions in diagnostic child abuse assessment interviews. Psychiatry, Psychology & Law, 29(3), 364-380. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2021.1910586

Graham, K., Patterson, T., Justice, T., & Rapsey, C. (2022). "It's not a great boulder, it's just a piece of baggage": Older women's reflections on healing from childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(1-2), 705-725. doi: 10.1177/0886260520916270

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Patterson, T. G., Hobbs, L. D., Treharne, G. J., & Beres, M. A. (2022). Seeking of help and support after experiencing sexual harm: Considerations for cisgender-women, cisgender-men and gender-diverse people. In L. Wilson, H. Harcombe, P. Jayakaran, L. Burga, J. Antony, K. Morgaine, M. Garelja, A. Middleton, M. Anwar & T. Milne (Eds.), Proceedings of the 262nd Otago Medical School Research Society (OMSRS) Meeting: Research Staff Speaker Awards. Dunedin, New Zealand: OMSRS. Retrieved from https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/handle/10523/12839

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Patterson, T. (2022, November). Sexual harm: The perpetrator and the victim-survivor. Verbal presentation at the Department of Psychological Medicine Research Day, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Patterson, T. (2022, November). James Hume: The man and the bequest. Verbal presentation at the Department of Psychological Medicine Research Day, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2021

Journal - Research Article

Damiris, I. K., McKillop, N., Christensen, L. S., Rayment-McHugh, S., Burton, K., & Patterson, T. (2021). Gendered judicial discourse in the sentencing of sexual offenders: A new explanatory model. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 33(2), 228-246. doi: 10.1080/10345329.2020.1837716

Beeby, A., Hobbs, L., Gross, J., Hayne, H., & Patterson, T. (2021). Gender disparities in sentencing outcomes for sexual offenders. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 27(3), 319-337. doi: 10.1080/13552600.2020.1784476

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Pettie, M., Dixon, L., Treharne, G., Bowden, C., Patterson, T., Beres, M., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Shaw, R., … Eketone-Kelly, K. (2021). What helps and hinders male survivors’ help-seeking behaviour in Aotearoa New Zealand? Proceedings of the 12th Biennial Conference of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP). (pp. 43). Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/view/ischp21

2020

Journal - Research Article

Flett, J. A. M., Conner, T. S., Riordan, B. C., Patterson, T., & Hayne, H. (2020). App-based mindfulness meditation for psychological distress and adjustment to college in incoming university students: A pragmatic, randomised, waitlist-controlled trial. Psychology & Health, 35(9), 1049-1074. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2019.1711089

Rapsey, C., Campbell, A., Clearwater, K., & Patterson, T. (2020). Listening to the therapeutic needs of male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35(9-10), 2033-2054. doi: 10.1177/0886260517701453

2019

Journal - Research Article

Flett, J. A. M., Fletcher, B. D., Riordan, B. C., Patterson, T., Hayne, H., & Conner, T. S. (2019). The peril of self-reported adherence in digital interventions: A brief example. Internet Interventions, 18, 100267. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2019.100267

Patterson, T., Hobbs, L., McKillop, N., & Burton, K. (2019). Disparities in police proceedings and court sentencing for females versus males who commit sexual offences in New Zealand. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 25(2), 161-176. doi: 10.1080/13552600.2019.1581281

Rapsey, C. M., Scott, K. M., & Patterson, T. (2019). Childhood sexual abuse, poly-victimization and internalizing disorders across adulthood and older age: Findings from a 25-year longitudinal study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 244, 171-179. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.10.095

Patterson, T., Macleod, E., Hobbs, L., Egan, R., Cameron, C., & Gross, J. (2019). Measuring both primary and secondary outcomes when evaluating treatment effectiveness in alcohol and drug treatment programmes. Clinical Psychologist, 23(2), 152-164. doi: 10.1111/cp.12156

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Patterson, T. (2019). Examining the role of spirituality in alcohol and drug treatment programme outcomes. Proceedings of the Spirituality and Mental Health Symposium. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2OptcDh

2017

Journal - Research Article

Macleod, E., Woolford, J., Hobbs, L., Gross, J., Hayne, H., & Patterson, T. (2017). Interviews with children about their mental health problems: The congruence and validity of information that children report. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 22(2), 229-244. doi: 10.1177/1359104516653642

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Patterson, T., & Rapsey, C. (2017, November). Male childhood sexual abuse: Impact and therapeutic needs. Verbal presentation at the South-South Institute Conference on Sexual Violence Against Men and Boys, Christchurch, New Zealand.

