Dr Fiona Lobban, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology & Professor Steve Jones, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Lancaster (Contact: f.lobban@lancaster.ac.uk)
Remit and aims
This multidisciplinary group of researchers has an excellent track record in large scale funded research. The proposed group brings together experts in the clinical psychology of BD, psychiatry, early intervention, cognitive behaviour therapy, sociology, public health, and translational research in the NHS including research design and statistics.
The ideas outlined focus on improving psychosocial interventions by early intervention, increasing accessibility, and focusing on the neglected area of developing wellbeing rather than reduction of symptoms. The proposals address 2 top priorities identified by service users in a recent MHRN report, namely, user involvement in services, and increased access to treatments alternative to medication (MHRN 2007).
The range of methodological expertise encompassing skills in both quantitative and qualitative approaches will ensure that the best designs are developed to address each question below. We have intentionally drawn our group members from a wide geographical area (covering England, Scotland and Wales) to enhance implementation of multi-site research and ensure generalisability of findings.
Clinical Importance
Biplar Disorder is a serious public health problem: 6th leading cause of disability among people 15-44years and costs the UK £2billion per annum. BD has a lifetime prevalence of 1% and is associated with severe clinical and social impairments, including: suicide; substance misuse; and violence. A key social cost is high unemployment despite many sufferers being well educated.
Recent NICE guidance highlights a growing evidence base for new effective treatments including psychosocial interventions. However, in practice these treatments are difficult to access and are not delivered in the early stages of illness where they are perhaps most likely to be beneficial.
Our group aims to:
1. Reduce rate of transition in people at high risk of BD by (i)detection of early indicators of risk (ii)development of psychosocial approaches to target risk factors (iii)evaluation of effectiveness of transition reduction/prevention approaches.
2. Develop interventions that focus on identifying and developing strengths and increasing wellbeing, rather than focussing on overcoming deficits. This will require (i)better understanding of peoples’ “working models” and issues of identity across the spectrum from “patients” to people who positively value their bipolar experiences (ii)examination of factors that account for the discrepancies between symptom severity and functioning (iii)development of interventions that target key domains associated with improvements in functioning and wellbeing..
3. Increase access to evidence based interventions and empower service users by developing self-management & user-led interventions as part of a stepped care approach for people with bipolar experiences and relatives. This will determine effective ways to integrate services led by service users and mental health professionals.
Membership
-Steve Jones (joint convenor- Professor of Clinical Psychology) University of Lancaster
-Fiona Lobban (joint convenor- Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology) University of Lancaster
-Richard Morriss (Professor of Psychiatry and Community Mental Health) University of Nottingham
-Max Marshall (Professor of Community Psychiatry) University of Manchester
-Mattihas Schwannauer (Senior Lecturer in Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychology) University of Edinburgh
-Richard Bentall (Professor of Clinical Psychology) University of Bangor
-Peter Kinderman (Professor of Clinical Psychology) University of Liverpool
-Dominic Lam (Professor of Clinical & Health Psychology) University of Hull
-Jan Scott (Professor of Psychological Medicine) University of Newcastle
-Jennie Popay (Professor of Sociology and Public Health)
-Thomas Meyer (Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of Newcastle)
-Peter Diggle (Professor of Statistics, University of Lancaster)
-Graham Dunn (Professor of Biomedical Statistics, University of Manchester)
-Warren Mansell (Lecturer in Psychology, University of Manchester)
-Jeremy Bacon ( Groups and Self-Management Manager, MDF The BiPolar Organisation)
-Paul Hammersley (Lecturer / trainer in Mental Health, University of Manchester
User and Care input
Service users will be involved at every stage of research in this group.
The development of the research agenda for applications for funding will be guided by the active participation of a representative of the MDF Bipolar Organisation as an applicant on this proposal.
All funding applications will include service user applicants and be reviewed by service user panels in the relevant NHS Trusts and charity organisations. Funded projects will have service user representative at all levels including steering groups, management groups, participation and dissemination.
MHRN, part of the UK Clinical Research Network, managed by a partnership between:
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