bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of the lived experiences of attachment in relationships for adults with learning disabilities
Authors: Hevesi Rowan , Theodore Kate
Published: January 2023

Background

Research has shown that people with learning disabilities are vulnerable to attachment difficulties, have smaller networks, and experience high levels of isolation and marginalisation. The need for a review gaining people’s subjective perspectives was indicated to offer insight into the lived experience of how attachment develops and what challenges are faced. Objectives: This paper aimed to systematically review and synthesise qualitative studies exploring people with learning disabilities’ experiences of attachment in relationships. Methods: Three databases were accessed to retrieve articles by using relevant search terms. Thematic synthesis was conducted to synthesis the findings across 25 papers using Thomas and Harden’s (2008) three-stage method. Results: In total, 25 studies met the inclusion criteria, with data from 456 people with learning disabilities, with a diverse range of background and levels of functioning. All the studies were classified as moderate to high quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP, 2018) criteria. Thematic synthesis generated four themes: (1) ‘I feel safe’: Attachment safety and significance of relationships (2) Challenges and constraints to attachment, (3) Experiencing loss of attachment and (4) Hopes and desires of attachments within relationships. Conclusions: The findings indicate how caregivers and services could use trauma-informed and attachment-focused approaches. Further research on adult attachment representations is required to build the evidence-base for adults with learning disabilities.
‘So the child feels loved’: Mothers with learning disabilities experience of attachment and emotional relationships with their children
Authors: Hevesi Rowan , Theodore Kate
Published: January 2023

Background

Mothers with learning disabilities are at higher risk of child removal and mental health difficulties and may face more barriers developing attachment relationships with their children. Mothers with learning disabilities’ voices are underrepresented in research and little is known about those who are actively parenting children. This study aimed to explore mothers’ perceptions of developing emotional relationships with their children. Methods: Mothers who were actively parenting were recruited via advocacy groups across the UK. Semi-structured interviews with 10 mothers who self-identified as learning-disabled were analysed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Findings: Three key themes were generated: (1) Understanding and Facilitating Attachment Relationships, (2) Barriers to the Attachment Relationship and (3) Bi-directional Nature of Relationships: Mother Needs Child, Child Needs Mother. Overarching experiences of powerlessness, autonomy and resilience were prominent across mothers’ experiences. Conclusions: Mothers reported the importance of close emotional relationships with their children. Subthemes mirrored attachment theory behaviours, including reciprocity and proximity seeking. Mother-child relationships faced varying challenges including separation and conflict between the mother and child’s-needs. Findings indicate the need to support mothers through a trauma-informed attachment perspective, especially in the context of maternal mental health and child additional needs.
Adapting the protocol for narrative exposure therapy for adults with mild intellectual disabilities
Authors: Marlow Katie , Schröder Thomas , Tickle Anna , Renton Jess
Published: January 2023

Background

Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is a trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2018, to treat posttraumatic stress disorder in adults. There is a lack of research exploring the effectiveness of NET with adults with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study is to develop an adapted version of the NET protocol (IDNET) for use with adults with mild intellectual disability.

Methods

A qualitative research design was employed. Stage one involved systematically adapting the NET protocol for adults with mild intellectual disabilities in collaboration with a service user group comprising eight consultants. Stage two involved gaining professionals’ views on the adapted protocol and on the use of NET in intellectual disability services. This comprised a focus group of eight clinical psychologists specialising in intellectual disabilities and an expert panel of three NET clinicians. The framework approach was conducted on the focus group data only following guidance from a previous study.

Findings

An adapted NET protocol and collection of ‘easy read’ therapy materials were developed (IDNET), which incorporated feedback from the three stakeholder groups. Key concepts of ‘Optimism and motivation to adapt NET for people with mild intellectual disabilities’ and ‘Factors related to NET in practice’ were developed to describe the views of clinical psychologists. A number of issues were raised by professionals regarding the delivery of IDNET.