2016

Journal - Research Article

Glue, P., Courts, J., Gray, A., & Patterson, T. (2016). Influence of law changes affecting synthetic cannabinoid availability and frequency of hospital presentations: 4-year national survey. New Zealand Medical Journal, 129(1433), 41-44. Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

2015

Journal - Research Article

Woolford, J., Patterson, T., Macleod, E., Hobbs, L., & Hayne, H. (2015). Drawing helps children to talk about their presenting problems during a mental health assessment. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 20(1), 68-83. doi: 10.1177/1359104513496261

Commissioned Report for External Body

Patterson, T., Macleod, E., Egan, R., Cameron, C., Hobbs, L., & Gross, J. (2015). Testing the bridge: An evaluation of the effectiveness of The Salvation Army's Bridge Programme Model of Treatment. Commissioned by The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. Dunedin, New Zealand: Departments of Psychology, Psychological Medicine and Preventive & Social Medicine, University of Otago. 176p.

2014

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Karimirad, V., Patterson, T., Hayne, H., & Gross, J. (2014). Alcohol appraisals and their impact on remembering and predicting emotional response to alcohol. Proceedings of the Psycolloquy Seminar. (pp. 17). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/psychology/research/otago059081.html

Patterson, T., Macleod, E., Woolford, J., Hobbs, L., & Gross, J. (2014). Valuing the child's perspective: The relevance and validity of information that children report about their presenting problems. Proceedings of the 15th International Mental Health Conference: Mental Health: Innovation, Integration, Early Intervention. Retrieved from http://anzmh.asn.au/conference/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Macleod, E., Woolford, J., Hobbs, L., Gross, J., Hayne, H., & Patterson, T. (2014, December). The clinical and diagnostic relevance of the information that children report during semi-structured clinical interviews. Verbal presentation at the Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR) Conference: Bridging the Gap, Adelaide, Australia.

2013

Journal - Research Article

Patterson, T., & Scott, C. (2013). Behavioral Management of inappropriate masturbation in an 8-year-old girl. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 35(3), 256-263. doi: 10.1080/07317107.2013.818907

Patterson, T., Rapsey, C. M., & Glue, P. (2013). Systematic review of cognitive development across childhood in Down syndrome: Implications for treatment interventions. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57(4), 306-318. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01536.x

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Patterson, T., Hobbs, L., & Lorimer, M. (2013). Sexual development in an "atypical" adolescent population: Is this normative development? Proceedings of the 18th Australasian Human Development Association (AHDA) Biennial Conference. (pp. 45). Retrieved from http://www.ahda.org/conference/

2012

Journal - Research Article

Gale, C., Skegg, K., Mullen, R., Patterson, T., & Gray, A. (2012). Thoughts of suicide and stage of recovery in patients with schizophrenia in community mental health care. Australasian Psychiatry, 20(4), 313-317. doi: 10.1177/1039856212449669

Crawford, E., Gross, J., Patterson, T., & Hayne, H. (2012). Does children’s colour use reflect the emotional content of their drawings? Infant & Child Development, 21(2), 198-215. doi: 10.1002/icd.742

Journal - Research Other

Gale, C., Mullen, R., & Patterson, T. (2012). Letter to the editor. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 58(4), 449-450. doi: 10.1177/0020764010394522

