Prof Chris Armitage, Prof N Kapur
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Recent work led by the University of Manchester has developed and tested a very brief theory-based psychological intervention (the “volitional help sheet”, VHS) that significantly reduces suicidal ideation and behaviour among people admitted to hospital following an episode of self-harm (Armitage et al., British Journal of Psychiatry, 2016). However, it is not yet known whether the intervention is acceptable to- and effective in- preventing suicidal ideation and behaviour among the broader population (e.g., people who do not necessarily access conventional services). The goal of this PhD will be to translate these early promising findings into an intervention that will meet the needs of people who may be at risk of self-harm and/or suicide but who have not necessarily been admitted to hospital.
This PhD will seek to address three key issues:
a) Do people who may be at risk of self-harm think the VHS for self-harm is acceptable? What improvements would they make?
b) Does the VHS for self-harm reduce suicidal ideation and behaviour among people who may be at risk of self-harm?
c) What are the facilitators/barriers for making the VHS for self-harm a tool to be used routinely for preventing suicidal ideation and behaviour?
Funding Notes
3 year studentship funded by the NIHR Patient Safety Translational Research Centre.
Candidates are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum upper second class undergraduate degree ((or equivalent) in a relevant subject area. An MSc in Health Psychology is desirable.
Please select PhD Psychology on the online application form.
The start date will be September 2018
References
Armitage, C. J., Rahim, W. A., Rowe, R., O'Connor, R. C. (2016). An exploratory randomised trial of a simple, brief psychological intervention to reduce subsequent suicidal ideation and behaviour in patients admitted to hospital for self-harm. British Journal of Psychiatry, 208, 470-476. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.162495
Armitage, C. J. (2015). Randomised test of a brief psychological intervention to reduce and prevent emotional eating in a community sample. Journal of Public Health, 37, 438-444. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdv054