Rita Hitching, BSc (Hons), MSc, is completing her PhD (Psychiatry) at the University of Newcastle’s School of Medicine and Public Health. Her area of interest is the relationship between sleep and psychiatric disorders. 

Recognised for her innovative approach to the delivery of insomnia treatment, she’s been awarded a highly prestigious scholarship to support her research. Her work aims to harness the immersive and interactive capabilities of virtual reality to provide effective therapeutic interventions for individuals struggling with chronic insomnia and associated mood and anxiety symptoms. 

She is the Editor of Briefing Books at the American Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. Her editorial contributions play a pivotal role in disseminating emerging research and advancements in the field of behavioural and cognitive therapies to lay audiences.

She is a member of the American Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine, the American Institute for Stress, and the Australian Sleep Association.

Through her involvement in these organisations, she actively contributes to the advancement of knowledge and collaboration in the fields of psychiatry, rehabilitation, and sleep medicine. 

Her research is affiliated with HMRI, renowned for its commitment to excellence in medical and translational research. Through her affiliation, she collaborates with leading experts and benefits from innovative facilities and resources.