bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Working with people with dementia to develop technology: The CIRCA and Living in the Moment projects
Authors: Astell Arlene , Alm Norman , Gowans Gary , Ellis Maggie , Dye Richard , Campbell Jim , Vaughan Phil
Published: January 2023

The potential for technology to play a role in the care of people with dementia is increasingly being recognised. This paper describes two projects carried out by a multidisciplinary research team to develop technology to address the psychosocial needs of people with dementia. In the CIRCA project we developed an interactive multimedia computer system usable by people with dementia to support them in shared social activity with caregivers. In the Living in the Moment project we have been working with people with dementia to develop engaging and enjoyable activities for them to carry out independently on the computer.
Conceptualizing bereavement: An ecological reply to Wendon-Blixrud
Authors: Duckett Stéphane
Published: January 2023

I here offer in a complimentary reply to Wendon-Blixrud’s excellent paper (PSIGE Newsletter, 103, 11–18), presenting another interpretative explanation of the experience of bereavement which attempts to explain why on a subjective basis we find the loss of another so wrenching.
Psychological treatments for reactivated post-traumatic distress among older adults
Authors: Hiskey Syd
Published: January 2023

This paper highlights existing literature on psychological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reactivated in later life. Unfortunately, empirical research to guide choice of therapy is sparse and mostly lacks supporting data. Those treating this particular presentation are, therefore, left to apply national clinical guidelines, developed for working age adults, while remaining aware of some of the psychological issues unique to the elderly.
How do you evaluate an informal support group? A pilot example from stroke rehabilitation
Authors: Dewar Sophie J. , Jenkins Jana , Kneebone Ian I.
Published: January 2023

In order to justify the use of limited resources there is an increasing demand to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions within the health service. Despite this, the literature indicates that designing and implementing effective evaluations is difficult and often poorly done. Further, clinicians’ negative perceptions of research may discourage evaluation, resulting in practice that is primarily based on clinical intuition. The current article describes the rationale behind the development of a pilot evaluation strategy for an informal inpatient and carer stroke support group. It is concluded that appropriate evaluation should be determined by the purpose and nature of the intervention under examination as well the persons involved. Furthermore, it is suggested that valuable feedback regarding clinical practice need not involve time-consuming and complex evaluation.
Training about incorporating psychosocial issues into routine care following a stroke – developing a six-piece-jigsaw: What do staff think and is it being used?
Authors: Attfield Rachel , Wallace David
Published: January 2023

The ‘Six-Piece-Jigsaw’ is a clinical tool designed to help staff think about the holistic presentation of clients. Here, we present an evaluation of how the six-piece jigsaw was received by 10 members of staff working in hospital with people who had survived a stroke. This project was conducted as part of the first author’s clinical psychology doctorate. Participants were interviewed about their perception of the training introducing the six-piece-jigsaw. Using thematic analysis, three superordinate themes that emerged were:

Elements of the training found to be useful (for the service, team, patient and participant);

Barriers to implementing the six-piece-jigsaw;

Ideas for the future.

The medical notes of 17 patients of the staff participants were also referred to and used to find any objective evidence of use of the six-piece-jigsaw. Whilst participants considered psycho-social issues to be important for over half of the patients whose medical notes were scanned, these were not documented in all cases. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
Making the case for specialist services for older people: Evidence for the prevention and management of aggression
Authors: Stewart Inga , Knight Caroline
Published: January 2023

St Andrew’s Healthcare – Townsend, has come to specialise in meeting the needs of people primarily over the age of 55 who present with challenging mental health problems. These older people have extremely complex needs due to a mixture of forensic, psychiatric, cognitive and physical problems, and many have challenging behaviour including frequent and severe aggression. St Andrew’s Healthcare – Townsend works to reduce risk and maximise the function and quality of life of patients, whilst ensuring the best possible support for autonomy and dignity.

The Overt Aggression Scale – Modified for Neurorehabilitation (OAS-MNR) offers continuous direct observation and assessment of antecedents, contexts and interventions, as well as a record of the type and severity of aggression from clearly defined categories. This tool has been effectively utilised with older people in routine audit, whilst providing valuable feedback to patients, staff, relatives and commissioners.

Three years previously the OAS-MNR had provided data to audit the aggressive behaviour exhibited at St Andrew’s Healthcare – Townsend. The audit captured a substantial amount of aggression, the severity of which was comparable with younger brain injury populations. In doing so, it facilitated in validating the clear need for specialist services for older people and ensuring that the resources necessary to sustain these services were considered. It also offered a means for addressing risk management.

Following on from this audit a ‘Prevention and Management of Aggression’ working group (PMAG) was formed to produce an action plan to further review how to reduce or manage the level of identified aggression. The outcome of this group is discussed in order to share our ideas, deliberations and challenges, and to promote best practice. The questions of ‘Prevention’, ‘Management and Treatment’ and ‘Support for Staff’ are examined. These are evaluated in the context of a re-audit of the aggressive behaviour exhibited by the patient group and captured on the OAS-MNR. Opportunities for service development and further research are also discussed.
Filling the Void: How can we improve the effectiveness of groups to help people manage their memory difficulties?
Authors: Dansey Diane , Leonard Lucy
Published: January 2023

We describe the development and formal evaluation of a group for older people with memory problems. The group aimed to help members develop skills and coping strategies to manage their day-to-day memory problems more effectively and incorporated strategies to maximise the potential of the group over the seven to eight week duration. The group has run four times to date, with a total of 33 members, from a range of ethnic groups. The outcomes were positive and we discuss which measures may best capture the work of the group.
Evaluating the effectiveness of training using operationalised scoring criteria for the Mini Mental State Examination
Authors: Moss Susanna , Barker Helen
Published: January 2023

This paper reports the findings of a piece of small-scale research undertaken by the first author during her older adult trainee placement in 2006. The research emerged following discussions between the team regarding the marked fluctuations observed within client’s MMSE scores, largely hypothesised to be dependent upon differences in staff administration and scoring style.

The MMSE is a widely used cognitive screening tool. It is suggested that the lack of standardised training in utilising the MMSE has contributed to the development of idiosyncratic scoring and administration, thereby threatening the reliability of MMSE scores. The current research aimed to establish whether variance in scoring criteria exists within the current service area (Old Age Psychiatry), and whether any variance may be reduced through training in locally defined operationalised scoring criteria. Participants were asked to score a video-taped actor completing the MMSE before training and after training. Thirteen participants attended one of four training sessions. Results illustrated variance in scores before training and a significant reduction in variance following training. Post-training participants were noted to score the MMSE more conservatively. The results of this investigation concur with findings of previous published studies, and suggest that if the MMSE is still in use within services*, training using operationalised scoring criteria should be provided locally if MMSE scoring is to be consistent.
‘Where are all the older people?’ They’re not here either. Referral rates of over- and under-65s in Dumfries & Galloway
Authors: Robson Anna , Higgon John
Published: January 2023

Here we report an audit of the number of older adult and working-age adult referrals to the Dumfries & Galloway Psychological Services and Research department (hereafter referred to as ‘Psychological Services’) over a 15-month period. Although older adults comprised 25.3 per cent of the local population we found that they accounted for just 8.9 per cent of referrals to Psychological Services. Working-age adults were between three and four times more likely to be referred to Psychological Services than older-age adults. This finding lends further support to the hypothesis that ageist practices result in under-referral of older adults relative to working age adults.

The finding of relative under-referral in Glasgow, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway, together with the lack of any contrary findings, suggests the likely existence of a trend throughout Scotland toward under-referral of older adults to psychological therapies.
A hospital-based peer support group for stroke survivors and their carers
Authors: Morris Reg , Morris Paula
Published: January 2023

Objective:The aim was to examine stroke survivors’ and carers’ experiences of peer support groups during hospital-based rehabilitation.

Design:Retrospective assessment using qualitative methodology; Inductive Thematic Analysis supplemented by questionnaire ratings.

Setting:A hospital stroke rehabilitation unit.

Participants:Seven stroke survivors and three carers who had attended at least two open group sessions.

Method:Semi-structured interviews were recorded and analysed by inductive thematic analysis to obtain ‘in-depth’ information. Participants also answered questions taken from a standardised therapeutic factors questionnaire.

Results:Five main themes emerged. Three were related to group processes; practical issues (three sub-themes), staff presence, similarity-difference, comparison to other group members. The fourth, value of peers (five sub-themes), was mainly concerned with beneficial outcomes. In the main participants were positive about processes and outcomes. Only the similarity-difference theme and four sub-themes of ‘value of peers’ were related to items from the therapeutic factors questionnaire. The therapeutic factors questionnaire revealed a consensus about several statements that did not emerge as themes; feeling secure in the group, being able to express emotions, helping others and increased independence.

