I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology in SoLAS, bringing a blend of clinical expertise, research excellence, and educational experience to the university. I completed PhD in Clinical Psychology from NIMHANS, Bangalore, with my research centering on the emerging field of internet addiction. My PhD work involved the development and evaluation of a group-based intervention program designed to promote healthy technology use among adolescents in schools, utilizing a mixed-methods approach to ensure both evidence-based practice and real-world relevance. My work demonstrated statistically significant benefits for participating students and contributed substantially to the discipline of behavioral addictions.
In addition to research, I have been actively engaged in clinical roles, doing mental health assessments, diagnostic evaluations, and therapeutic management for a wide range of patients, with particular experience in emotional distress and neurotic conditions. I have supervised and trained M.Phil. scholars in psychological assessment, behavioral interventions, and therapy techniques, thereby contributing to a vibrant academic environment and supporting the next generation of clinical psychologists.
My clinical engagement also involved notable work at the SHUT (Service for Healthy Use of Technology) Clinic, where I provided interventions for clients facing problematic internet use, including gaming disorders and compulsive social media use. Prior to my doctoral degree, I completed rigorous M.Phil. training in Clinical Psychology at IHBAS, Delhi, and earned degrees in Applied Psychology and Psychology from Delhi University.
I am also a published researcher, with articles in international journals addressing issues from body image and technology use to gaming disorders and determinants of excessive gaming among female population in India. My evidence-based, client-centered approach and commitment to mental health define my contributions to the field in both academia and clinical service.
"The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you."
Thakur, P. C., Sharma, M. K., Mohan, V., Kommu, J. V. S., Anand, N., & Marimuthu, P. (2023). Gaming among female adolescents: profiling and psychopathological characteristics in the Indian context. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1081764
Siddegowda, S., Sharma, M. K., Satyanarayan, V. H., & Thakur, P. C. (2022). Making the body public: Implications of the new standards of body-image. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 002076402211091. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640221109163
Singh, P., Sharma, M. K., Chaturvedi, S. K., Sethi, M. I., Paulina, Y. P., Thakur, P. C., & Baglari, H. (2022). Medically unexplained symptoms attributable to electromagnetic hypersensitivity: Raising awareness of the implications. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Education and Research, 56(2), 88–90. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10028-1565
Sharma, M. K., Tadpatrikar, A., Shantharaju, S., & Thakur, P. C. (2022). Intervention for technology use among families with adolescents: A case series. Journal of Psychiatry Spectrum, 1(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.4103/jopsys.jopsys_10_215
Thakur, P. C., Sharma, M. K., Kommu, J. V. S., & Anand, N. (2021). Esport: Is it a sport or clinical entity? Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 26(2), 161.
Sharma, M. K., Amudhan, S., Anand, N., Mukadam, A., Sinha, M., Thakur, P.C., Tadpatrikar, A., & Manaria, S. (2022). Parkinson's disease and behavioural addiction: The Susceptibilities and Risks. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 68, 102960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102960
Sharma MK, Anand N, Kumar K, Lenin Singh R, Thakur PC, Mondal I, Kohli T. Constructing the understanding of teenagers deviant use of cyberspace. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2021 Dec;67(8):1068-1071. doi: 10.1177/0020764020975791. Epub 2021 Jan 10. PMID: 33423586.
