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Health and Well-Being Research Group

Health and Well-Being Research Group

The HWB Research Group comprises established researchers of international standing in the fields of clinical and health psychology. Our mission is to share expertise from a range of research areas in order to promote excellence in basic and applied psychology research in clinical and health psychology. Our research spans a wide range of areas and interests and is supported by Research Council, Government, Charity and Industry funding.

Members' interests and expertise

Clinical Psychology: Psychological aspects of multiple sclerosis, including cognition and emotion, natural history studies and medication efficacy; development, standardisation and validation of relevant measures. Cognitive characteristics of children with cochlear implants. Psychosocial, cognitive and affective factors in community clinical, offender and student populations associated with mental health problems such as major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, OCD, psychosis and deliberate self harm; future-directed thinking and its relationship to well-being and emotional disorders; cultural and religious factors affecting mental health, service provision and uptake; Children's experiences of mental health services; use of mindfulness to treat a range of psychological disorders.

Health Psychology: Psychological factors in the management of chronic diseases, including diabetes, HIV, kidney disease, degenerative diseases of the visual system, hypothyroidism and multiple sclerosis; the development, validation and use of patient-completed questionnaire measures; the health and well-being of older people; the impact of chronic disorders on children and adolescents; psychological outcomes and processes in clinical trials evaluation new treatments; application of health psychology to veterinary medicine; cognitive biases in chronic pain; the role of health care professionals in facilitating health behaviour change.

Sources of research funding include:  BackCare, Bayer Healthcare, British Academy, British Council, British Psychological Society, Economic and Social Research Council, Leverhulme Trust, Medical Research Council,  Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Kidney Research Fund, Nuffield Foundation, PPP Healthcare Trust.

The HWB group is convened by Dr Rebecca Brewer. Please see here for list of current members, publications, and projects.

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