Conclusions:Participation in the group brought a number of benefits including helpful information, advice, new connections and increased awareness of stroke. Informants identified a number of important group processes, and distinguished between helpful and unhelpful aspects in a way that permitted recommendations for change to be formulated. Responses to the therapeutic factors inventory suggested that attendance brought some therapeutic benefits, but the emergence of themes unrelated to therapeutic factors indicated that it had a broad impact.
Managing bereavement: A consultation with the nursing staff of a medical ward for older people
Authors: Stirk Helen , Kneebone Ian , Penn Donna
Published: January 2023

A consultation took place with nursing staff of a medical ward for older people to establish guidance on managing bereavement. Recommendations were developed for the support of relatives and to assist staff reactions.
Trainee guidance on the use of case formulations for older people
Authors: James Ian A. , Clifford Mary , Mackenzie Anne Lorna
Published: January 2023

This article summarises advice given to trainees and students on placement at the Newcastle Psychology Service regarding the use of formulation frameworks. The first section deals with the principles of formulation, and the second examines the processes involved in choosing the most appropriate framework to use. Much of the material is taken from a chapter from the first author’s text on CBT for older people (James, 2010).
Ward C: A formulation-based service development project
Authors: Hickman Gareth , Crawford-Docherty Anne
Published: January 2023

This article describes a service development project on an inpatient dementia ward, which had previously received no psychological input. A description of the assessment and formulation strategy informing the proposed intervention plan is provided. The authors’ reflections on the process are offered.
A review of clinical supervision in a cold and demanding climate
Authors: Gibbons Holly
Published: January 2023

In a time where proven outcomes and cost effectiveness are paramount within the National Health Service, and where pressures from increasing scrutiny of worker activities continue, the regular and effective practice of clinical supervision may conflict with these target driven agendas. This review looks to recent and relevant literature to consider how the current practice of clinical supervision may be affected and how supervision could, in fact, facilitate efficiency in context with the current cultural and economic climate of health care services.
Simulated Presence Therapy: A psychological approach to challenging behaviour in dementia care
Authors: Andargachew Sara
Published: January 2023

This is an overview of a psychological approach to agitation in people with dementia, called Simulated Presence Therapy (SPT). I will begin by reviewing the literature on the topic and will go on to illustrate the technique using a case example. Any potential identifying information about this client has been changed.
A toe in the water: Person-centred counselling approaches to working with people with dementia
Authors: Bruce-Hay Pamela , Dodds Penny , Stapleton Sally , Crellin Clare
Published: January 2023

Written by three different authors from three different professional backgrounds this article shows the varied ways in which the Person Centred Approach to working with people with dementia is being used in Sussex. The authors, Pamela Bruce-Hay, a Person-Centred Counsellor at Salvington Lodge Hospital, Worthing, Penny Dodds, a Nursing Lecturer Practitioner in West Sussex, and Sally Stapleton, a Clinical Psychologist in Worthing and West Sussex travelled along very different paths each developing a distinctive approach to Person-Centred practice. In the article which follows, Penny Dodds introduces Prouty’s Pre-Therapy Contact Reflections as the framework from which she teaches day care and ward staff how to make contact and emotional connection with people with dementia. Pamela Bruce-Hay has integrated Prouty, Lipinska and Kitwood into her one-to-one counselling. She shows how she succeeds in helping clients with dementia to establish contact with reality, with themselves, and with another. Sally Stapleton has drawn on her training as a Dementia Care Mapper in developing a person-centred approach to neuropsychological assessment. She is also involved in bringing about an organisational and local ‘tide of change’ through developing psychological mindedness based on Kitwood’s principles. In this article, each of the three authors shares a unique experience of trying to step into the world of the person with dementia that they are working with, an experience that they collectively describe as trying to ‘dip our toes in the water’. These are highly personal and person-centred accounts that are nonetheless based on clearly articulated theoretical positions.
Atypical presentations in a typical memory clinic: The possibilities for rehabilitation
Authors: Poz Rebecca
Published: January 2023

The role of the neuropsychologist within a memory clinic is often diagnostic, and the National Dementia Strategy (DH, 2009) stresses the importance of early diagnosis. The availability of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors has added a new dimension to dementia services over the last decade. From early 2012 the UK patents for galantamine, donepezil and rivastigmine expire and with the re-appraisal of NICE guidance in March 2011 to incorporate the prescribing of memantine for the later stages of Alzheimer’s, as well as recommending donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine as options for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in the mild stages; the voice of those advocating for non-pharmacological approaches within memory clinics may need to be louder than normal. Pharmacological treatments have clearly improved the experience for many people with dementia, but memory clinics, and psychologists in particular, continue to play a crucial role in the early treatment of people for whom acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are either not indicated or not beneficial.

This paper presents the case study of a patient referred to our memory clinic with a complex and atypical presentation and the formulation-based interventions that were provided.
Dual tasking and executive functioning in healthy ageing, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Foley Jennifer A.
Published: January 2023

Our understanding of the executive system has moved away from its initial conceptualisation as a unitary system towards assuming that there are several different executive functions. However, the precise nature and number of these executive functions remains unclear. This paper discusses various putative frameworks of the executive system and illustrates how the different executive functions are affected by healthy ageing, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Using neuropsychological assessment to predict everyday functioning in Alzheimer’s dementia
Authors: Monaci Linda , Morris Robin
Published: January 2023

The use of neuropsychological assessment beyond diagnosis is related partly to the extent to which it can indicate everyday function. This study investigates whether the associations between neuropsychological functioning, activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) change over an 18- to 24-month follow-up, exploring whether these change with dementia progression.