Conclusions

Professionals were optimistic about IDNET; however, issues raised regarding the delivery of IDNET require exploration when IDNET is trialled in practice. Specific implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.
Developing a fantasy-modification programme in a democratic therapeutic community at HMP Grendon
Authors: Akerman Geraldine
Published: January 2023

This paper briefly describes the development of a fantasy-modification programme designed to integrate skills through which to manage inappropriate sexual or violent fantasies within a democratic therapeutic community (DTC) accredited for offenders. Residents participated in a pilot programme and then continued to discuss how they applied the skills learned as part of their on-going therapy.
Annual DFP Conference June 2011: Conference review III
Authors: Jotangia Amit
Published: January 2023

The conference consisted of many valuable and innovative symposiums, individual papers and keynote speakers. These varied from topics of self harm/suicide; crime linkage; detecting deception; offence paralleling behaviours; multisystemic therapy and sexual/violent and firesetting behaviours/offences. It would be difficult to comment on all of these, but I have reviewed a number that were particularly interesting.
Offence paralleling behaviour and the custodial good life at HMP Grendon
Authors: Akerman Geraldine
Published: January 2023

This paper is a summary of a presentation at the DFP conference discussing what constitutes offence paralleling behaviour (OPB) in a therapeutic community and the opportunity the environment presents to develop and practise a ‘custodial good life’.
Perspective from the dock: Communicating with a vulnerable defendant at Crown Court
Authors: O’Mahony Brendan
Published: January 2023

Using a case study approach, this article will offer a reflective account of how a forensic psychologist can utilise professional skills and training in a secondary role within the criminal justice system, namely as an intermediary. Registered intermediaries (RI) are professionals from backgrounds such as psychology, speech therapy and mental health nursing who have been selected by the Ministry of Justice as suitable to be trained for this additional role during police witness interviews and when vulnerable witnesses give testimony at court. Selected professionals receive five days’ training with barristers from the City Law School in London about the legal processes of working as an RI within the police station and at court. There are approximately 120 registered intermediaries available in England and Wales who were recruited specifically to work with vulnerable witnesses rather than vulnerable defendants (O’Mahony, 2008/9). My interest in the scheme arose four years ago as a result of my interest in policing and the criminal courts as well as my work at the time in working with adults with a learning disability who had been detained in a medium secure unit.
‘Enabling Environments’: The lived experience of Category A prisoners on a Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder unit
Authors: Preston Nina
Published: January 2023

The study explores the lived experience of Category A prisoners on a Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) unit. Specifically the focus was on exploring what core environmental qualities Category A prisoners residing on a DSPD unit consider to be necessary for the unit to be an ‘enabling environment’ based on their actual experience of engaging and residing on the Westgate DSPD unit. A secondary aim of exploring the congruence between participants’ responses and the nine core elements of an ‘enabling environment’ proposed by Johnson and Haigh (2011) was also considered. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method was chosen for this study as it focused on understanding the meaning attributed by participants to their particular lived experience. Four participants (Category A prisoners post-DSPD treatment) were interviewed using semi-structured questions based on existing research. Interviews lasted an hour and were analysed using IPA (Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009), an idiographic method that allows an in-depth analysis of the transcripts. Analysis of the four interviews produced three superordinate themes: identity within a social world, embracing change and maintaining stability throughout change. Participants found the DSPD unit environment provided opportunity, choice and the chance to take personal responsibility for change. Inconsistent rules and lack of transparent decision making were highlighted by participants as factors that imbalanced the overall positive experience of the DSPD unit environment. Additionally, the nine core elements of an ‘enabling environment’ as proposed by Johnson and Haigh (2011) appeared to map onto the emerged three superordinate themes. This is indicative that the actual lived experience of Category A prisoners, meeting criteria for DSPD services, supports that the Westgate DSPD unit has elements of an ‘enabling environment.’ Furthermore, there are implications that the core elements of an ‘enabling environment’ could be considered within the context of three broader themes: encourage identity within a social world, embrace change, and maintain stability throughout change.
A relationship awareness group based in systemic theory in a medium secure setting: Raising the profile of cultural influences
Authors: Lister Matthew
Published: January 2023

This article outlines the pilot of a relationship awareness group carried out in a Forensic Mental Health Medium Secure Service for men, the aim of which was to improve awareness of what impacts on relationships and contribute to skill confidence, knowledge and development.

The context of the group is that it was carried out within a NHS medium secure unit consisting of an admission and a rehabilitation ward for men aged 18 to 65, most of whom are under Section 37/41 of the mental health act having been convicted for offence(s) such as assault (including sexual assault), fire-setting, and manslaughter. The group was developed in response to an identified area of need and a professional interest.
Intimate relationships between female prisoners: Fact or fiction?
Authors: McKeown Annette
Published: January 2023

This paper explores the prevalence of intimate same-sex relationships between female offenders in custody. In the female prison estate, this phenomenon is often discussed but has rarely been studied. The prevalence of relationships between female offenders in custody in the UK is generally unknown and this paper seeks to develop the evidence-base in this under-researched area. In this study, female prisoners (N=92) completed a questionnaire exploring their relationship status; gender of partner; prison relationships; length of current relationship; number of previous relationships and previous relationships with prisoners. Results indicated that of those currently in a relationship, 27 per cent were in a relationship with another female prisoner and eight per cent were in a relationship with a female in the community. Some of the implications of relationships between female offenders are examined including complex risk management issues, duty of care, as well as the function of these relationships.
An exploratory study of the planning and interviewing practices of police recruits in Western Australia
Authors: Tudor-Owen Jane , Scott Adrian J. , Henry Pamela J. , Bull Ray
Published: January 2023

The present study examines the planning and interviewing practices of police recruits engaging in investigative interviews with witnesses. The study analyses how the content of plans and interviews prepared by 23 police recruits changes on four occasions during their training at the Western Australia Police Academy, and whether there is a relationship between the content of plans and interviews. On each occasion, undergraduate students acted as witnesses, watching a short film depicting a mock crime before being interviewed by one of the recruits. To facilitate analysis, the items in plans and the questions and statements in interviews were coded according to what aspect of the PEACE model of interviewing they related (e.g. Engage and explain, Account, clarification and challenge [Account] or Closure). The findings show that recruits emphasise the Account stage in their plans and interviews while neglecting the Engage and explain and Closure stages of the model. Further, findings show an association between the content of plans and interviews, particularly with regard to the Engage and explain stage of the model. Encouragingly, recruits were found to increase the proportion of items relating to the Closure stage in plans and interviews following training. Implications of the findings are discussed with particular regard to their application in training recruits.
Reflecting on transference and countertransference in a forensic inpatient setting: The perspective of three Assistant Psychologists
Authors: Pritchard Amy , McParland Craig , Anderson Daniel
Published: January 2023

Within psychology, reflective practice is an important tool to aid the personal and professional development of the clinician. In this article, three assistant psychologists reflect on their clinical experiences, in the context of the psychodynamic principles of transference and countertransference.
Award recipients 2019
Authors: Gredecki Neil
Published: January 2023

Outlined here are details of DFP members who have been the recipients of various awards and accolades in 2019. These are all great achievements, and as a Division we are very proud of their achievements and the positive way in which they promote the field of forensic psychology.
The impact of proximity on attributions of stalking and motivation
Authors: Simon C Duff , Millie Fuller
Published: January 2023

Research has demonstrated a range of biases in attributions of stalking, some of which appear to place potential victims at greater risk of physical harm. As yet the issue of physical proximity of a potential stalker to a potential victim has not been examined. Two hundred and ten participants responded to a vignette study depicting different levels of physical proximity of a perpetrator and were asked to provide ratings concerning the level of risk and blame that they attributed to the situation, along with their attribution of perpetrator motivation. The results indicate that proximity influences attributions of risk, whereby closer proximity is identified as more risky. However, proximity does not influence attributions of victim blame nor the identified motivation of the perpetrator. Attributions of risk in relation to proximity appear to correspond with clinical data, where greater proximity is more risky. The findings suggest that it is important to consider how proximity may interact with other aspects of stalking, such as previous relationship, to gain a broader understanding of the nature of attributions of risk.
Identifying factors that may influence professional attributions’ towards adolescents with a history of sexual offending: A systematic review
Authors: Martin Aisling
Published: January 2023

For individuals with a history of sexual offending, adolescence has been highlighted as a critical period for intervention, and professional attributions’ have been shown to impact the efficacy of such interventions. The purpose of this review was to systematically identify and critically review studies, which look at professionals working with adolescents with a history of sexual offending (HSO), to explore possible factors that may influence professional attributions, to provide a starting point for future research. Four papers were selected for the systematic review according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Eight factors emerged that indicated relevance towards professional attributions: professionals’ (1) experience, (2) training, (3) personal history, (4) degree of psychological knowledge, (5) ethnicity and (6) gender; and the adolescent’s (7) age and (8) personal history. Directions for future research are discussed, along with the importance of formulation and training in forensic practice.
Identifying factors that may influence professional attributions’ towards adolescents with a history of sexual offending: A systematic review
Authors: Martin Aisling , Watt Kirsty Leanne
Published: January 2023

For individuals with a history of sexual offending, adolescence has been highlighted as a critical period for intervention, and professional attributions’ have been shown to impact the efficacy of such interventions. The purpose of this review was to systematically identify and critically review studies, which look at professionals working with adolescents with a history of sexual offending (HSO), to explore possible factors that may influence professional attributions, to provide a starting point for future research. Four papers were selected for the systematic review according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Eight factors emerged that indicated relevance towards professional attributions: professionals’ (1) experience, (2) training, (3) personal history, (4) degree of psychological knowledge, (5) ethnicity and (6) gender; and the adolescent’s (7) age and (8) personal history. Directions for future research are discussed, along with the importance of formulation and training in forensic practice.
Ethnic variations in admissions to the Children and Young People Secure Estate – A five year retrospective review
Authors: Farooq Romana , Addy Chelsea , Appiah Afua , James Yvonne , Feshki Moj , Kennedy Patrick J.
Published: January 2023

Background:The Children and Young People Secure Estate consists of establishments that accommodate young people, either in a welfare capacity, under Section 25 of the Children’s Act 1989 or detention and sentencing by the criminal courts. There is evidence that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) adults and children are subject to disproportionate admission and detention in secure settings (Corrigall & Bhugra, 2013; Lammy, 2017).

Aims:To explore whether similar trends around disproportionality are evidenced for BAME children and young people accommodated for welfare reasons under the Children’s Act 1989.

Methods:All admissions to a Secure Children’s Home in the north of England over a five year period were analysed. Admissions were solely for welfare reasons. Data was extracted from Section 25 Referral Forms and analysed exploring ethnicity, rates of admission and length of stay.

Results:164 young people were admitted to the Secure Children’s Home over five years. Black young people were 3.9 times more likely to be admitted to the Secure Children’s Home in comparison to their White counterparts. Those identified as Dual/Mixed Heritage were 6.2 times more likely to be admitted compared to children and young people who identified as White. No differences in length of stay were found.

Conclusions:This study is one of the first to explore ethnicity and admission rates for children and young people detained for welfare reasons under the Children’s Act 1989 and found significant disproportionately similar to those that have been documented in other secure settings. Implications for practice and care are outlined.
Enabling effective probation practice using complementary digital media
Authors: Morris Jason
Published: January 2023

This article provides an overview of a recent pilot evaluation of the Skills for Relationships Toolkit (referred to below simply as ‘the toolkit’) (Morris et al., 2021). The toolkit is a technological adjunct designed to support probation practitioners to have conversations that promote positive relationship behaviour. This article provides a brief overview of pilot findings for the toolkit with a summary of the co-production work that underpinned its development. The article also highlights how the toolkit content was re-purposed during the Covid-19 pandemic before signposting future opportunities for digital approaches in supporting desistance.

This article has been adapted from a presentation delivered by the author at the 4th European Conference of Domestic Violence in September 2021
Does work stress predict the occurrence of cold, flu and minor illness symptoms in clinical psychology trainees?
Authors: Phillips Anna , Sheffield David
Published: January 2023

Objectives

The present study examined the three/four-day lagged relationship between daily work stress and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and other minor illness symptoms.

Methods

24 postgraduate clinical psychology trainees completed work stress, cold/flu symptoms and somatic symptoms checklists daily for four weeks.

Results

Increases in work stress were observed two days prior to a cold/flu episode but not three or four days preceding a cold/flu episode. Work stress was unrelated to peaks in somatic symptom reporting.

Conclusions

There was some evidence of a lagged relationship between work stress and symptoms, but not of the expected duration, suggesting that the relationship between work stress and URTI symptoms was not mediated by the immune system.
Excessive negative affect and deficient positive affect in anxiety and depression: Balancing the valences in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Authors: Goodchild Claire E. , Platts Rosemary G. , Treharne Gareth J. , Booth David A.
Published: January 2023

In the widely used Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) most of the items forming the Depression subscale use terms for a pleasant state of mind, whereas most of the items in the Anxiety subscale mention aversive states. Thus the constructs assessed may relate respectively to absence of positive affect and presence of negative affect, rather than to the different sorts of affect intended. In the present study this hypothesis was partly supported by factor analyses of responses to the HADS in a healthy group and in a group with the rheumatic disease Sjögren’s syndrome. Re-analysis showed that it may be feasible to create an eight-item instrument that distinguishes anxiety items from depression items while having items with positive valence in equal number to items with negative valence in each subscale. Patients’ own descriptions and categorisations of such items should be used to develop an affect-balanced and somatic-free inventory that then may be able to separate anxiety from depression among healthy and physically ill populations.
Satisfaction of patients on dialysis and after renal transplant with the service in a North East regional renal unit
Authors: Orr Anne H. , Finn Paul , Britton Peter G. , Holmes Mike
Published: January 2023

Objectives

This study investigated renal patients’ satisfaction with the service, comparing age, gender, time since transplant, kidney function level and locus of control.

Method

122 successful transplantees, 15 failed transplantees and 28 dialysing patients participated. Each respondent completed the Renal Service Satisfaction Questionnaire (RSSQ), Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) (Form C) and demographic questionnaire.

