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UCL Qualitative Health Research Symposium: Enriching Qualitative Inquiry Health (18 Feb)
By Kim Morgan, on 29 January 2015
Interest in qualitative approaches is growing among research communities concerned with health, illness and care. This is clearly indicated by the rise of mixed methods studies, the proliferation of qualitative health 
research journals and conferences, and the marked presence of qualitative researchers in academic centres of health research.
While this reflects the recognition and endorsement of its contribution, the inclusion of qualitative approaches in health research is not straightforward. Indeed, tensions remain between the conceptual and methodological approaches of qualitative research and those of a quantitative paradigm generally more familiar to health practitioners, policymakers and often other researchers. These tensions foreground questions to be explored around the applicability, value, contribution, legitimacy and limitations of qualitative inquiry within the prevailing research culture.
The UCL Division of Psychiatry’s Qualitative Researchers Working Group is collaborating with the UCL Department of Applied Health Research and the UCL Health Behaviour Research Centre on a one day symposium to discuss these questions and to generate constructive commentary on the contributions that qualitative inquiry can make to understandings of health, illness and care.
Papers cohere around three key themes: (1) problematising the research landscape, (2) re-approaching familiar frameworks, and (3) enriching the potential for qualitative approaches in research on health, illness and care.
The symposium will include a keynote paper by Dr Sara Shaw, Queen Mary University of London and a panel discussion featuring Professor Paul Higgs, UCL Division of Psychiatry, Professor Naomi Fulop, UCL Department of Applied Health Research, and Professor Richard Watt, UCL Epidemiology and Public Health.
For more information about the symposium and to register please click here. For the full symposium programme please click here.
Chris Anderson to RideLondon for Marie Curie Cancer Care
By Kim Morgan, on 16 January 2015
Division of Psychiatry researcher Chris Anderson writes:
“I will be riding in the Prudential RideLondon 100 this August for Marie Curie Cancer Care as part of the Daffodil Team.
I would really appreciate it if you could make a donation.
I have set a very low target of £700 to raise but would really like to achieve more than this – at least £1000 – which I do not think is too unreasonable.
I am a keen cyclist but have become more serious over the past few years. My weekly commute to work across London is 125 mile a week.
As a nurse I can fully appreciate how difficult things are for families when someone they love is terminally ill with cancer and the support provided by Marie Curie is absolutely invaluable.
As a researcher in ovarian cancer I interviewed over 1000 women as part of still ongoing research to help women survive this disease, and I am very aware of the impact this cancer and the related bowel, breast and prostate cancers, have on families.
If you could make a donation I would be extremely grateful – your support will encourage me not only on the ride itself but throughout the year on my training rides too. But most importantly it will provide much needed funding for the nurses of Marie Curie to provide the level of support cancer patients and their families need: £20 pays for the cost of 1 nurse for 1 hour!
Many Thanks, with Best Wishes
Chris”
Here is the link:
Lauren Yates reflects on iCST event concluding major research project
By Kim Morgan, on 12 January 2015
Individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (iCST) is a programme of mentally stimulating activities for carers and people with dementia to do together at home. Typically pairs complete up to 3, 20-30 minute sessions per week over 25 weeks. Each session is themed (eg: word games, current affairs, being creative) with a choice of activities to cater for the interests and abilities of the person.
iCST is based on group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), an evidence based psychosocial intervention, which has been found to benefit cognition and quality of life for people with dementia (see www.cstdementia.com for more information). With input from carers, people with dementia, and experts in the field, the iCST programme and materials were developed to cater for those unable to access CST groups. The programme was then evaluated in a large scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) across 8 research sites in the UK: London, Bangor, Hull, Manchester, Dorset, Devon, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk & Suffolk.
In early December we held an event for members of the iCST teams and study participants at Friends House to mark the end of the trial. We wanted to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of those involved, and share the results of the main trial and quantitative interviews. In addition to presentations from Professor Martin Orrell, Phuong Leung, and myself from the London team, the day included talks from Dr. Ruth Newman who gave us a lively and entertaining account of Devon team’s experience of iCST, and Dave Prothero who gave us a compelling insight into the experience and value of patient public involvement (PPI) in research.
It was a real pleasure to host the event, and to have the opportunity to catch up with teams and carers I enjoyed working with over the course of the study. For me, the highlight of the day was being able to present everyone with the newly published iCST Manual ‘Making a Difference 3’ (see careinfo.org for more information), and show clips from the accompanying DVD. The partnerships we established with the various research sites were very successful, and we hope that there will be other opportunities to collaborate on future research projects.