Thirty-four patients with probable Alzheimer’s disease were assessed at baseline and again after between 18 and 24 months. Neuropsychological function was assessed using the revised Cambridge Cognitive Examination, which includes within it the Mini Mental State Examination and an executive function scale. ADL and IADL were also measured, together with background neuropsychiatric features by using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.

Pearson correlations between the measures of daily functioning and cognitive abilities and neuropsychiatric symptoms showed that initially neuropsychological test results tended to correlate with IADL rather than ADL measures. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were not correlated whether IADL or ADL. At follow-up, none of the neuropsychological function measures correlated with IADL or ADL, but neuropsychiatric symptoms were correlated with IADL.

At baseline, neuropsychological function is associated with IADL but not ADL. At follow-up, the association between neuropsychological function and IADL diminishes, and associations between neuropsychiatric disturbances and IADL emerge.
Advice from the Editorial Collective to contributors
Authors: Priest Penny
Published: January 2023

This article was first published inClinical Psychology Forum, 227, November 2011. Thanks are due to the Editorial Collective ofClinical Psychology Forumfor allowing us to reprint the article.
Dementia and the impact on carers
Authors: Duprey Jennie
Published: January 2023

‘You’re as sick as they are but you’re not getting the support they are.’

Exploring the views of relatives and carers in relation to the design of a carer support group offered by an older-adult inpatient ward.

This mixed-methods service-based study aimed to explore the views of relatives and carers in relation to the design of a support group offered by an organic mental health older adult inpatient ward.
The Happy Crowd
Authors: Osborne Jessica , Kusel Yvette
Published: January 2023

This article aims to outline our experience and reflections of planning, running and evaluating of a Post-Diagnostic Support Group for individuals with recently diagnosed dementia.
Fear of dementia – implications for assessment and intervention in a Memory Clinic Service
Authors: Addy Karen B.E.
Published: January 2023

Cognitive decline associated with ageing is a common cause for anxiety within the older adult age group. Often patients will be referred to services with concerns about memory loss and in some case suffering significant emotional and functional problems as a result of a fear of the meaning of memory lapses. This paper explores three cases of patients with a fear of dementia in which the patients’ functional ability was impaired as a result of their interpretation of memory decline as a sign of dementia. Three patients attended a memory clinic service and completed a neuropsychological assessment which indicated no evidence of cognitive decline. Psychological assessment suggested specific health anxiety related to dementia. A cognitive behavioural intervention was completed. Each reported significant functional improvement and a reduction in memory related anxiety. A cognitive model exploring the interaction between memory loss and anxiety is proposed and the implications for the treatment of such patients are discussed with areas for further research highlighted.
Care staff’s endorsement of national guidelines on the use of non-pharmacological treatments as first-line strategies in the treatment of CB
Authors: MacGregor Bryony , Mackenzie Lorna , Hope Angela
Published: January 2023

The Newcastle Challenging Behaviour Service treats approximately 200 residents per annum displaying challenging behaviours. It uses a non-pharmacological approach, commonly known as the Newcastle Model (James, 1999). Medication is an important part of its treatment regimen, but consistent with recent reports, its use is rationalised in line with national guidance and is a second-line treatment (National Dementia Strategies for England, DoH 2009 and Scotland, SG 2010; Banerjee article, 2009). This report discusses an audit of the NCBS, to determine whether a service complying with new guidelines is acceptable to front-line care staff. The data was obtained from key-workers of residents referred for challenging behaviour. The staff were asked to assess the value of the methods used by the service. The key-workers, completing a structured questionnaire, stated that the most valuable parts of the NCBS’s approach were to do with improving staff’s ‘understanding’ of the residents, while medication-related factors were viewed as being of lesser importance.
Conceptualisation of Dementia model
Authors: Mackenzie Lorna , Clifford Mary , Hope Angela , James Ian
Published: January 2023

The relatively poor evidence-base regarding the effectiveness of many nonpharmacological therapies for people with dementia has been well documented (Hulme, 2010; Livingston et al., 2005). It has been suggested that a hindrance to establishing their credentials has been the lack of theories regarding people’s experiences of dementia (James, Clifford & Mackenzie, 2010). There are relatively few exceptions to this – such as: Cohen-Mansfield (2000, Model of unmet needs); Kitwood (1997, Five Elements Model); Stokes (2001, Psychogenic Model of Challenging Behaviour) – see James (2011) for a review. If we contrast this impoverished position with that of treatments for the affective disorders, we can see that the various theoretical models derived for depression, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis etc., have enabled the development of tailored treatment packages; each with its own evidence-base (James, 2010). Further, because the latter disorders have frameworks that show how distress is derived and maintained, clinical insight is gained in how the distress can be alleviated.
Processes underpinning reactivated post-traumatic distress among older adults: A preliminary study
Authors: Hiskey Syd
Published: January 2023