Results

The successfully transplanted group showed greatest satisfaction (p<0.01) on the RSSQ overall, and specifically with information, advice consistency, waiting times and staff accessibility (all p<0.01). Those transplanted more recently were more satisfied with information and resource availability (p<0.05), older patients were more satisfied with waiting times and resource availability while those with poorest kidney function were more satisfied with staff accessibility (p<0.01). On the MHLC externals were more satisfied with information, access to staff and patients and medical arrangements. Internals were more satisfied with waiting times.

Conclusion

Older and more recently transplanted patients were more satisfied, as were those with external locus of control.
The development of a self–discrepancy scale for use with women
Authors: Haywood Annette , Slade Pauline , King Helen
Published: January 2023

Objectives:

Many studies have examined the role of self-esteem and its influence on mental health. This has been raised as of particular interest in the women’s health literature spanning both the postnatal and premenstrual milieu. There are, however, a lack of quick and easy to complete, self-discrepancy measures available. Based on Higgins, Klein and Strauman’s (1985) ‘Selves Questionnaire’, a 14-item scale was developed to focus on the discrepancy between two self states, actual/own and ideal/own, which would be applicable to women with children.

Design:

Phase one of this study outlines the process of scale development, whilst phase two presents the results of the scale’s performance utilising a large community sample of women with young children (who were not involved in phase one).

Results:

The scale has sound internal and test-retest reliability and appropriate content validity as it is grounded in women’s own descriptions the person they believe they are and would ideally like to be. Furthermore, correlations with a well-validated perfectionism scale and an anxiety and depression measure supports the scale’s construct validity. To lend weight to the scale’s overall validity, a Principal Components Analysis revealed a clear differentiation between actual and ideal self-concept items.

Conclusions:

Unlike many self-concept measures, this scale is not dependent upon the presence of the researcher for its completion and would be of benefit for both clinical and research purposes.
Waking on the operating table: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of anaesthetic awareness
Authors: Whitehead Emma , Brown Katherine E. , Giles David
Published: January 2023

Quantitative research has identified many common features of anaesthetic awareness, including anxiety and auditory perceptions. However, there is a poverty of literature using qualitative techniques to investigate this experience. The present study aimed to address this. Two women who had regained consciousness during surgery were interviewed about their experiences. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, four themes emerged from the interview transcripts. They were: powerlessness, taking control, development of new fears, and resistance. These themes demonstrate that anaesthetic awareness is experienced more profoundly than existing literature illustrates. The present research has implications for the care of patients reporting awareness and also the staff responsible.
Establishing the effectiveness of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for secondary/tertiary mental health care service users with and without physical co-morbidities
Authors: Learmonth Despina , Rai Sadik
Published: January 2023

Given the intricate link between the soma and the psyche, this study sought to identify whether the presence of physical co-morbidities among sufferers of depression altered the impact of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT). Five-hundred-and-ninety service users used Beating the Blues (BtB) - an established CCBT programme - in an NHS specialist CBT unit. A control group, a standard intervention group, and a physical co-morbidity intervention group were compared on pre- and post-Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) scores. Statistically significant differences on the BDI-II were found between the control group and each of the intervention groups, but not between the intervention groups themselves. A quarter of BtB completers in each intervention group achieved reliable and clinically significant change and were said to be ‘recovered.’ A further 23.8 per cent of the standard intervention group and 26.8 per cent of the physical co-morbidity group showed reliable improvement. These findings provide compelling evidence that CCBT may be of value to service users presenting with a variety of physical co-morbidities and depression at all levels of mental health care.
Support, information and identity: Online discussions of male breast cancer patients
Authors: McGill Monica , McVittie Chris
Published: January 2023

The experiences of men diagnosed with breast cancer remain poorly understood. Knowledge to date is based largely upon studies of female breast cancer patients or is derived from contexts that do not encourage discussion of sensitive issues. We report findings from an exploratory study of naturally-occurring discussions of male patients, posted on an internet forum. Participants perceived a need for more genderspecific support and information. A further main concern related to issues of masculine identity, in that participants had been diagnosed with a condition that was serious but also widely regarded as being relevant only for women. The consequent challenges to masculine identities present challenges not just for patients but also for researchers. Closer examination of internet forums offers one way of accessing discussions of such sensitive issues and of generating greater understanding of the experiences of male patients.
‘Health Psychology In Focus’: A review of the 2008 postgraduate workshop
Authors: Taylor Natalie , Ashley Laura , Forster Alice , Llewellyn Clare , Lloyd Gareth , Martin Jilly , Vangeli Eleni , Webber Laura
Published: January 2023