Sharma, M., Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., P., T., N., S., John, N., Sahu, M., Chakraborty Thakur, P., Baglari, H., & Singh, P. (2019). Binge watching: An emerging manifestation of technology use. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 81–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2019.08.009
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Sunil, S., Tadpatrikar, A., Vishwakarma, A., Thakur, P. C., Singh, P., Ajith S.J., John, N., Sahu, M., Mondal, I., Suma N., Biswas, A., Archana R., & Murthy, K. D. (2021). Case-based evidence for screening pornography in marital therapy. Journal of Psychosexual Health, 3(3), 280–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318211027516
Anand, N., Sharma, M. K., Thakur, P. C., Mondal, I., Sahu, M., Singh, P., J., A. S., Kande, J. S., MS, N., & Singh, R. (2021). Doomsurfing and doomscrolling mediate psychological distress in Covid‐19 lockdown: Implications for awareness of cognitive biases. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58(1), 170–172. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12803
Sharma, M. K., Sunil, S., Roopesh, B. N., Galagali, P. M., Anand, N., Thakur, P. C., Singh, P., Ajith, S. J., & Murthy, K. D. (2020). Digital Failure: An emerging reason of anger expression among adolescents. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 29(2), 335. https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_81_19
Thakur, P. C., & Sharma, M. K. (2020). STRESS AND TECHNOLOGY USAGE. STRESS AND STRUGGLES, 376.
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Thirumoorthy, A., Thakur, P. C., Singh, P., SJ, A., & Suresh, J. (2020). SARS-Cov-2 Lockdown Mediates Increased Use of Technology for Leisure: Implication for Development of Digital Hygiene.
Sharma, M. K., John, N., Anand, N., Gandhi, S., Thakur, P. C., Sahu, M., Mondal, I., Singh, P., Suma, N., Tadpatrikar, A., Ahuja, S., Ajith, S. J., Murthy, K. D., & Gupta, H. K. (2020). Pathways of migration from gaming to gambling. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 29(1), 159. https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_45_20
Sharma, M.K., Anand, N., Chakraborty Thakur, P., Modal, I., Singh, P., SJ, A., N, S., John, N., Biswas, A., R, A., Vishwakarma, A., D Murthy, K., & Kumar Gupta, H. (2020). Case based evidence of compensatory model for attention deficit hyperactive disorder and online gaming: Implications for School Mental Health. Mental Health and Addiction Research, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.15761/mhar.1000188
Mondal, I., Anand, N., Sharma, M. K., Kohli, T., Thakur, P. C., Kande, J. S., Venkateshan, S., & SJ, A. (2020). Telephonic psychotherapy in India: A reminder of challenges in times of covid-19. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 53, 102432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102432
Thakur, P. C., Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Mondal, I., Singh, P., Ajith, S. J., ... & Venkateshan, S. (2020). Internet use: A boon or a bane during COVID-19. Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 25(1), 57.
Thakur, P. C., Sharma, M. K., Chaturvedi, S. K., Ganjekar, S., Anand, N., Jha, A., ... & Ajith, S. J. (2020). Cyberchondria: Technology-mediated expression of hypochondriasis. Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 25(1), 63.
Sharma, M.K., Anand, N., Thakur, P., N, S., Biswas, A., R, A., Vishwakarma, A., Singh, P., SJ, A., Murthy, K., Sahu, M., & John, N. (2020). Pathways to problematic use of online chatting. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 48, 101907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2019.101907
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Marimuthu, P., Suma, N., Murthy, K. D., Thakur, P. C., ... & Ahuja, S. (2020). Anxiety as a predictor of gaming disorder among young adults. Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry, 36(3), 254.
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Singh, P., Vishwakarma, A., Mondal, I., Thakur, P. C., & Kohli, T. (2020). Researcher Burnout: An overlooked aspect in mental health research in times of COVID-19. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 54, 102367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102367
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Ahuja, S., Thakur, P. C., Mondal, I., Singh, P., K., V., Sahu, M., John, N., N, S., R, A., & Vishwakarma, A. (2020). Status psychopathology: Social- media use mediated expression of unpleasant emotions. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 53, 102184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102184
Sharma, M.K., Anand, N., Vishwakarma, A., Sahu, M., Thakur, P. C., Mondal, I., Singh, P., S.J., A., N., S., John, N., Biswas, A., R., A., Tapatrikar, A., & Murthy, K. D. (2020). Media use as a modality to cope with expressed emotion: Insight from a case with psychosis. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 53, 102122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102122
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Vishwakarma, A., Sahu, M., Thakur, P. C., Mondal, I., Singh, P., SJ, A., N, S., Biswas, A., R, A., John, N., Tapatrikar, A., & Murthy, K. D. (2020). Mental health issues mediate social media use in rumors: Implication for Media Based Mental Health Literacy. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 53, 102132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102132
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., J., A. S., Thakur, P. C., N., S., Sahu, M., John, N., Tapatrikar, A., Biswas, A., Vishwakarma, A., R., A., Singh, P., & Murthy, K. D. (2020). Pathways to cybersex: Case-report-based exploration. Journal of Psychosexual Health, 2(1), 96–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/2631831819898567
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Thakur, P. C, Nando, S., Sahu, M., Singh, P., Biswas, A., Ajith, S. J., Vishwakarma, A., & Murthy, K. D. (2020). Mobile Phone Usage During Bedtime: Implication for Sleep Hygiene. Delhi Psychiatry Journal, 23 (1), 73-75.