Empirical research concerning processes underpinning the reactivation of post-traumatic distress in later life is lacking. Twelve older adults with reactivated post-traumatic symptoms and 12 matched controls were given measures of mood, reminiscence and memory functioning. Results indicate a trend for greater general reminiscence and poorer inhibition of material among the reactivated trauma group. Our data provides initial support for both a developmental, life-stage, explanation and a cognitive ageing perspective on the re-emergence of distant trauma material in senescence.
The Couples Group: A joint support group for the person with dementia and their family
Authors: Bowie Gillian , Williams Liz
Published: January 2023

This article will focus on the development and evaluation of the Couples Group, our experience of running it and the themes that have emerged.
Dreamcatching: Using an integrative approach to manage chronic PTSD in an older adult
Authors: Appleton Claire , Martin Claire
Published: January 2023

The Dream Keeper‘Bring me all of your dreamsYou dreamerBring me all yourHeart melodiesThat I may wrap themIn a blue cloud-clothAway from the too-rough fingersOf the world.’Langston Hughes (1932)

In this article we discuss working with an older client whom we both worked with at different points over a three-year period. Our client displayed a complex range of symptoms consistent with PTSD, unresolved loss and depression and, somewhat staggeringly, had suffered a recurrent distressing dream for over 60 years. We demonstrate how an evolving integrative formulation guided our interventions with this client and argue that the pivotal piece of work involved a re-scripting of the recurrent dream. We propose that this intervention, comprising an overarching life review framework, cognitive restructuring, behavioural experimentation and containment within a strong therapeutic relationship, was ultimately associated with a reduction in distress. We hope to illustrate how such an approach can be helpful and that meaningful change is possible in the oldest-old who suffer from chronic PTSD.
Executive functioning and Alzheimer’s disease: Patient and carer experience
Authors: Campbell Alison , McAfee Sandy
Published: January 2023

This pilot study used the DEX questionnaires (Burgess et al., 1996), part of the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome battery, to investigate executive functioning difficulties faced by patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sixteen patients and 16 carers rated the difficulties they face. The questionnaires were completed anonymously during routine attendance at a memory clinic. The patient group rated their impairment, on average, as significantly less impaired than the carer group, t(30)=3.4, p<.005. The implications for the care of patients with AD and their carers are discussed and possible future areas of research outlined.
GPs’ perceptions of the barriers to referring older adult patients to mental health services in NHS Dumfries & Galloway
Authors: Cathers Rebecca , Edgar Fionnuala
Published: January 2023

Older adults (OAs) have been found to be under-represented relative to working-aged adults in referrals received by Dumfries & Galloway’s psychology service (Robson & Higgon, 2010). Previous research has suggested various reasons why OAs may not be referred on to psychology services which can be grouped into two main categories: OAs not discussing their problems with general practitioners (GPs) and GPs failing to refer on. Given GPs important role as gatekeepers to services, this study aimed to investigate this underrepresentation by exploring GPs’ opinions of the barriers to OAs accessing mental health services locally. An online survey was distributed to all GPs in the region investigating presentation rates and routine treatment options for memory problems, depression and anxiety and the perceived barriers to onward referrals to mental health services. Thirty-one per cent of GPs completed the survey. The majority of GPs reported being ‘unlikely’ to refer to mental health services if the main complaint was anxiety and ‘somewhat likely’ or ‘unlikely’ to refer on if this was depression. ‘Preoccupation with physical explanations for symptoms’ was perceived to be the main barrier to OAs accessing services. ‘Waiting lists’ were also seen as a significant barrier. Overall, the results suggest that improved communication between GPs and mental health services may have a positive influence on access to mental health services for OAs.
An evaluation of clinical psychology input into Older People’s Mental Health Intermediate Care Teams
Authors: Mitchell Sarah , Wills Gina
Published: January 2023

The aims of the following article are two-fold. Following a brief introduction to the context of the project, Part One will outline a work analysis that was conducted to consider the development of psychological interventions within the remit of alternative to admission services. Part Two will detail the project evaluation itself, including an overview of key initiatives, findings and implications for future service planning.
Tommy on Tour: One man’s mission to raise awareness of dementia – son, carer, campaigner
Authors: Whitelaw Tommy
Published: January 2023

