News from Bahman Baluch

Bahman has been invited to act as external examiner for a PhD at the University of Hong Kong.

The Viva is likely to be in October 2015.

Visiting Speaker: Prof. Richard Bentall, University of Liverpool

Richard Bentall is Professor of Clinical Psychology at Liverpool University. His research interests have mainly focused on psychosis. He has studied the cognitive and emotional mechanisms involved in psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoid delusions and manic states, using methods ranging from psychological experiments, and experience sampling to functional magnetic resonance imaging. Most recently, his research has focused on why social risk factors (for example childhood adversities such as poverty, abuse, and bullying) provoke the cognitive and emotional changes that lead to these symptoms. He has published over 200 peer-review papers and a number of books including Madness explained: Psychosis and human nature (Penguin, 2003) and Doctoring the mind: Why psychiatric treatments fail (Penguin, 2009).

Seminar Title: “From Social Risk Factors to Psychosis"

Date: September 24th 2015

Time: 16:00-17:00
Room: Committee Room 3, Town Hall 

Abstract: Standard approaches to psychosis have emphasised genetic determinants based on the misunderstanding that high heritability indices indicate that the lion's share of causation must go to genes. In fact, genetic research at the molecular level has failed to find genes of major effect and has revealed that the the genetic risk for mental illness is massively polygenic and diagnostically non-specific. In contrast, recent research, often supported by meta-analyses, has shown large associations between a variety of social risk factors and psychosis including: poverty, social inequality, exposure to urban environments, belonging to an ethnic minority, inadequate communication style in parents, mistreatment and other types of trauma in childhood and victimisation in adulthood. Many of these effects seem strongest when exposure occurs in childhood, but there is evidence that a childhood adversity followed by adult adversity is particularly toxic. In our own research we have found associations between specific kinds of social adversity and specific types of symptoms. For example, childhood sexual abuse is a particular risk factor for hallucinations and disruption of early attachment relationships is a particular risk factor for paranoid symptoms. These associations point to symptom-specific pathways by which adversity impacts on specific cognitive and affective processes, leading to specific symptoms. They also point to the importance of developing a discipline of public mental health.

For more information about Prof. Bentall's work, see: 

https://www.liv.ac.uk/psychology-health-and-society/staff/richard-bentall/

Also, read an interesting interview carried out by the BPS for The Psychologist in 2011: One-on-One with Richard Bentall: 

https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-24/edition-4/one-onewith-richard-bentall

The Quest Study

Lisa Marzano at Middlesex University and the University of Westminster are recruiting volunteers to take part in a new study commissioned by Samaritans, aimed at investigating suicide in specific settings and what can be done to prevent them. See the recent Middlesex articles by Lisa for more information: http://mdxminds.com/2015/09/10/the-quest-study-qualitative-understanding-of-experiencing-suicidal-thoughts/





Please see the link below for more details about the study or information about how to take part.

http://www.samaritans.org/about-us/our-research/current-research-projects/quest-study 

Linda Duffy's Book Chapter

Pictured is Linda Duffy's book chapter published with colleagues in Croatia. 

 

Linda Duffy's Masters student, Hannah Newman, at the FESPAC

Linda Duffy's Masters student, Hannah Newman, presented a poster of their work, "Depressive Symptoms in Cricketers: The Relationship with Neuroticism, Fear of Failure and Emotional Intelligence" at the FESPAC European Federation of Sport Psychology in Bern, Switzerland.

Sexual Violence Conference 17-18th September, Middlesex University

Ellouise Long discusses the need to consider trolling as a form of online violence and the role this plays in silencing women online ahead of her presentation at the Sexual Violence Conference hosted by Middlesex University in September 2015:

http://mdxminds.com/2015/07/06/convictions-for-violent-crimes-against-women-are-at-an-all-time-high-but-what-about-online-violence/ 



The Sexual Violence Conference takes place on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September 2015 at Middlesex University, bringing together practitioners, policy makers and academics who work in the field of sexual violence, to share their knowledge and understanding: http://www.mdx.ac.uk/events/2015/09/sexual-violence-conference

Research Seminar: Prof. Juan Augusto, Middlesex University

Date and time: Wednesday 8th July, 11:00am, room C217.

Title: “Examples of Ambient Assisted Living Systems Helping the Vulnerable"

Abstract: We will consider examples of Ambient Assisted Living systems which have been created to help vulnerable citizens. One of them was aimed at users officially diagnosed as experiencing early dementia symptoms, the other example is on an ongoing project trying to provide support for people with Down’s Syndrome. The seminar will explore the type of services delivered as well as the development methodology. Both projects have in common the use of user-centred development processes, with stakeholders engaging with the developing team from early stages and throughout the project.

Websites: 
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/staff-directory/augusto-juan-carlos
http://www.jcaugusto.com/