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All Outputs (18)

Precision computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) for adolescents with depression: a pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol for SPARX-UK (2024)
Journal Article
Khan, K., Hall, C. L., Babbage, C., Dodzo, S., Greenhalgh, C., Lucassen, M., …Hollis, C. (2024). Precision computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) for adolescents with depression: a pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol for SPARX-UK. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 10, Article 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01475-7

Background A serious game called SPARX (Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic, X-factor thoughts), originally developed in New Zealand and incorporating cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles, has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depressio... Read More about Precision computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) for adolescents with depression: a pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol for SPARX-UK.

The impacts associated with having ADHD: an umbrella review (2024)
Journal Article
French, B., Nalbant, G., Wright, H., Sayal, K., Daley, D., Groom, M. J., …Hall, C. L. (in press). The impacts associated with having ADHD: an umbrella review. Frontiers in Psychiatry,

Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects up to 5% of the population and is characterised by symptoms of impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention. These symptoms are significantly impairing and carry additional risks for... Read More about The impacts associated with having ADHD: an umbrella review.

We need timely access to mental health data: implications of the Goldacre review (2023)
Journal Article
Astle, D. E., Moore, A., Marryat, L., Viding, E., Mansfield, K. L., Fazel, M., …Ford, T. J. (2023). We need timely access to mental health data: implications of the Goldacre review. Lancet Psychiatry, 10(4), 242-244. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366%2823%2900030-5

The Goldacre review, published in April, 2022, 1 is a landmark evaluation of the use, availability, and safety of National Health Service (NHS) data across all four nations of the UK. The review underscores the necessary role of data in driving healt... Read More about We need timely access to mental health data: implications of the Goldacre review.

Investigating the relationship between bullying involvement and self-harmful thoughts and behaviour in young people: A systematic review (2022)
Journal Article
Moore, H., Sayal, K., Williams, A. J., & Townsend, E. (2022). Investigating the relationship between bullying involvement and self-harmful thoughts and behaviour in young people: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 315, 234-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.056

Background: There is a complex and inconsistent relationship between bullying involvement and self-harmful thoughts and behaviour (SHTB) in young people. This novel systematic review aims to establish key interacting, moderating and mediating variabl... Read More about Investigating the relationship between bullying involvement and self-harmful thoughts and behaviour in young people: A systematic review.

The feasibility of a strategy for the remote recruitment, consenting and assessment of recent referrals: a protocol for phase 1 of the On-Line Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA) (2022)
Journal Article
Kostyrka-Allchorne, K., Ballard, C., Byford, S., Cortese, S., Daley, D., Downs, J., …Sonuga-Barke, E. J. (2022). The feasibility of a strategy for the remote recruitment, consenting and assessment of recent referrals: a protocol for phase 1 of the On-Line Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA). Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00959-0

Background: In the UK, children with high levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention referred to clinical services with possible attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often wait a long time for specialist diagnostic assessment. Pa... Read More about The feasibility of a strategy for the remote recruitment, consenting and assessment of recent referrals: a protocol for phase 1 of the On-Line Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA).

What young people say about impulsivity in the short-term build up to self-harm: A qualitative study using card-sort tasks (2020)
Journal Article
Lockwood, J., Townsend, E., Allen, H., Daley, D., & Sayal, K. (2020). What young people say about impulsivity in the short-term build up to self-harm: A qualitative study using card-sort tasks. PLoS ONE, 15(12), Article e0244319. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244319

Youth who self-harm report high levels of trait impulsivity and identify impulsive behaviour as a proximal factor directly preceding a self-harm act. Yet, impulsivity is a multidimensional construct and distinct impulsivity-related facets relate diff... Read More about What young people say about impulsivity in the short-term build up to self-harm: A qualitative study using card-sort tasks.

What do young people who self-harm find helpful? A comparative study of young people with and without experience of being looked after in care: What do young people who self-harm find helpful? (2020)
Journal Article
Holland, J., Sayal, K., Berry, A., Sawyer, C., Majumder, P., Vostanis, P., …Townsend, E. (2020). What do young people who self-harm find helpful? A comparative study of young people with and without experience of being looked after in care: What do young people who self-harm find helpful?. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 25(3), 157-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12384

Background Self‐harm amongst young people is an increasing problem, with looked‐after young people at higher risk. Despite this, little research exists on what young people who self‐harm find helpful. Method One hundred and twenty‐six 11–21... Read More about What do young people who self-harm find helpful? A comparative study of young people with and without experience of being looked after in care: What do young people who self-harm find helpful?.

Feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for young people with depression and repeat self-harm: lessons learnt (e-DASH) (2019)
Journal Article
Sayal, K., Roe, J., Ball, H., Atha, C., Kaylor-Hughes, C., Guo, B., …Morriss, R. (2019). Feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for young people with depression and repeat self-harm: lessons learnt (e-DASH). BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), Article 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-2005-3

Background Self-harm and depression are strong risk factors for repeat self-harm and suicide. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy (PSCBT)... Read More about Feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for young people with depression and repeat self-harm: lessons learnt (e-DASH).

