Dr Lydia Pearson
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Dr Lydia Pearson - Research Associate / Trial Manager Lydia Pearson first started working for the Psychosis Research Unit as a research assistant and has contributed to a number of National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) funded trials. These include the Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) funded feasibility bipolar trials: Thinking Effectively About Mood Swings TEAMS and the Bipolar At Risk Trial (BART). These mood disorder focused trials led Lydia to...
Wendy Jones
Wendy Jones - Service User Researcher Following her A-levels, Wendy studied Pharmacology and Physiology (with Industrial Experience) at The University of Manchester. On her placement year she developed a keen interest in the causes and treatments of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. The main focus of her placement project was on the NMDA-receptor antagonist model of schizophrenia which represents some positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In her final year of her...
Verity Smith
Verity Smith – Assistant Psychologist (Research) Verity Smith is an Assistant Research Psychologist working on MAPS (Managing Adolescent first episode Psychosis: a feasibility Study). This trial is investigating treatment options for young people (aged 14-18) who are currently experiencing a first episode of psychosis. The study compares Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with antipsychotic medication, and a combination of both of these. Research comparing treatments helps young people, their families and the services...
Dr Sophie Parker
Dr Sophie Parker - Clinical Psychologist Dr Sophie Parker is a Clinical Psychologist working at the Psychosis Research Unit (PRU) at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Sophie completed an undergraduate psychology degree in London and spent the early years of her career working with people with learning disabilities prior to gaining her first role in working with people who experience psychosis. This role, as a Family Support Worker in...
Dr Rory Byrne
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Dr Rory Byrne - Postdoctoral User-Researcher Rory Byrne is a postdoctoral user-researcher at The Psychosis Research Unit (PRU), currently involved as a co-applicant with the following ongoing clinical trials: FOCUS, COMPARE, PRODIGY, BART, and IFCBT. He contributed to the development of these trials with a particular focus on the priorities and preferences of trial participants, and contributes to the ongoing development of research materials, trial management, qualitative sub-studies, and the publication...
Professor Peter Haddad
Professor Peter Haddad – Consultant Psychiatrist Peter Haddad is a Consultant in Community Psychiatry at The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. He is also an Honorary Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Manchester. His main research interests are the management of affective disorders, schizophrenia and psychosis with an emphasis on widening treatment choice and improving outcomes for people with these disorders. Peter graduated from Manchester Medical School...
Professor Paul French
Professor Paul French - Associate Director Paul French is currently the Clinical Lead for Early Intervention in Psychosis services across Greater Manchester, Mental Health Clinical Lead for Greater Manchester and East Cheshire Strategic Clinical Network, NHSE North Clinical Lead for Early Intervention in Psychosis for the North West and Honorary Professor at Liverpool University. His research interests are on the development of novel interventions for people with psychosis and preventative interventions for...
Nikki Dehmahdi
Nikki Dehmahdi - Assistant Psychologist (Research) Nikki Dehmahdi is an Assistant Research Psychologist who will be working across a number of trials at PRU. At present she is assisting with the IF CBT trial which is a feasibility study investigating whether combined individual and family cognitive behavioural therapy CBT is beneficial for people who are at risk of developing Psychosis. Nikki is also working towards establishing the minimum clinically important difference...
Dr Natasha Holden
Dr Natasha Holden - Clinical Psychologist Natasha Holden is a Clinical Psychologist. Her main role within PRU is to deliver structured interventions CBT to clients with varying presentations including individuals with psychosis not currently taking any medication, individuals who have experiences of psychosis which have been unresponsive to Clozapine, and young people with emerging mental health difficulties. Links to the trials Natasha has been involved in can be found below. As...
Dr Liz Murphy
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Dr Liz Murphy - Clinical Psychologist Liz Murphy is a research clinical psychologist at The Psychosis Research Unit (PRU). Her role is to provide cognitive therapy to people who are participating in research trials. Since Liz joined the team in early 2014, she has provided therapy across a range of trials, including RESPECT (Reducing Self-stigma in Psychosis by engagement in Cognitive Therapy), FOCUS (Focusing On Clozapine Unresponsive Symptoms), COMPARE (Cognitive behavioural...