The following article includes two brief blogs written by Tommy Whitelaw; a son carer and campaigner, passionate about raising the profile of people and carers affected by dementia. We agreed with Tommy to reproduce some of his work in this newsletter so that we could promote his experiences and campaigning to the wider FPOP audience. Further information on Tommy’s work can be found here:http://tommy-on-tour-2011.blogspot.co.uk/. The first story Tommy wanted to share is called ‘No one ever asked’ and the second, ‘The kindness of others’.
Homelessness and older people: A review of the risks
Authors: Tully Michael P. , Mitchell Sarah
Published: January 2023

Older people can and do become homeless, and this is not limited to those with a previous history of homelessness. As well as this status being hugely stigmatising, it can have multiple negative effects on both physical and psychological health. Psychological therapists working with older people are situated in a variety of settings, such as hospitals and prisons, which are known gateways to homelessness. We also work within services, such as mental health teams, which can support people who are homeless. As a result, we have a significant role to play in both preventing older people from becoming homeless and providing service to those who are. To support this work, this article attempts to highlight the issue of homeless older people and the risk factors associated with becoming homeless.
The consequence of age in age-blind services
Authors: Ross Kate
Published: January 2023

Despite resistance from both the Division of Clinical Psychology and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, mental health services are increasingly experimenting with combining services for working age and older people, and it is clear that the Department of Health is generally supportive of this direction of travel. A workshop at the FPOP Conference of 2014 examined our local experiences of doing this and the impact on both staff and service users, and went on to consider what the evidence base is for claims we might wish to make about the core elements of services for older people and what we can learn from other services around the country.
The assessment of mental capacity in regard to choice of residence: A holistic functional approach
Authors: Addy Karen
Published: January 2023

The current paper aims to provide a holistic approach to the assessment of mental capacity in the context of place of residence. This is an important issue that is often encountered by Older Adult Psychologists. However, there is limited guidance regarding how to assess an individual’s ability to make such an important choice. Through a clinical case example it is hoped that the current paper will assist clinicians in considering capacity assessment in a wider context when working with multi-disciplinary team, families and service users in making life-changing decisions regarding placement and care needs.
Developing ‘Living Well with Dementia’ workshops
Authors: Parsons Martin , Cook Jo
Published: January 2023

Though there is a wealth of guidance outlining the need for people diagnosed with dementia and their carers to have access to psychosocial support, there is a lack of consensus in terms of what form this should take and what is most effective. This article reports on a half-day ‘Living Well with Dementia’ workshop developed for people newly diagnosed with dementia and their carers.
A psychologically informed model for supporting meaningful involvement of people living with dementia facilitated by undergraduate psychology students
Authors: Slade Lewis , Bone Alex , Razzel Sophie
Published: January 2023

The East Kent Forget Me Nots is a service user involvement group, which is run by and for people living with dementia, with the support of the local Trust: Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). The group began as an extension of the Trust’s Dementia Service User Envoy position, held by Keith Oliver. As involvement opportunities began to exceed the capacity of a single person, this necessitated the formation of a small group of people living with dementia, among whom the workload could be shared (Asquith, Guss & Oliver, 2013). By the time the Forget Me Nots reached their second anniversary in November 2014, the group comprised more than 20 people living with dementia, and had made a significant impact in the field of dementia care and social policy.

The group has advised on alterations to the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (DEEP, 2013), on clinical guidance papers (Guss et al., 2014a) and service user oriented materials (Guss et al., 2014b). This has ensured that the voices of people living with dementia have not gone unheeded, both locally within the Trust and the community, and nationally. Members of the group regularly speak at conferences about the subjective experience of dementia, and advocate for the needs of those living with the condition. Other projects, such asWelcome to Our World: A collection of life writing by people living with dementia(Forget Me Nots, 2014), have also been completed by the group, challenging pre-existing ideas about dementia in the community and providing new and enjoyable experiences for group members.

This article will describe in detail the aims and modus operandi of the group, and how the working of the group is facilitated by undergraduate psychology students from the University of Kent. This article comes from the perspective of those students.
Enhancing family inclusive practice on an acute inpatient ward: The Family Liaison Service
Authors: Zegarra Ariane
Published: January 2023

National policies in mental health increasingly recognise the needs of families and carers, and advocate for their centrality in service provision. This is the case particularly in relation to older adult services, where we envision a culture of partnership at clinical, research and service development levels (e.g. DoH, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009). Family members’ needs and centrality during recovery come to the foreground on acute inpatient wards, yet in practice working in partnership presents particular challenges in these settings. In this article, I share the process, experience and learning from an initiative to enhance family inclusive practice on an older adult acute inpatient ward: the Family Liaison Service. My reflections focus on learning about how the ‘task’ of inpatient admission is co-constructed, and I outline further research and service developments which followed the Family Liaison Service.
Dementia Words Matter
Authors: Litherland Rachael
Published: January 2023

‘Words are very powerful – they can build you up or put you down. When you are speaking about dementia remember this.’ Agnes Houston, person with dementia.
South Thames FPOP CPD Event: Reflections on the day
Authors: Caryer Felicity , Howard Tina , Jamnadass Shruti
Published: January 2023

‘A contemporary account of CBT with older people’ by Professor Ken Laidlaw

BPS Offices, London, 16 December 2015.

