
Biography
I am an academic and clinical psychologist with expertise in co-occurring mental health conditions in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. I have a particular interest in understanding the mechanisms of anxiety and depression in this population.
I returned to King’s in January 2020 following postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge and working across several clinical services. I have recently set up the Translational Mental Health and Autism Group in the Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, which aims to translate mechanistic research into better clinical care for young people with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
I work clinically in the Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the Maudsley Hospital.
Research Interests
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Cognitive Mechanisms of co-occurring conditions
- Psychological Intervention
Research Groups
Expanding Research on Contextual Factors in Autism Research: What Took Us So Long?
Hollocks, M., 11 Jan 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Autism research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Autistic young people’s experiences of remote psychological interventions during COVID-19
Adams, L., Adamo, N., Hollocks, M., Watson, J., Brewster, A., Valmaggia, L., Jewitt, E., Edwards, J., Krisson, M. & Simonoff, E., Aug 2023, In: Autism. 27, 6, p. 1616-1627 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Co-designing Behavioural Activation for depression for autistic adolescents: a case series
Mohamed, Z., Russell, A., Palmer, M., Simonoff, E. & Hollocks, M., Jul 2023Research output: Book/Report › Report › peer-review
Investigating the effects of transdiagnostic processes on anxiety and depression symptoms in autistic young people: the mediating role of emotion dysregulation
Barnes, G. L., Ozsivadjian, A., Baird, G., Absoud, M. & Hollocks, M., 2023Research output: Book/Report › Report › peer-review
Measuring flexibility in autistic adults: Exploring the factor structure of the flexibility scale self report
Hollocks, M., McQuaid, G. A., Yerys, B. E., Strang, J., Anthony, L. G., Kenworthy, L., Lee, N. R. & Wallace, G. L., Nov 2023, In: Autism research. 16, 11, p. 2208-2219 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Understanding the relationship between social camouflaging in autism and safety behaviours in social anxiety in autistic and non-autistic adolescents
Lei, J., Charman, T., Russell, A., Leigh, E. & Hollocks, M., 26 Aug 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Developing a user-informed intervention study of a virtual reality therapy for social anxiety in autistic adolescents
Adams, L., Simonoff, E., Tierney, K., Hollocks, M., Brewster, A., Watson, J. & Valmaggia, L., 24 Apr 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Design for Health.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Examining clinicians’ concerns delivering telemental health interventions directly to autistic individuals during COVID-19
Adams, L., Adamo, N., Hollocks, M., Valmaggia, L., Brewster, A., Watson, J., Krisson, M. & Simonoff, E., Jun 2022, In: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 94, 101956, 101956.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Homotypic and Heterotypic Continuity in Psychiatric Symptoms From Childhood to Adolescence in Autistic Youth
Carter Leno, V., Hollocks, M. J., Chandler, S., White, P., Yorke, I., Charman, T., Pickles, A., Baird, G. & Simonoff, E., Dec 2022, In: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 61, 12, p. 1445-1454 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Pathways to adaptive functioning in autism from early childhood to adolescence
Chandler, S., Carter Leno, V., White, P., Yorke, I., Hollocks, M. J., Baird, G., Pickles, A., Simonoff, E. & Charman, T., Oct 2022, In: Autism research. 15, 10, p. 1883-1893 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Understanding the heterogeneity of anxiety in autistic youth: A person-centered approach
Spackman, E., Lerh, J. W., Rodgers, J., Hollocks, M. J., South, M., McConachie, H., Ozsivadjian, A., Vaughan Van Hecke, A., Libove, R., Hardan, A. Y., Leekam, S. R., Simonoff, E., Frazier, T. W., Alvares, G. A., Schwartzman, J. M., Magiati, I. & Uljarević, M., Sept 2022, In: Autism research. 15, 9, p. 1742-1754 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Inspecting the Glass Half-Full Identifies Strengths in the Development of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Hollocks, M. & Simonoff, E., 29 Mar 2021, In: JAMA Psychiatry.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
Anxiety and depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Hollocks, M. J., Lerh, J. W., Magiati, I., Meiser-Stedman, R. & Brugha, T. S., Mar 2019, In: Psychological Medicine. 49, 4, p. 559-572 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Brief Report: An Evaluation of the Social Communication Questionnaire as a Screening Tool for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Young People Referred to Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services
Hollocks, M. J., Casson, R., White, C., Dobson, J., Beazley, P. & Humphrey, A., Jun 2019, In: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 49, 6, p. 2618-2623 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Framingham vascular age is associated with worse cognitive performance in the middle-aged and elderly
Badran, A., Hollocks, M. J., Brookes, R. L., Morris, R. G. & Markus, H. S., 1 Jan 2018, (Accepted/In press) In: Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Apathy, but not depression, is associated with executive dysfunction in cerebral small vessel disease
Lohner, V., Brookes, R. L., Hollocks, M. J., Morris, R. & Markus, H. S., May 2017, In: PL o S One . 12, 5, e0176943.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Dual Cognitive and Biological Correlates of Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Hollocks, M., Pickles, A., Howlin, P. & Simonoff, E., 27 Jul 2016, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 46, 10, p. 3295–3307 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Antiplatelet treatment compared with anticoagulation treatment for cervical artery dissection (CADISS): a randomised trial
CADISS trial investigators, Apr 2015, In: Lancet Neurology. 14, 4, p. 361-7 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Irritability in boys with autism spectrum disorders: an investigation of physiological reactivity
Mikita, N., Hollocks, M., Papadopoulos, A., Aslani, A., Harrison, S., Leibenluft, E., Simonoff, E. & Stringaris, A., Oct 2015, In: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry. 56, 10, p. 1118-1126 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
White Matter Damage Relates to Oxygen Saturation in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia Without Silent Cerebral Infarcts
Kawadler, J. M., Kirkham, F. J., Clayden, J. D., Hollocks, M. J., Seymour, E. L., Edey, R., Telfer, P., Robins, A., Wilkey, O., Barker, S., Cox, T. C. S. & Clark, C. A., Jul 2015, In: Stroke. 46, 7, p. 1793-9 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Psychological interventions for autistic adolescents with co-occurring anxiety and depression: Considerations linked to autism social identity and masking
Lei, J., Cooper, K. & Hollocks, M., 30 Jun 2010, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Autism in Adulthood.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research
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Translational Mental Health and Autism Group
The Translational Mental Health and Autism Group is led by Dr Matthew Hollocks. The group focuses on understanding the mechanisms of poor mental health in autism. We aim to use this knowledge to improve clinical care and develop better treatments for common co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression.

IoPPN Virtual Reality Lab
The IoPPN Virtual Reality Research Lab (VR Lab) is a world-leading multidisciplinary group dedicated to VR based research, assessment and treatments to improve mental health, enhance well-being and promote resilience.
Spotlight
Co-creating new treatments to support autistic young people with depression
Autism is a spectrum of developmental conditions that affect how people communicate and interact with the world around them. At least 78 million people...
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Research
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Translational Mental Health and Autism Group
The Translational Mental Health and Autism Group is led by Dr Matthew Hollocks. The group focuses on understanding the mechanisms of poor mental health in autism. We aim to use this knowledge to improve clinical care and develop better treatments for common co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression.

IoPPN Virtual Reality Lab
The IoPPN Virtual Reality Research Lab (VR Lab) is a world-leading multidisciplinary group dedicated to VR based research, assessment and treatments to improve mental health, enhance well-being and promote resilience.
Spotlight
Co-creating new treatments to support autistic young people with depression
Autism is a spectrum of developmental conditions that affect how people communicate and interact with the world around them. At least 78 million people...