Psychiatry research seminar 14/10/15 on “The obituary of a culture bound syndrome”
By Kim Morgan, on 5 January 2015
The Division of Psychiatry Research Seminar will take place on Wednesday 14th January at 3pm
MALET PLACE ENGINEERING BUILDING – Room 1.02
Gower Street WC1E 6BT (https://goo.gl/maps/e0TSQ)
Sushrut Jadhav (Division of Psychiatry)
will present a seminal event: the obituary of a culture bound syndrome
More details at events.ucl.ac.uk/event/event:kgx-i35uwjgs-6d47lc
UCL rated UK number 1 for research strength – REF 2014
By Elvira Bramon, on 19 December 2014
Message from Glyn Lewis, Director of the Division of Psychiatry
Dear All
You will have heard that UCL has done exceptionally well in the REF and finally broken the domination of Oxbridge that have until now always claimed the first two positions in those league tables.
In our own area we have also done exceptionally well and are now indisputably the leading university for Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience in terms of “research power” – the combination of quality and quantity. This reflects the excellence of the work done here over the last 6 years. The REF result was for 286 people, almost all the Faculty of Brain Sciences that include our Division.
It is important to remember that the REF submission is not just about the more senior academics that were individually submitted. To produce world class research requires outstanding contributions from all the people involved in the research, including those employed by grants and the support staff. Outstanding REF results come from outstanding teamwork. We have an excellent culture within the division that encourages advice, debate and support. We should also celebrate this as it has contributed to our success. I was particularly pleased that the REF panel gave the academic environment here the highest rating.
As important as the overall result is the improvement since the last assessment in 2008. The trajectory, in the jargon, is upwards. We are becoming the destination of choice for ambitious young scientists as they can see the exciting opportunities within the Division of Psychiatry and our Faculty.
Congratulations to you all for the REF results. Please enjoy your break over the holidays.
Season’s greetings
Glyn Lewis
Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology
Faculty of Brain Sciences Postgraduate Poster & Presentation Symposium 11th Feb 2015
By Kim Morgan, on 19 November 2014
The Dean would like to announce the third Annual Faculty of Brain Sciences Postgraduate Poster & Presentation Symposium which will take place from 1-5pm on Wednesday 11 February 2015 in the South Cloisters, Wilkins Building.
The event will celebrate and showcase graduate research achievements and the unique multidisciplinary and integrative nature of research across the Faculty and is an excellent networking opportunity for staff and students as well as stimulating ideas for student research projects. The Symposium also offers PhD students an opportunity for professional development and to present their research to a wider academic audience.
Staff and all postgraduate students (MSc, MRes and PhD) are invited to attend the event, which will be followed by drinks from 5-7pm, where prize winners will be announced.
I hope you can come, and please encourage your PhD students to submit posters and your postgraduate students to attend.
a) Post-upgrade PhD students (including Professional Doctorates) are invited to submit posters of their research and offer a 2-minute presentation of their work. This presentation can be supported by a maximum of 4 PowerPoint slides. There will be prizes for the best posters/presentations. This is an open competition with only 50 poster positions available. Submissions will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.
b) Pre-upgrade PhD students (including Professional Doctorates) are invited to submit posters of their research work in progress (no formal presentation). There will be prizes for the best posters. This is an open competition with only 20 poster positions available. Submissions will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.
Students intending to submit a research poster at this event should email their name, department and a poster title to the symposium team : fbs.pgsymposium@ucl.ac.uk by 7th January at the latest, electronic PDF versions of the posters should be submitted in advance by 28th January at the latest.
For any queries please contact the symposium team
Best wishes,
Alex
Alex Standen
Faculty Tutor’s Office Administrator
UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences
Room 241, 74 Huntley Street
London, WC1E 6BT
020 3108 2434 (internal 52434)
a.standen@ucl.ac.uk
www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences
@UCLBrainScience
Division of Psychiatry welcomes Sergi Costafreda-Gonzales
By Kim Morgan, on 13 November 2014
“I am an Old Age Psychiatrist, recently appointed Senior lecturer in the division. My research interests are in dementia diagnosis and treatment, and particularly brain scanning. I will be working most closely with Gill Livingstone.”
INTERDEM Academy Fellowships – Update
By Kim Morgan, on 13 November 2014
The INTERDEM Academy enables fellowships for young researchers allowing them to spend 3-6 months abroad. The Promoting Independence in Dementia (PRIDE) programme, led by Professor Martin Orrell from the Division of Psychiatry at UCL, is a partner in the INTERDEM scheme.