We are Assistant Psychologists in Psychological Services for Older People, all working in Memory Assessment Services, and sometimes delivering therapeutic interventions in the community and sometimes on acute psychiatric wards. The suggestion for us to review the South Thames CPD event felt like a good opportunity to discuss and reflect upon our experiences of the talk, thinking about what struck us most about the day and how we would like to make use of this within our future work. We each approached the day with a range of differing experiences and levels of knowledge of using CBT. Professor Ken Laidlaw’s talk not only motivated us to learn more about using CBT with older people, but also supported us to share and discuss our thoughts and reflections, which we hope we convey in this article.
Reading-based activities enable older people to reduce loneliness
Authors: Burley Cath , Frost Natalie , Hicks Debbie , Ingham Aaron
Published: January 2023

‘Books have given me a magic portal to connect with the people of the past and the present. I shall never feel lonely or powerless again’. Lisa Bu.
Images of Purkinje’s Vision
Authors: Wade Nicholas J. , Brožek Josef , Hoskovec Jiří
Published: January 2023

Purkinje images can be seen reflected from the surfaces of the cornea and lens. There are many other images that Purkinje presented in his two books on subjective visual phenomena, some of which bear his name. The first hook was his doctoral dissertation, published in 1819 and reprinted in 1823. Among the phenomena described in it was the Purkinje tree (the visibility of shadows of the retinal blood vessels). The book was well received and widely reviewed; one review was by Goethe. The second book was published in 1825 and the contents had appeared initially as three long articles in the same year. The Purkinje shift (the differential brightness of colours before and after sunrise) was described in the book, as were the colour zones of the eye and distortions that can be seen in geometrical patterns. By contrast to the reception of the first book, we have not been able to find any reviews of the second volume. This was so despite the fact that perhaps more novel phenomena were described in it than in the first book. The contents of the two books are briefly outlined, and we speculate on the basis for the differences in the receptions of the two books.
It’s Drunk! Inanimate Agency and the Psychological Life of Things
Authors: Lovie Sandy
Published: January 2023

At the 2001 BPS Centenary Conference in Glasgow, Steve Brown argued that only by incorporating all aspects of the world, both human and non-human, into what he termed a “concrete interactional assemblage” could we begin to make sense of the complex social relationships that routinely determine our lives (Brown, 2001). The implications of this position are considerable, from the evocation of biographical/social memories by artefacts (Radley, 1990) to the persistence of animism into adult life, contra, for instance, Piaget (1929); from the social life of exchangeable commodities (Appadurai, 1986) to the social psychology of objects and the designed environment (Miller, 1995, 1999; Miller & Kälviäinen, 2001).

The present paper draws on some of this material to argue for the existence of a reciprocal agency shaping most if not all of the social exchanges of “animate” and “inanimate” actors. By reciprocal agency is meant the mutualistic elicitation of sequences of action from both “animate” and “inanimate” actors in their joint interaction, and on the basis of their (sometimes) shared expectations about the actions of the other. Although there is some recent sociological literature on “inanimate” agency (Woolgar, 1994), the notion has scarcely impacted on psychology. However, the list of topics given earlier, together with my definition of reciprocal agency, suggests that psychology could make a positive contribution to this somewhat esoteric field. Thus the study of such mutualist actions could usefully draw on certain theoretical traditions in psychology, particularly those emanating from B. F Skinner and J.J. Gibson, as well as those from related social sciences.

Finally, the paper will use a limited number of objets trouvés to illustrate its various theses.
The Psychology of Shared Knowledge: A Social and Historical Approach
Authors: Stevens David , Roiser Martin
Published: January 2023

Research on intelligence has concentrated on mental ability rather than on the content of knowledge, and on the differential rather than shared aspects of knowledge. Here a different approach is adopted. The collection, dissemination and testing of factual information are described as important human social activities with a long history. Both the seeking and testing of knowledge are carried out by appropriately phrased questions in formal or informal situations. Knowledge becomes disseminated to a greater or lesser extent and may be classified as public and general, or private and personal. In addition, it is noted that much factual information remains undiscovered and unknown. At certain historical points, knowledge existing in fluid form may be collected into encyclopaedias or other fixed forms. These collective representations become reference points for a given society, seeking to establish its advancement and erudition. These theoretical points are elaborated and suggestions are made for empirical research into the psychology of knowledge.
Virtue Ethics and Social Psychology
Authors: Lunt Peter
Published: January 2023

