Multimethod approach to understanding multimorbidity in psychosis

About the project

This project will start in October 2022 in the Centre for Psychiatry & Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London. The project is in collaboration with NHS East London Foundation Trust and University of Oxford. The project will be supervised by Dr Georgina Hosang (primary supervisor, Queen Mary University of London), Dr Mark Freestone (Queen Mary University of London) and Professor Kamaldeep Bhui (University of Oxford).

 The project can be offered as a 1+3 (MRes + PhD) or a +3 (PhD) dependent on the student’s previous research methods training and ability to meet the ESRC’s requirements.

Project summary

People who suffer from psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, find that their perceptions or interpretations of reality are distorted: for example, they may hear voices from people that that are not there. In the UK rates of psychosis are especially high in East London boroughs, such as Newham or Tower Hamlets. Over 50% of people with psychosis are diagnosed with a long-term health condition, such as diabetes or heart disease. In fact, over a third experience a greater number of long-term conditions than the rest of the population, contributing to a reduced life expectancy of up to 18 years in people with psychotic disorders. Little is known about the social factors, such as stress, that might increase the risk of multiple long-term conditions in this group.

This PhD project will address this knowledge gap by investigating the individual and combined impact of social factors on multiple long-term conditions among people with psychosis by analysing available East London data, as well as collecting real-life perspectives and accounts from people with psychosis and clinicians in East London. The results of this work will be important to how we deliver services since it will highlight those most vulnerable to multiple long-term conditions and who would benefit most from clinical support and treatment.

Essential criteria

• Applicants should have or expect to receive a good (2:1 or first class) undergraduate degree in psychology or related field.
• If applying for the +3 studentship, the applicant should have a Masters degree (Merit or above) in psychology or related field and training in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Training, experience and/or interest in mental and physical health, stress and/or lived experience perspectives on related topics.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team across different sites.
• Initiative and ability to work independently

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with people with mental illnesses
• Research experience collecting sensitive interview data and/or analysis of existing quantitative data
• Experience using statistical (e.g., SPSS) and qualitative analysis (e.g., NVIVO) software packages

Key dates and further information 

-Deadline: Monday 21^st February 2022 

-Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place: week beginning 7^th March 2022 

-The successful candidate will be asked to complete an Advanced DBS check upon commencing the post. 

How to apply

Please visit https://www.qmul.ac.uk/wiph/our-research/postgraduate-research/liss-dtp-case-studentship/ to submit an application