School of Psychological Science
Bendigo

		Dr Anna Kokavec Lecturer Head of Section		Phone: +61 3 5444 7334 Fax: +61 3 5444 7850 a.kokavec@latrobe.edu.au Room 4.13 Arts Building
		BBSc (Hons) PhD (La Trobe)

I am primarily interested in determining the contribution of alcohol toxicity to the development of disease. In the last few years I have progressively completed several human studies investigating the effect of alcohol on the complex neuro-endocrine-immune feedback loop between energy intake and metabolism, immune response, and activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, my research is not confined to only the human neuroscience area and in the past I have completed several studies aimed at determining the cognitive and behavioural predictors of substance abuse in the 18-25 year age group.

At present I am involved in a project aimed at investigating the contribution of nutritional factors to the development of headache symptoms in migraine sufferers. My research interests allow me to work across a number of research disciplines and I have an interest in the role nutritional factors play in the development of disease in general.

Teaching Responsibilities in 2009
My teaching responsibilities within the School include the delivery of lectures and practical sessions in the Cognitive Neuroscience, Research Methods, Health Psychology, and Clinical Psychology areas of psychology.

Course Coordinator: Regional Bachelor of Psychological Science - RBBS

Unit Coordinator: Psychology Studies for Pharmacy - PSY1PSP

	Recent Publications
	Grants

Memberships and Associations

Psychologist - Victoria
Psychologist – New South Wales
Psychologist – Australian Capital Territory
Australian Psychological Society – Member
Australian Defence Forces – Accredited Psychologist

Recent Publications

Kokavec, A., Halloran, M., & Crowe, S.F. (2009). Effect of wine on energy metabolism and utilisation. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 55(Suppl.1), 179.

Kokavec, A., Lindner, A.J., Ryan, J.E., & Crowe, S.F. (2009). Ingesting alcohol prior to food can alter activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior, 93, 170-176.

Kokavec, A. (2008). Is decreased appetite for food a physiological consequence of alcohol consumption? Appetite, 51, 233-243.

Kokavec, A., & Crowe, S.F. (2006). Effect of moderate white wine consumption on serum IgA and plasma insulin under fasting conditions. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 50, 407-412.

Kokavec, A., & Crowe, S.F. (2003). Effect on plasma insulin and plasma glucose of consuming white wine alone after a meal. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 27, 1718-1723.

Kokavec, A., & Crowe, S.F. (2002). Alcohol consumption in the absence of adequate nutrition may lead to activation of the glyoxylate cycle in man. Medical Hypotheses, 58, 411-415.

Kokavec, A., & Crowe, S.F. (2001). The effect of a moderate level of white wine consumption on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis before and after a meal. Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior, 70, 243-250.

Kokavec, A., & Crowe, S.F. (2001). The consequences of alcohol in the absence of adequate nutrition: The salt and water hypothesis. Medical Hypotheses, 57, 667-672.

Kokavec, A., & Crowe, S.F. (1999). A comparison of cognitive performance in binge versus regular chronic alcohol abusers. Alcohol & Alcoholism, 34,601-608.

Recent Conference Presentations – papers

Kokavec, A. Wine: Medicine or poison for the human body? Entheogenesis Australis annual scientific meeting. December 6-8th, 2008.

Kokavec, A., Butler, S., Hebbard, T., Holland, D., Ireland, T., & MacCubbin, S. Contribution of gender, mood, motives, and well being to hazardous drinking in university students aged 18-25 years. Australasian Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine Annual Conference. Sydney, Australia. 2008.

Kokavec, A., & Kennedy, G.A. Effect of restricted feeding on cortisol rhythmicity in humans under LD conditions: Influence of chronotype. Australian Chronobiology Society. Annual scientific meeting, October 28th – 29th, 2006.

Recent Conference Presentations – posters

Kokavec, A., Halloran, M., Crowe, S.F. Effect of wine on energy metabolism and utilisation. International Congress of Nutrition (ICN2009), 2009, Bangkok, Thailand.

Kokavec, A., Faulkhead, H., Hunter, J., Perkins, A., Smith, B., Toy, G., & Traynor, J. Contribution of alcohol, tobacco, motives, and personality type to cannabis use in university students aged 18-25 years. Australasian Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine Annual Conference. Sydney, Australia. 2008.

Grants

Hunter Medical Research Institute –2008 ($15,000) for project titled: “Efficacy of dietary therapy in the prevention of migraine symptoms”.

La Trobe University - 2008 ($15,000) for project titled: “Efficacy of dietary therapy in the prevention of migraine symptoms”.