Virtue ethics has emerged as an alternative to deontological and utilitarian theory in recent moral philosophy. The basic notion of virtue ethics is to reassert the importance of virtuous character in ethical judgement in contrast to the emphasis on principles and consequences. Since questions of virtue have been largely neglected in modern moral theory, there has been a return to Aristotle’s account of virtue as character. This in turn has been questioned as the basis of virtue ethics and there has been a search for alternative accounts of moral agency. One aspect of this critical reflection on virtue ethics is an engagement with social psychology as a source of criticism of the Aristotelian conception of character and as a more plausible alternative foundation for a theory of moral character with contemporary relevance. This paper aims to introduce this area of moral theory to a psychological audience and reflect on the interpretation of social psychological theory and evidence in criticisms of virtuous character, focusing on the use of Milgram’s (1974) experiments on obedience to authority as an argument for situationism. A number of questions emerge concerning the interpretation and use of social psychological theory and evidence in debates within moral philosophy.
Scientific Occupational Psychology – A Personal Odyssey
Authors: Duncan David
Published: January 2023

This paper is a review of fifty years of attempting, as best one can, to behave as a scientist in occupational psychology. No apologies will be made for calling occupational psychology a science, although how successful that attempt has been is open to discussion. The question is addressed as to what sort of science occupational psychology may be, comparing it with neighbouring and different sciences.
Psychology in Cuba after 1959
Authors: Carolina Luz de la Torre Molina
Published: January 2023

The development of psychology in Cuba since the 1959 revolution is described. Psychology in Cuba has been marked throughout by the practical needs of Cuban society and, as such, four phases can be distinguished: 1) The immediate post-revolutionary phase (1960s) of large-scale social transformation and the use of psychology to support this. 2) The 1970s, marked by the continuation of the previous efforts and, at the same time, a‘relatively uncritical’ importation of Soviet models into both society and psychology. 3) A period of considerable development of a distinctively Cuban approach in the 1980s. 4) The special period from the fall of the Soviet Union, marked by an initial crisis in psychology and then a recovery, with wider respect and demand for psychological expertise in multiple spheres of Cuban society. The development of psychology is analysed through these phases in terms of both the growth of the profession and the evolution of its content.
Not What They’re Made Out To Be: On Vaucanson, Babbage, and AI
Authors: Boden Margaret A.
Published: January 2023

There are two forms of AI/A-Life: technological and psychological. It’s widely thought that Vaucanson was concerned only with the first, and Babbage with both the first and the second. In other words, it’s believed that Vaucanson was a mere toy-maker, not a scientist, and that Babbage was an early cognitive scientist. Neither of these beliefs is true.

Vaucanson was doing science. He used robotic simulations to formulate a theory of the bodily movements (not the mental processes) involved in various activities, such as playing the flute.

Babbage’s Analytical Engine was an early example of technological AI. He wanted his machine to achieve correct results in problems that humans tackle too. But he wasn’t modelling human thought. At most, he aimed to implement the logical principles that rational thinking must respect. He never claimed to have illuminated mathematical thinking, and explicitly regretted having nothing to say about creative insight.1
Wittgenstein and his Philosophy of First-Time Events
Authors: Shotter John
Published: January 2023

What might a disciplined inquiry into events occurring always for “another first time” (Garfinkel, 1967) look like? Whilst traditionally, we have always sought a hidden order behind appearances, this may be a misleading aim in human affairs. In this paper I argue that this is to begin our investigations too late in the day. It leads us to think of people as being already self-conscious, self-contained individuals, acting and speaking mostly in a wilful and intellectual manner. Indeed many have interpreted Wittgenstein’s later philosophy, and his claim that the meaning of a word is its use in the language, in this light: as if he was concerned with words used as tools or as making moves in a language-game according to pre-existing rules. In this view, words have meaning only if they are systematically connected with states of affairs and/or states of mind. There is, however, another side to Wittgenstein: a concern with the beginnings of language-games in our spontaneous bodily reactions, and with such reactions as being the prototypes for new ways of thinking rather than as the results of ones already in existence. Here, meaning is understood in terms of one’s direct and immediate responsiveness to one’s surroundings. This paper explores this side of Wittgenstein’s thought, and relates it both to his claim that many events in human affairs can be ‘explained’ simply by giving descriptions, and to outlining a set of practical methods for beginning new practices, practices that can begin by noticing the presence within our old practices of previously unnoticed spontaneous bodily reactions.