Principal Investigators: Prof Jessica Bramham
Funders: HSE National Clinical Programmes and ADHD-Ireland

The project involves the development and evaluation of an App and online psychoeducation and self-help programme for adults with ADHD in conjunction with the HSE National Clinical Programme for ADHD in Adults Model of Care for Ireland.

Key references:

HSE National Clinical Programme for ADHD in Adults Model of Care for Ireland (2020). (opens in a new window)https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/ncps/mental-health/adhd/adhd-in-adults-ncp-model-of-care/adhd-in-adults-ncp-model-of-care.pdf

Seery, C., Wrigley, M., O'Riordan, F., Kilbridge, K., & Bramham, J.  (2021).  What adults with ADHD want to know: A Delphi consensus study on the psychoeducational needs of experts by experience.  American Professional Society for ADHD and Associated Disorders, 15 Jan 2021.

Principal Investigators: Prof Alan Carr, UCD; Dr Grace Sheridan, HSE; and Dr Shauna McGee, Zurich University.
Funders: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, HSE Clinical Psychology Sponsorship programme, Swiss Government Excellence, the Swiss National Science Foundation, National Research Program

Our recent research on trauma has focused on risk and protective factors associated with positive and negative outcomes in adulthood of survivors of childhood institutional abuse.

Key References:

Carr, A., Nearchou, F., Duff, H., Ní Mhaoileoin, D., Cullen, K., O’Dowd, A., & Battigelli, L.  (2019). Survivors of institutional abuse in long-term child care in Scotland. Child Abuse and Neglect, 93, 38-54. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.04.018

Carr, A., Duff, H., & Craddock, F. (2020). A systematic review of the outcome of child abuse in long-term care. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(4), 660-677.  (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018789154

McGee, S.L., Maercker, A., Carr, A., Thoma, M.V. (2020) “Some call it resilience”: A profile of dynamic resilience-related factors in older adult survivors of childhood institutional adversity and maltreatment, Child Abuse and Neglect, (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104565

Sheridan, G., & Carr, A. (2020). Survivors' lived experiences of posttraumatic growth after institutional childhood abuse: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Child Abuse and Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104430

Principal Investigators: Dr Paul D’Alton 
Funders: HRB, St Vincent’s Foundation, AbbVie.   

Key references:  

D’Alton, P., Kinsella, L., Walsh, O., Sweeney, C., Timoney, I., Lynch, M., & Kirby, B. (2019). Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Psoriasis: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Mindfulness, 10(2), 288-300. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-018-0973-5

Maddock, A., Hevey, D., D’Alton, P. & Kirby, B. (2021) Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a clinical intervention with psoriasis patients through the lens of the clinically modified Buddhist psychological model: a qualitative study.  Mental Health, Religion & Culture, (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2020.1823950

Maddock, A., Hevey, D., D’Alton, P. et al. (2019). A Randomized Trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy with Psoriasis Patients. Mindfulness 10, 2606–2619. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01242-3

Principal Investigators: Dr Sonya Deschênes
Funders: Enterprise Ireland & UCD internal funding

The project aims to investigate the role of depression and anxiety in the progression of glucose dysregulation over time among adults of all ages. We are also examining potential biopsychosocial and behavioural mechanisms for these associations.

Key references:

Deschênes, S. S., Graham, E., Kivimäki, M., & Schmitz, N. (2018). Adverse childhood experiences and the risk of diabetes: examining the roles of depressive symptoms and cardiometabolic dysregulations in the Whitehall II Cohort Study. Diabetes care, 41(10), 2120-2126.

Deschênes, S. S., Burns, R. J., & Schmitz, N. (2018). Comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms and the risk of type 2 diabetes: Findings from the Lifelines Cohort Study. Journal of affective disorders, 238, 24-31.

We are recruiting for a new project on digital phenotyping and the mental health of Irish adults with and without diabetes. Check out our study webpage for more detail!