We are delighted to announce that the very first of these fellowships has been granted to mr. Antonio García. A PhD student hailing from the University of Salamanca in Spain, he will stay with Prof. Orrell’s team at UCL for 4 months. Below you will find a short report of his experiences so far, giving an excellent example of what we seek to achieve through INTERDEM Academy: building capacity for young researchers in the field, and strengthening the PRIDE / INTERDEM network through joint projects.
“In these 72 days, I have experienced and learned far more things than those I had planned in my motivation letter for the INTERDEM Academy fellowship. I am based in the Division of Psychiatry of UCL, were I have been working with the PRIDE team to lead a literature review on Computer Based Cognitive Interventions for people with dementia that will be submitted by the end of my stay. The review will be useful for the design of PRIDE Work Package 3, and is linked to my thesis in cognitive rehabilitation.
I have also been trained in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Individual Stimulation Therapy, treatments developed by Professor Orrell’s team in UCL, and I have had the opportunity to share our Computer Based Cognitive Intervention Program (GRADIOR) developed at the University of Salamanca.
I have visited memory clinics in London and attended different courses and conferences that have helped me widen my scope of view in the field of dementia. Alzheimer Europe’s Conference in Glasgow was particularly enriching, as it made it possible for me to meet many INTERDEM members and participate in the Academy master class. It was also a great opportunity for networking, as a matter of fact; I am now planning a visit to another INTERDEM team while in the UK, hopefully finding new opportunities for learning and cooperation.”
Johan Thygsen joins Division of Psychiatry
By Kim Morgan, on 13 November 2014
We’re delighted to welcome Johan to UCL and as a new member of the team we hope he enjoys working here
“I am Danish and have recently moved to London, my background is in biology and genetics but I have also studied psychology. I am joining Elvira Bramon’s group as a research associate, working with Alvaro Revuelta, Stella Calafato and Siri Ranlund, towards identifying new genetic variants which increase the risk of developing severe mental illness and/or psychosis, using various types of biomarkers. My focusing will specifically be on identifying high-risk variants which run in families, as such variants offer a unique opportunity to untangle the biological mechanisms involved in the etiology of the disorders.”
Johan Thygsen, November 2014
Call for papers for Ageing, Dementia and the Social Mind
By Kim Morgan, on 12 November 2014
23rd Sociology of Health & Illness Monograph
Editors: Paul Higgs and Chris Gilleard
The sociology of dementia is a relatively neglected but increasingly important topic in studies of health and illness. The 23rd Sociology of Health & Illness Monograph will bring together theoretical and empirical contributions to progress a distinctive sociological understanding of this rapidly developing and globally significant field. The Monograph will be published in 2017. It will address the following cross-cutting themes:
Dementia and the construction of personhood. Topics coming under this theme might include the social construction of dementia, the idea of dementia as the social death of the person and the usefulness of Tom Kitwood’s location of the ‘problem’ of dementia within a ‘malignant’ social psychology. Contributions are welcome that draw parallels and contrasts between dementia and other health care conditions where agency and personhood are called into question.
The social representation of dementia. As dementia rises up the agenda of ‘globalisation’, contributions are solicited on the wider range of representations of this condition that go beyond the ‘conventional’ bifurcation between dementia as normal ageing and the ‘medical model’ as a neurological disorder. This could include issues concerning professional-patient interaction, the diagnostic process and the treatment of dementia. We particularly seek perspectives from the global south that situate dementia as a major challenge facing the global community.
The social framing of care. Contributions are invited on formal (paid) and informal (unpaid) care and on the role of professional discourses in ordering relationships between different groups engaged with the provision of care. We would also welcome contributions examining the social categorisation both of people with dementia and of those paid to look after them. We welcome contributions investigating the intersectional links between the care of people with dementia and issues of ethnicity, gender and power.
The social imaginary of a fourth age. We invite contributions examining dementia as an unsuccessful, failed and ‘frailed’ old age contrasted with successful, productive and active later life. Issues that we would expect to be addressed include the moral conflict between a ‘positive’ view of later life and those wary that such advocacy risks further marginalising those disadvantaged by dementia and disablement.
The monograph will appear both as a regular issue of the journal and in book form in February 2017. Potential contributors should send an abstract of up to 600 words to p.higgs@ucl.ac.uk by 30th January 2015. Abstracts should clearly indicate the proposed paper’s sociological importance. Informal email enquiries prior to submission are welcome. Name and institutional affiliation of author(s) should also be supplied, including full contact details. Proposals will be reviewed and potential authors notified by 31 March 2015. Short-listed authors will be invited to submit their work by 31 July 2015. Submissions will be refereed in the usual way and should follow the journal’s style guidelines<http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-9566/homepage/ForAuthors.html>
Website Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-9566/homepage/call_for_proposals__23rd_monograph.htm