Held by the DHP Postgraduate Subcommittee and BREATHE, July 2008, University College London.
An interview with … Professor Joop van der Pligt
Authors: Hobbs Nicola
Published: January 2023

Nicola Hobbs interviewed keynote speaker Professor Joop van der Pligt from the University of Amsterdam at the Annual DHP Conference.
Professional Issues – DHP Conference Bursary: The role of Continuing Professional Development in the health professions
Authors: Carroll Janine
Published: January 2023

Professionalism is not a new concept within the health professions and focusing on developing professional behaviour, attitudes and values is important to both society and health professionals. Many regulatory bodies offer principles of professionalism and guidance regarding how these can be achieved and upheld (e.g. the General Medical Council, the British Psychological Society, etc.). However, professionalism is difficult to define and as a result, difficult to measure and assess. Despite this, it appears to be generally accepted that professionalism is important in the daily practice of health professionals. This reportwill consider some of the evidence regarding the impact of professional development on those working within the health profession.
Research: The psychological impact of facial burn scars as a result of non-accidental injury in children
Authors: Cadogan Julia
Published: January 2023

The following article will address the issues faced by children who are facially scarred as a result of non-accidental burn injuries and present a case study of a child who was supported by professionals in health and education.
Living in the past? Time perspective and spirituality as predictors of successful rehabilitation in problem drinkers
Authors: Davies Sarah , Kinman Gail
Published: January 2023

Time perspective (TP) refers to an individual’s way of relating to the past, present and future. Although there is evidence that TP is a valid predictor of negative health–related behaviours, little is known about its role in rehabilitation. This study examined relationships between TP orientations and three indices of rehabilitation (length of abstinence, compulsive desire to drink alcohol, and anxiety) in a sample of 101 recovering alcoholics (52 per cent male) attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The role of spirituality in predicting rehabilitation outcomes was also examined. Findings revealed that past negative, present hedonistic and present fatalistic oriented TPs were associated with poorer rehabilitation outcomes, whereas past positive TP was related to better outcomes. Spirituality related to specific TP dimensions and appeared to be a protective factor in the successful management of problem drinking. How the findings of this study might inform the development of interventions to aid rehabilitation in problem drinkers is discussed.
Reflections on being employed in the NHS while an MSc in Health Psychology student
Authors: Bedford Laura , Townend Ellen
Published: January 2023

This article discusses applied experiences available to students on MSc in Health Psychology courses at two Universities in Scotland. An NHS bursary scheme established at the University of St Andrews is also described. The authors give their personal accounts of this bursary scheme and discuss the importance of organised opportunities for applied experiences during training in health psychology.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness in Clinical Health Psychology
Authors: Beck Charlotte
Published: January 2023

A review of a British Psychological Society training workshop facilitated by Professor Lance McCracken.
Defining emotional responses in the Common Sense Self–Regulation Model of Illness – examined in the context of diabetes mellitus
Authors: Hudson Joanna
Published: January 2023

The Common Sense Self–Regulation Model (CS–SRM) of illness has made a significant contribution to our understanding of how a person’s cognitive illness representation provides a framework to inform their response to the health threat. Far less research has explored the role of a person’s emotional response to the health threat. This may be because of a less detailed conceptualisation in the CS–SRM of what an emotional response to a health threat consists of. This article explores the types of emotional responses that occur in long–term conditions focussing particularly on diabetes mellitus. It identifies the challenges in the measurement of emotional responses and provides suggestions for a clearer definition of emotional responses to health threats for the CS–SRM.
Evaluation of a mindfulness–based group intervention for individuals experiencing chronic pain
Authors: Wyatt Caroline , Ashton Amy , Regan Joanne
Published: January 2023

Research has increasingly investigated the use of mindfulness practice by individuals living with chronic pain conditions. The current study aimed to explore the practical implications of introducing mindfulness in a hospital setting, and to understand the experience and perceived consequences of brief mindfulness training. Attendees on a mindfulness–based pain management group were invited to take part in two facilitated focus groups. A total of 13 service-users participated and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. In addition, an evaluation questionnaire was completed by 34 attendees and analysed thematically. Using the combined data, seven key themes were identified. Three themes related to the practicalities of learning mindfulness:setting(the advantages and drawbacks of being based within an outpatient department);group format(the benefits of learning mindfulness with others); and ‘selling’ the concept(the way in which the group was introduced to participants upon referral). Four themes pertained to the role of mindfulness in the perception and management of pain:acceptance and awareness(developing a conscious recognition and understanding of pain and reactions to pain);pacing(recognising more easily when over activity was detrimental);mental attitude(feeling less negatively towards their pain); andperception of control(participants’ sense that they could use mindfulness as a tool to manage their pain). It was concluded that participants identified several benefits from practicing mindfulness, particularly in their perceived level of control of long–term pain symptoms. However, consideration must be paid to the suitability of outpatient hospital settings for such groups, and potential alternatives investigated.
Multiple medical conditions: Implications for health psychology research
Authors: Sharry Jenny Mc
Published: January 2023

