Academia

Academia

Research, publications, teaching, presentations and professional memberships from Dr Francesca Vella's academic psychiatry portfolio.

Academic Profile

Dr Francesca Vella's academic work spans neurostimulation, neuropsychiatry, compulsivity, eating disorders, mood disorders, consultation-liaison psychiatry and psychiatric education.

Her CV includes research projects, peer-reviewed publications, oral and poster presentations, quality-improvement audits, teaching roles and professional memberships across the UK and Malta.

Research Projects

  • The Use of rTMS in Treatment-Resistant OCD - An RCT: a double-blind randomised controlled trial, completed in 2024 and in publication review.
  • The Use of Psychotropic Medication in Corradino Correctional Facility: research project listed from December 2017.
  • The Off-Label Use of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Immediate Release: research project listed from April 2016.
  • Compulsivity and motivation in disorders of compulsivity: a twinning case-control study of compulsive eating in patients in Malta, involving the Department of Psychiatry at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek in Malta.

Selected Publications

  1. The Use of rTMS in Treatment-Resistant OCD - An RCT, completed and in publication review.
  2. F. Falzon Aquilina, A. Grech, D. Strelchuk, N. Donamayor, M. Agius, V. Voon. Decisional Impulsivity in Obesity, Malta Medical School Gazette, October 2018.
  3. F. Falzon Aquilina. How to Deal with Exam-Related Anxiety, The Third Eye, University of Malta Journal, May 2018.
  4. F. Falzon Aquilina, D. Vella Fondacaro. Outlining the Psychopathology Behind a Case of Conversion Syndrome: Is a Holistic Approach Beneficial? PsyCh Journal, 5(2016): 31-35. DOI: 10.1002/pchj.125.
  5. M. Agius, F. Falzon Aquilina, A. Grech, C. Pace. Stigma in Malta: A Mediterranean Perspective, Psychiatria Danubina, 28(Suppl-1): 36-122, September 2016.
  6. D. Vella Fondacaro, F. Falzon Aquilina. The Aetiology of Schizophrenia as Outlined in a Treatment-Resistant Case, European Psychiatry, 33: S587-S588, March 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.2182.
  7. F. Falzon Aquilina, A. Grech, M. Agius, V. Voon, D. Zerafa. Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek - An Effective Therapeutic Intervention, European Psychiatry, 33: S427-S428, March 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1548.
  8. F. Falzon Aquilina, M. Agius. Palliative Care in Dementia, Psychiatria Danubina, 27: 506-511, September 2015.
  9. F. Falzon Aquilina, A. Dimech. Catatonia Associated with Schizophrenia, European Psychiatry, 30: 1737a-1737b, March 2015. DOI: 10.1016/S0924-9338(15)31333-X.
  10. F. Falzon Aquilina, M. Agius, K. Sharma, A. Grech. The Multidisciplinary Approach to Mood Disorders, Psychiatria Danubina, 26(Suppl. 1), 2014.
  11. F. Falzon Aquilina, M. Agius, K. Sharma. The Multifactorial Etiology of Eating Disorders Outlined in a Case of Anorexia Nervosa and Complicated by Psychiatric Comorbidities, Psychiatria Danubina, 26(Suppl. 1), 2014.
  12. M. Agius, F. Falzon Aquilina. Comorbidities and Psychotic Illness, Psychiatria Danubina, 26(Suppl. 1), 2014.
  13. M. Agius, N. Verdolini, F. Falzon Aquilina, S. Butler. Comorbidity Part 2 - Neurobiology and Suicide Risk: Modelling the Consequences of Bipolar and Anxiety Co-Morbidity, Psychiatria Danubina, 26(Suppl. 1), 2014.
  14. F. Falzon Aquilina, A. Hankir, D. Bhugra. The Postgraduate Psychiatry Training Programme in Malta, World Journal of Medical Education and Research.
  15. M. Agius, F. Falzon Aquilina. Early Intervention in Psychosis in the UK, book chapter.

Presentations and Audits

Oral presentations

  • Decisional Impulsivity in Obesity, ACAMH Annual Conference, 2019.
  • Investigation of Compulsivity and Motivation in Disorders of Compulsivity, postgraduate psychiatry research seminar, Mount Carmel Hospital, 2018.
  • Conversion disorder with comorbid delayed PTSD, Annual Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, ACAMH Malta, 2018.
  • The Off-Label Use of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Immediate Release, Inaugural ACAMH Conference trainee competition, 2016.
  • Palliative Care in Dementia and Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek, Cambridge Psychiatry Conference, Clare College, 2015.
  • Multidisciplinary team approaches in mood disorders, Psychiatry Beyond the DSM-5 International Twined Congress, Iseo, Italy, 2014, and International Psychiatry Meeting, Clare College, Cambridge, 2014.

Poster presentations

  • The Neuropsychiatric Challenges of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, Royal College of Psychiatrists Annual Neuropsychiatry Conference, 2019.
  • Decisional Impulsivity in Obesity, Royal College of Psychiatrists Annual Liaison Faculty Conference, 2019.
  • Suicide Mapping Exercise and The Formation of Suicide Research Group Malta, MAP Annual Conference, 2019.
  • The Role of Traumatic Events in Conversion Disorder, Royal College of Psychiatrists Neuropsychiatry Faculty Conference, 2017.
  • Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek and treatment-resistant schizophrenia case work, European Psychiatric Association Conference, Madrid, 2016.
  • Mood disorders, catatonia, eating disorders and functional neurological symptoms posters presented at European Psychiatric Association and Malta Foundation Programme events between 2014 and 2015.

Quality improvement and audit

  • Routine use of anticholinergic medication when giving intramuscular antipsychotic depot preparations, February 2016.
  • Multidisciplinary approach to mood disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, April to September 2014.
  • DVT and PE incidence after the introduction of Rivaroxaban in elective total knee replacements, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, October 2014.
  • Patient physical restraint within St Vincent de Paul Residence, Luqa.

Teaching

  • Clinical supervisor within the NHS for Foundation Doctors and psychiatry trainees, including CT1s and ST5s.
  • Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University of Malta.
  • Psychiatry tutorials for fourth-year medical students as part of the University of Malta curriculum since 2015.
  • Annual clinical fora for fourth-year medical students.
  • Organised an ECT seminar for psychiatric trainees in May 2022, collaborating with Dr Jakub Albrecht, Head of Neurostimulation in Prague.
  • Founding member of the monthly psychiatry journal club, Psych Cafe.
  • Delivered guidance talks to undergraduate psychology students about psychiatry services.

Memberships, Training and Awards

  • CCT - Certificate of Completion of Training in Psychiatry (EU), October 2020.
  • MRCPsych - Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, January 2019.
  • EU accreditation in rTMS from Maastricht University, course completed in London, October 2019.
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London.
  • Postgraduate training in psychiatry, CBT and psychodynamic psychotherapy through Mount Carmel Hospital, Malta.
  • First place at the ACAMH 2019 trainee competition for Decisional Impulsivity in Obesity.
  • Member of the Suicide Research Group, Malta, and former Subcultural Liaison Officer in the Malta Association of Psychiatry Trainees.
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