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Gale, C. K., Mullen, R., Patterson, T., & Gray, A. (2012). The effect of recent adverse events and psychotic symptomatology among people with schizophrenia. In M. Haapea, J. Miettunen, E. Jääskeläinen, A. Alaräisänen, T. Nordström & M. Penttilä (Eds.), Proceedings of the XXIV Paulo International Medical Symposium: Schizophrenia: Epidemiology and Biology. (pp. 82). Oulu, Finland: Multiprint. [Abstract]

2011

Journal - Research Article

Patterson, T., Mullen, R., Gale, C., & Gray, A. (2011). Compulsory community treatment and patients' perception of recovery in schizophrenia. Australasian Psychiatry, 19(5), 431-433. doi: 10.3109/10398562.2011.603330

Patterson, T., & Hayne, H. (2011). Does drawing facilitate older children's reports of emotionally laden events? Applied Cognitive Psychology, 25(1), 119-126. doi: 10.1002/acp.1650

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rapsey, C., Patterson, T., & Glue, P. (2011). Cognitive development across childhood in Down syndrome: A systematic review. Proceedings of the 17th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Human Development Association (AHDA). (pp. 70). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/ahda2011/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Gale, C., Mullen, R., Patterson, T., & Gray, A. (2011, August). Compulsory community treatment and recent adverse life events. Verbal presentation at the 18th New Zealand Schizophrenia Research Group Annual Research Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.

Woolford, J., Patterson, T., & Hayne, H. (2011, August). Clinical assessment of the child: Does drawing help children to talk about their presenting problems? Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Psychological Society Annual Conference, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2010

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Crawford, E., Gross, J., Patterson, T., & Hayne, H. (2010, November). ″I drew it pink because it's my favourite!″ The use of colour in drawings produced by hospitalised children. Verbal presentation at the Psycolloquy Seminar, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2009

Journal - Research Article

Patterson, T., & Pipe, M.-E. (2009). Exploratory assessments of child abuse: Children's responses to interviewer's questions across multiple interview sessions. Child Abuse & Neglect, 33(8), 490-504. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.12.012

Glue, P., & Patterson, T. (2009). Can drug treatments enhance learning in subjects with intellectual disability? Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 43(10), 899-904. doi: 10.1080/00048670903179178

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Gale, C. K., Patterson, T. G., & Mullen, R. (2009). Co-occurring symptoms in people with schizophrenia: Do they affect recovery? World Psychiatry. 8(Suppl. 1), (pp. 155). [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Patterson, T., & Hayne, H. (2009, September). Drawing: An effective method of increasing the amount of information children of all ages report about emotional events. Poster session presented at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Conference: Child2009: Aspiring to Best Practice, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Patterson, T., Mullen, R., Gale, C., & Gray, A. (2009, July). Compulsory treatment orders and patients' perception of recovery. Poster session presented at the Philosophy, Psychiatry, Psychology Conference, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2008

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mullen, R., Gale, C., & Patterson, T. (2008). Use of primary care medical and dental health service provision in schizophrenia: A preliminary report from the ″ScOPE″ project. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42(Suppl. 1), (pp. A98). doi: 10.1080/00048670802124119

2007

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Gale, C., Mullen, R., & Patterson, T. (2007). The development of an assessment interview for the seriously mentally ill: Preliminary findings. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(Suppl. 1), (pp. A24). doi: 10.1080/14401614070410s134

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Patterson, T., & Hayne, H. (2007, June). Does drawing facilitate older children's reports of emotionally laden events? Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association of Counsellors Te Roopu Kaiwhiriwhiri O Aotearoa Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2003

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Patterson, T. G. (2003). Interviewer′s questions, children′s responses: Assessments of children who may have been abused (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. 146p.

2002

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Patterson, T., & Pipe, M. E. (2002). Interviewer's questions, children's responses: Assessments of children who may have been abused. Proceedings of the International Congress of Applied Psychology. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Patterson, T. G., Hayne, H., & Pipe, M.-E. (2002, October). Children′s disclosure of abuse and sex-related events. Verbal presentation at the Department of Psychology In-House Convention, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2000

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Patterson, T. (2000, March). Interviewer′s prior knowledge and effects on interview style. Poster session presented at the Memory Research Theme Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.