Western populations are ageing and, together with improved survival rates from medical conditions that were once fatal, has resulted in a growing number of people living with multiple medical conditions (Salisbury, 2012). This article will provide an overview of the conceptual issues and prevalence of multiple conditions and consider the consequences for patient outcome and health care provision. The role of health psychology research in addressing the challenges associated with this increasing health phenomenon will also be considered
Implementation of guidelines: An online survey for the Department of Health Respiratory Team
Authors: Chapman Beatrice , Huber Jörg
Published: January 2023

This survey aimed to ascertain the current level of awareness amongst health care professionals (HCPs), working for or with Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), of the work the Respiratory Programme has carried out to date to understand: (i) the perceived usefulness of the guidelines and tools; (ii) how these are being implemented locally; and (iii) what further support is required to improve implementation. An anonymous online survey was developed; the theory of planned behaviour informed the questionnaire design. 100 respondents attempted the survey; usable data was available for around 75 HCPs due to missing data. The findings highlighted the usefulness of the TPB for evaluating HCPs perspectives on guidelines and tools. Awareness of guidelines was high; the same applies to their perceived usefulness and importance. Additionally specific barriers to and support for implementation were identified.
Online research methods: An interview with Dr Neil Coulson
Authors: Coulson Neil , Williams Sophie
Published: January 2023

Dr Neil Coulson, Associate Professor in Health Psychology at the University of Nottingham, is at the forefront of online research methodologies. His primary research interests explore the role of online support communities, online surveys, and the role of social networking sites for people with a range of health conditions. As part of the Working Party on Internet Mediated Research (a committee of the British Psychological Society Research Board), Dr Coulson has recently helped to revise the Ethics Guidelines for Conducting Internet Mediated Research.
Realising the potential for delivering health psychology interventions via smartphone ‘apps’: Consideration of health equalities, effectiveness and implementation
Authors: Bartle Naomi C. , Wallace Louise M. , Curtis Kristina
Published: January 2023

Smartphone apps appear to be the next stage of the ‘technology revolution’, promising to deliver higher quality and cost–effective health and lifestyle support. Health psychologists are increasingly interested in smartphone apps as a method of delivering health services and behaviour change interventions, demonstrated by symposia on the topic at both the Division of Health Psychology (DHP) and Public Health England (PHE) Annual Conferences in 2013. Apps have been shown to have the potential to deliver health–behaviour change interventions (Curtis & Karasouli, 2014). However, questions remain as to how best this potential can be realised. Previously, Murray has discussed the pitfalls and challenges of using web–based interventions for self–management and behaviour change. She discussed three central issues that arise from using technology to deliver such interventions including the potential to increase health inequalities, the challenges of demonstrating whether interventions are effective, and barriers to implementing effective interventions into services (Murray, 2012). This paper will consider the issues of equity, effectiveness and implementation specifically in relation to smartphone apps.
The application of psychological methods, models and theories to the understanding of health in the pregnancy and postpartum period: A review of a BPS–funded seminar series
Authors: Currie Sinéad , Atkinson Lou
Published: January 2023

Health psychology expertise has the potential to help and support pregnant women engage in positive health behaviours. However, this expertise is rarely implemented in standard antenatal care. In a bid to address the lack of health psychology application and expertise in this area, Dr Debbie Smith (The University of Manchester) and Dr Ellinor Olander (City University London) were awarded a research seminar grant from the British Psychological Society (BPS), allowing academics and health professionals interested in the area of maternal health psychology to meet and identify how health psychology can be implemented and developed for this population. This paper will provide a review of three BPS–funded seminars which were held over the course of 2014. The specific view point of two postgraduate students will be presented, outlining theexperiences and benefits of involvement in the group.
Patient activation and outcome in pulmonary rehabilitation
Authors: Hemingway Belinda
Published: January 2023

Background

This respiratory service improvement project explored the relationship between patient activation and outcome in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Method

: Activation was assessed using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM), as part of pre– and post–assessment questionnaires. Measures of depression (PHQ–9) and anxiety (GAD–7) routinely given were also included. Baseline scores for those that completed pulmonary rehabilitation were compared with those that did not.

