Blake Cavve
Senior Research Officer
PhD (Psychology)
blake.cavve@thekids.org.au
Blake Cavve is an early career researcher with the Youth Mental Health team at The Kids and an adjunct at the University of Western Australia. In December 2023 Blake graduated with a PhD in Psychology from the University of Western Australia, with a thesis investigating how social context impacts individual economic judgement and decision-making.
Blake’s research interests involve applying cognitive science, social psychology, and behavioural economics, to understand how adolescents and their parents make healthcare decisions.
Blake is also passionate about sharing open science principles with emerging researchers as a Research Integrity Advisor at The Kids.
Education and Qualifications
- PhD (Psychology) – University of Western Australia
- Ba. Hons. (Psychology) – University of Western Australia
Awards/Honours
- 2020 UWA Guild Student Choice Award for teaching excellence
- 2020 School of Psychological Science, Postgraduate Student Annual Award
- 2019 UWA SPS Community & Engagement Award (Post-Graduate Student)
- 2016 UPA/ UWA TopUp scholarships
Active collaborations
- GENTLE (GENder idenTity Longitudinal Experience) Cohort with CAHS CAMHS PCH GDS and University of Western Australia
- ARCTYC (Australian Research Consortium for Transgender Youth and Children) funded by the Medical Research Future Fund 2024.
Published research
Mental health assessment of transgender youth - Should standardised psychological measures be scored by norms of birth-registered sex?
Standardised psychometric measures are used in mental health care and research settings to identify risk, assist diagnosis, and assess symptom severity. Standardised scoring of these measures involves transforming respondents' raw scores using binary sex norms. However, scoring manuals offer no guidance as to appropriate scoring methods for trans and non-binary respondents.
Development and temporal validation of a clinical prediction model of transition to psychosis in individuals at ultra-high risk in the UHR 1000+ cohort
The concept of ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) has been at the forefront of psychiatric research for several decades, with the ultimate goal of preventing the onset of psychotic disorder in high-risk individuals. Orygen (Melbourne, Australia) has led a range of observational and intervention studies in this clinical population.
A critical discussion of pediatric gender measures to clarify the utility and purpose of “measuring” gender
Pediatric gender clinics and researchers commonly use scales to measure different dimensions of gender (e.g. identity, dysphoria, satisfaction). There has been little investigation into the relevance and consumer acceptability of these scales within contemporary understandings and experiences of gender.
Retrospective Examination of Peripubertal Return for Patients of Western Australia's Gender Diversity Service
Children far in advance of pubertal development may be deferred from further assessment for gender-affirming medical treatment until nearer puberty. It is vital that returning peripubertal patients are seen promptly to ensure time-sensitive assessment and provision of puberty suppression treatment where appropriate.
Reidentification with Birth-Registered Sex in a Western Australian Pediatric Gender Clinic Cohort
Some young people who identify as transgender and seek gender-affirming medical care subsequently reidentify with their sex registered at birth. Evidence regarding the frequency and characteristics of this experience is lacking.
Combining Clinical With Cognitive or Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data for Predicting Transition to Psychosis in Ultra High-Risk Patients: Data From the PACE 400 Cohort
Multimodal modeling that combines biological and clinical data shows promise in predicting transition to psychosis in individuals who are at ultra-high risk. Individuals who transition to psychosis are known to have deficits at baseline in cognitive function and reductions in gray matter volume in multiple brain regions identified by magnetic resonance imaging.