UCD Principal Investigators: Prof Suzanne Guerin
Project Principal Investigators: Professor Peter Hudson (Australia), Professor Joachim Cohen (Belgium)
Funders: EU Commission, Horizon 2020

The project involves the adaptation and evaluation of two interventions for people with advanced cancer and their caregiver (the dyad). FOCUS+ is a nurse-delivered intervention, while iFOCUS is a web-based programme, both based on the FOCUS programme developed by Prof. Laurel Northouse (University of Michigan). The team at UCD includes Dr Michael Connolly (UCD School or Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems), Dr Paul D’Alton (UCD School of Psychology), Dr Monika Pilch (Postdoctoral Fellow, UCD School of Psychology), Dr Catherine Jordan (Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCD School of Psychology) and Prof. Phil Larkin (University of Lausanne). UCD are leading Work Package 9, which coordinates the implementation of a process evaluation of the interventions.

Key references:

(opens in a new window)https://diadic.eu/

Matthys, O., De Vleminck, A., Dierickx, S. et al.  (2021). Effectiveness of a nurse-delivered (FOCUS+) and a web-based (iFOCUS) psychoeducational intervention for people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers (DIAdIC): Study protocol for an international randomized controlled trial. BMC Palliative Care 20, 193. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00895-z

Principal Investigators: Dr. Amanda Fitzgerald and Prof. Cherie Armour, Queen’s University Belfast
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council- Irish Research Council UK/Ireland Networking Grants 2020

This project seeks to establish an interdisciplinary network, which will focus on the use of technology in supporting young people (YP) who are experiencing psychological distress; in particular as it relates to help seeking, stigma reduction and interventions/treatments. The project therefore aims to address two key challenges:

1. Identify existing and emerging digital technologies that promote mental health (MH) help-seeking and stigma reduction in YP at risk of MH problems and

2.Understand how existing and newly developed technologies can influence adolescent MH concerns and what aspects of these technologies can support those with mental ill health in addition to what aspects can promote resilience.

Follow us on Twitter: @Mood_Movement

Research team: Prof. Barbara Dooley (PI), Dr. Amanda Fitzgerald (Co-I), Dr. Aileen O Reilly (Co-I), Jigsaw-The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, Cliodhna O Connor (PD), Ciara Mahon (PD)
Funders: Jigsaw-The National Centre for Youth Mental Health & ESB’s Energy for Generation Fund

The My World Survey is a comprehensive study investigating the risk and protective factors associated with mental health in young people aged 12-25 years. This research enables us to see how different elements and experiences in the life of a young person may be related to their mental health.

Key reference:

Dooley, B., O’ Connor, C., Fitzgerald, A., & O’Reilly, A. (2019). My World Survey 2 The National Study of Youth Mental Health in Ireland. UCD School of Psychology and Jigsaw- The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, Dublin, Ireland. (opens in a new window)http://www.myworldsurvey.ie/

Principal Investigators: Dr Keith Gaynor

This project investigates transdiagnostic and continuum models of emotional dysregulation in clinical and general populations. In particular, it explores the interaction between adult attachment, cognition and emotional dysregulation as expressed throughout the whole population.

Key references:

KoÅŸ-Yalvaç E., Gaynor, K. (2021). Emotional dysregulation in adults: The influence of rumination and negative secondary appraisals of emotion, Journal of Affective Disorders, 282, 656-661. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.194

Gaynor K, Gordon O. (2019). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Transdiagnostic Emotional Dysregulation. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 49(2):71-77. https://doi.org/(opens in a new window)10.1007/s10879-018-9393-z

Principal Investigators: Dr Kathy Looney
Funders: None
Collaborators: Dr Gary Brown (Royal Holloway University London), Dr Sharif El-Leithy

This project aims to develop an understanding of the mechanisms of change involved in ImRs for PTSD and how ImRs facilitates therapeutic change. By understanding the mechanisms of change, this research also aims to further our knowledge about how best to conduct ImRs in clinical settings.