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Thakur, P. C., N, S., Biswas, A., R, A., Sahu, M., John, N., Vishwakarma, A., Tadpatrikar, A., Singh, P., SJ, A., & Murthy, K. D. (2021). Cyber violence: Case report evidence of an emerging public health concern. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 57, 102017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102017
Sharma, M. K., Leeshma, B. K., Prasad, K., Hamza, M. A., Tadpatrikar, A., Thakur, P. C., & Singh, P. (2020). Internet addiction as a comorbid condition among users with mild intellectual disability. Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences, 11(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.5958/2394-2061.2020.00011.7
Sharma, M. K., Hamza, A., Anand, N., Marimuthu, P., Thamilselvan, P., Thakur, P. C., Suma, N., Baglari, H., & Singh, P. (2019). Urban and rural pattern of internet use among youth and its association with Mood State. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 8(8), 2602. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_428_19
Sharma, M. K., Anand, N., Thamilselvan, P., Suma, N., John, N., Sahu, M., Chakraborty Thakur, P., Baglari, H., & Singh, P. (2019). Is porn use becoming a modality of sex education among teenagers? A case study. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 18–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2019.08.001
Sharma, M. K., Marimuthu, P., Anand, N., N, S., P, T., Thakur, P. C., Singh, P., & Gupta, H. (2019). Sexting and self-esteem among youth: Preliminary trend for building Cyberliteracy. Journal of Psychosexual Health, 1(3-4), 271–274. https://doi.org/10.1177/2631831819890768
Poster presentation at World Association of Social Psychiatry/ RCPsych World Congress, London on ‘Treatment seekers profile at tertiary specialty clinic for problematic technology use in an urban set up in India’ held from 16-18th January, 2023
Paper presentation at the 8th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions (ICBA, 2023) on the topic ‘Emotional & behavioral difficulties among adolescents engaging in excessive internet use’ held at Incheon, South Korea from 23-25 August, 2023
Received the ICMR-International Travel Grant Support to attend the "" The 8th International Conference of Behavioral Addiction (ICBA, 2023), Incheon, South Korea, 23-25 August, 2023"", as recommended by the Expert Committee/Competent Authority of ICMR.
Presented two online sessions as an expert speaker for DPS E-city 8th- 10th Grade students on the topic ‘The Age of Technology: Where is it taking us’ on 28th October 2021.
Presented an online session for parents of adolescents on the topic ‘Parenting in the Era of Technology’ on 6th February 2022.
Wrote an excerpt gathering information about ‘Gambling rules in India’ for Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling.
Contributed as an online panelist for the discussion on ‘Creating of Safeguards for our children online’ co-organized by Cyber- Peace Foundation and Missing Link Trust, held in National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
Wrote an article related to Gaming & Esports in school curriculum for Mint Lounge newspaper.
Presented a session on ‘Digital Transformation in Schools & Addressing Technology Addiction among Students: Strategies for School Principals’ at All India Educators Meet for the Principals and Administrators of the Pre-University Colleges/ Senior Secondary Schools held on 4th May 2023 at Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore
