PhD Studentship: Illness and Treatment Perceptions in Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a long-term, serious condition. To promote recovery, individuals diagnosed with BD benefit from different methods of self-management. There are particular advantages derived from individuals being able to spot early warning signs of recurrence and fully engaging with treatment recommendations. Self-management is a challenge across all long-term conditions, but there are particular challenges in the presence of mood instability. Health psychology theory provides some explanation of the link between perceptions and behaviour, particularly when mediated by coping response. This applied PhD study will explore in detail the development, content and impact of illness and treatment perceptions amongst people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, considering implications for theory and practice.

This PhD will provide an opportunity for further investigation into the development, content and impact of illness and treatment perceptions amongst people diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Objectives for the study will include:-
1. Development of a detailed outline of the common-sense models employed by people diagnosed with bipolar disorder to understand their illness and treatment experiences. The framework of self-regulatory theory (SRT) will be utilised to interpret how different stages of the care across the care pathway, including diagnostic experiences / delay, have informed both illness and treatment perceptions.

2. To highlight then interpret any variation between the perceptions of illness and treatment amongst those diagnosed with different subtypes of BD (BPI, BPII, schizoaffective disorder) or those with a specific clinical course (such as rapid cycling or postpartum only episodes) to highlight key barriers to treatment adherence and guide the development of person-centred approaches.

3. To explore how illness perceptions shape decisions about help-seeking and treatment, including relationships with behaviours (including adherence to medication) and the role of personal control (external or internal).

For further details and for an application form visit: http://www.worcester.ac.uk/researchstudentships

For an informal discussion about the studentship please contact Professor Eleanor Bradley (email: [Email Address Removed])

For questions regarding the application process, please contact the Research School (email: [Email Address Removed] or tel: +44 1905 54 2182)