Key references:

Looney, K., El-Leithy, S. & Brown, G. (2020) The role of simulation in imagery rescripting for post-traumatic stress disorder: a single case series. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 6 Nov 2020. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465820000806

Principal Investigators: Prof. Louise McHugh, Dr. Varsha Ewara Murthy
Funders: Irish Research Council, UCD Seed Funding

The reality of experiencing homelessness and the circumstances leading to it render this population at risk of a multitude of mental, physical, and behavioural health problems. In addition to the structural and material barriers, the stigma associated with homelessness can further exacerbate the experience of these barriers leading to high levels of unmet need in the population. This may result in individuals self-stigmatising and feeling intense shame which further results in negative health consequences. The therapeutic approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), have the scope to intervene for a range of topographically dissimilar but functionally similar outcomes which have the potential to address the various comorbidities experienced by homeless populations. This programme of research focuses on developing innovations in understanding and targeting shame and well-being in adults experiencing homelessness from an evidence based perspective.

Follow us on Twitter: @UCDCBSlab 

Key reference:

Murthy, V., E., Hussey, I. & McHugh, L. (2020). A single-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention targeting shame in people experiencing homelessness: A randomized multiple baseline design. https://psyarxiv.com/3hpuq/

Principal Investigators: Dr Niki Nearchou
Funders: European Union and Greek National Funds.

This project aimed to identify and understand mechanisms underpinning resilience in young children aged 9-12 years old who have been exposed to emotional abuse by teachers.

Key reference:

Nearchou, F. (2018). Resilience following emotional abuse by teachers: Insights from a cross-sectional study with Greek students. Child Abuse & Neglect, 78, 96-106. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.10.012 

Principal Investigators: Dr Niki Nearchou
Collaborators: Prof Eilis Hennessy, Dr Christine Linehan, Lorna Kerin (Children & Young People’s Services Committee).
Funder: Healthy Ireland

This projects aims to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the mental and physical well-being of young people aged 12-25 years. It also aims to identify protective factors associated with resilience that help young people cope during this pandemic

Key reference:

Nearchou, F., Flinn, C., Niland, R., Subramaniam, S. S., & Hennessy, E. (2020). Exploring the impact of CoViD-19 on mental health outcomes in children and adolescents: a systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(22),  8479, (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228479

Principal Investigators: Gary O’Reilly, David Coyle, Catherine Jackman, Conal Twomey
Funders: Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI). Health Service Executive (HSE). European Union Horizon 2020.  

Our clinical and research work combines technology, evidenced-based models in clinical psychology intervention, and what works in face-to-face therapy.  A guiding principal of Pesky gNATs is to use technology to increase the availability of psychological knowledge to people. 

Here are some open access papers on the versions of Pesky gNATs for children, and for adults with an intellectual disability.

O'Reilly G. (2018). Pesky Gnats! Using computer games and smartphone apps to teach complex cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness concepts to children with mental health difficulties. In R. J. Harnish, K. R. Bridges, D. N. Sattler, M. L. Signorella, & M. Munson (Eds.). The Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning. Retrieved from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology web site: (opens in a new window)http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/useoftech

McCashin, D., Coyle, D., O'Reilly,G. (2020). A qualitative evaluation of Pesky gNATs in primary care – The experiences of assistant psychologists providing computer-assisted CBT to children experiencing low mood and anxiety.  Internet Interventions, 22, (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2020.100348 

Van Der Meulen, H., McCashin, D., O'Reilly, G., & Coyle, D. (2019). Using computer games to support mental health interventions: Naturalistic deployment study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(5). (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.2196/12430

Cooney, P., Jackman, C., Coyle, D., & O'Reilly, G. (2017). Computerised cognitive-behavioural therapy for adults with intellectual disability: Randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 211(2), 95-102. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.117.198630

DEEPdown is a new project.  It gives people access to tools for understanding their personality from a “normal personality perspective” rather than a “psychopathology of personality perspective”.  DEEPdown invites people in regular and clinical settings to explore the question “who are you?” rather than “what’s wrong with you?” We’re also playing around with making everything open access from the beginning rather than an open access research paper at the end.  You can find (and use) everything we’ve developed so far here (opens in a new window)https://osf.io/9eysm/

Twomey, C., O’Reilly, G. (2020). Early appraisal of the first iteration of a self-development and personality exploration programme (DEEPdown). Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01216-y

Follow us on Twitter: @Peskygnats or visit our website (opens in a new window)www.PeskyGnats.com