Findings

Results showed a significant difference in pre– and post–assessment PAM scores for patients completing (p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences between those completing and those who did not. Significant differences were found for pre– and post–assessment scores for depression (p<0.001) and anxiety (p<0.05), and those not completing were significantly more depressed (p<0.005) and anxious (p<0.05) than those completing the programme.

Discussion

This project, therefore, found that completion of pulmonary rehabilitation can improve outcomes for patient activation, depression and anxiety. The PAM was not able to predict whether a patient will complete pulmonary rehabilitation, but currently used measures for depression and anxiety were. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of action, but this project could help inform the development of targeted psychological interventions to support respiratory patients.
Contribution of health psychology to clinical health settings: An integrative approach to health care
Authors: Taylor Elaina
Published: January 2023

This article begins by discussing the contribution of health psychology to clinical settings, before examining the application of health psychology to a cardiology outpatient clinic from the view of Consultant Cardiologist, and Clinical Lead in cardiac electrophysiology research, Professor Mark O’Neill. Professor O’Neill is also a placement supervisor for MSc Health Psychology students from King’s College London and describes how these placements have affected the cardiology out–patient clinic and patient management.
Reflections on the EHPS/DHP conferenc
Authors: Malaguti Amy
Published: January 2023

With Scotland taking centre stage in the European Health Psychology scene, Amy Malaguti, trainee health psychologist, looks back at the conference highlights and reflects on what’s ahead.
The importance of acknowledging cognitive representations among children and young people with a chronic illness: An illustration from paediatric multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bear Holly , Carroll Susan , Moss-Morris Rona
Published: January 2023

This article summarises a research project ‘The cognitive, behavioural, and affective factors associated with fatigue severity and fatigue-related impairment in paediatric multiple sclerosis’, undertaken as part of my MSc in Health Psychology at King’s College London in 2016. The project was nested within a larger PhD undertaken by Susan Carroll, under the supervision of Professor Rona Moss-Morris, Professor Trudie Chalder, Dr Cheryl Hemingway, and Dr Isobel Heyman. The research was funded by the MS Society UK. I will provide a reflective account of the ways in which this project and the MSc have shaped and informed my thinking and approach to my PhD in the field of child and adolescent mental health at University College London, within the Evidence Based Practice Unit.
What is acceptance, and how could it affect health outcomes for people receiving renal dialysis?
Authors: Stalker Carol , Elander James , Mitchell Kathryn , Taal Maarten W , Selby Nicholas M , Stewart Paul
Published: January 2023

Renal dialysis is a life-saving treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) but is burdensome, invasive and expensive. Patients’ experiences of dialysis and the outcomes of their treatment could potentially be improved by focusing on ‘acceptance’. However, the concept of acceptance has been used in different ways. This article examines ways that acceptance has been conceptualised in research on chronic illness generally and ESRD specifically, and makes proposals for research to understand better what acceptance means for people with ESRD. The aim is to assist the development of acceptance-related measures and interventions to support people with ESRD.
Health psychology and acronyms: Defining a well-PACED profession and an A-Z guide to Stage 2 health psychology training
Authors: Smith Jan
Published: January 2023

Over the last decade, there has been increasing attention on the identity and role of health psychologists (Hamlet et al., 2017; Hilton & Johnston, 2017), including stage 2 training experiences (Hemingway, 2014; Jenkinson & Naqvi, 2013; Tonk, 2001), both within the NHS (Gilinsky, 2011; Marks, 2011; Smith, 2017) and public health settings (Bunten, 2015). Such discussions suggest a need for further clarity on the work and training experiences of health psychologists. Here, Dr Jan Smith, a former trainee health psychologist, outlines key work undertaken by many health psychologists using a new acronym: PACED, and presents her A–Z guide of Stage 2 Health Psychology training experiences.
The development of a group smoking cessation intervention for offenders
Authors: Dugdale Stephanie
Published: January 2023

As a requirement of the Stage 2 Health Psychology training, candidates must design, deliver, and evaluate a psychological intervention. For this, I worked with offenders from a prison in the North West of England, and produced a group intervention to help the offenders stop smoking, alongside the recent implementation of a prison smoking ban. This article summaries the intervention and provides a description of how I used the Behaviour Change Wheel to design my intervention, by matching the content to offenders’ needs. Reflections of my experience conducting this intervention are also highlighted.