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of young people’s self-harm in the context of interpersonal stressors and supports: parents, peers and clinical services (2018)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Vostanis, P., Sayal, K., Majumder, P., Harroe, C., Clarke, D., …Townsend, E. (2018). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of young people’s self-harm in the context of interpersonal stressors and supports: parents, peers and clinical services. Social Science and Medicine, 212, 120-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.07.021

Rationale: Self-harm in young people is of significant clinical concern. Multiple psychological, social and clinical factors contribute to self-harm, but it remains a poorly understood phenomenon with limited effective treatment options. Objective: T... Read More about An interpretative phenomenological analysis of young people’s self-harm in the context of interpersonal stressors and supports: parents, peers and clinical services.

What do young adolescents think about taking part in longitudinal self-harm research?: findings from a school-based study (2018)
Journal Article
Lockwood, J., Townsend, E., Royes, L., Daley, D., & Sayal, K. (2018). What do young adolescents think about taking part in longitudinal self-harm research?: findings from a school-based study. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 12(23), https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-018-0230-7

Background: Research about self-harm in adolescence is important given the high incidence in youth, and strong links to suicide and other poor outcomes. Clarifying the impact of involvement in school based self-harm studies on young adolescents is an... Read More about What do young adolescents think about taking part in longitudinal self-harm research?: findings from a school-based study.

Experience of self-harm and its treatment in looked-after young people: an interpretative phenomenological analysis (2017)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Armstrong, M., Clarke, D., Harroe, C., Majumder, P., Sayal, K., …Townsend, E. (in press). Experience of self-harm and its treatment in looked-after young people: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Archives of Suicide Research, 22(3), https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2017.1355286

Objectives: We report the first Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis examination of self-harm and experience of clinical services in young people in the public care system. Methods: Qualitative interviews with 24 looked-after young people. Result... Read More about Experience of self-harm and its treatment in looked-after young people: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

A sequence analysis of patterns in self-harm in young people with and without experience of being looked-after in care (2017)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Clarke, D., Sayal, K., Armstrong, M., Harroe, C., Majumder, P., …Townsend, E. (2017). A sequence analysis of patterns in self-harm in young people with and without experience of being looked-after in care. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(4), 388-407. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12145

Objectives: Young people in the public care system (‘looked-after’ young people) have high levels of self-harm. Design: This paper reports the first detailed study of factors leading to self-harm over time in looked-after young people in England, usi... Read More about A sequence analysis of patterns in self-harm in young people with and without experience of being looked-after in care.

Functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance in a community sample with no self-injury vs. non-suicidal self-injury only vs. those with both non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour (2017)
Journal Article
Nielsen, E., Sayal, K., & Townsend, E. (2017). Functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance in a community sample with no self-injury vs. non-suicidal self-injury only vs. those with both non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6), Article 575. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060575

Although emotional avoidance may be a critical factor in the pathway from psychological distress to self-injury and/or suicidality, little is known about the relative importance of differing functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance betwe... Read More about Functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance in a community sample with no self-injury vs. non-suicidal self-injury only vs. those with both non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour.

Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: a systematic review (2016)
Journal Article
Lockwood, J., Daley, D., Townsend, E., & Sayal, K. (2017). Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: a systematic review. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26(4), 387-402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0915-5

Research supports an association between impulsivity and self-harm, yet inconsistencies in methodology across studies have complicated understanding of this relationship. This systematic review examines the association between impulsivity and self-ha... Read More about Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: a systematic review.

Dealing with difficult days: functional coping dynamics in self-harm ideation and enactment (2016)
Journal Article
Nielsen, E., Sayal, K., & Townsend, E. (2017). Dealing with difficult days: functional coping dynamics in self-harm ideation and enactment. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.036

Background: Self-harm affords people a means of coping. However, little is known about how functional coping dynamics differ between stressful situations in which people self-harm (enactment), think about harming (ideation), or experience no self-har... Read More about Dealing with difficult days: functional coping dynamics in self-harm ideation and enactment.

Exploring the relationship between experiential avoidance, coping functions and the recency and frequency of self-harm (2016)
Journal Article
Schmahl, C., Nielsen, E., Sayal, K., & Townsend, E. (2016). Exploring the relationship between experiential avoidance, coping functions and the recency and frequency of self-harm. PLoS ONE, 11(7), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159854

This study investigated the relationship between experiential avoidance, coping and the recency and frequency of self-harm, in a community sample (N = 1332, aged 16–69 years). Participants completed online, self-report measures assessing self-harm, m... Read More about Exploring the relationship between experiential avoidance, coping functions and the recency and frequency of self-harm.

Uncovering key patterns in self-harm in adolescents: sequence analysis using the card sort task for self-harm (CaTS) (2016)
Journal Article
Townsend, E., Wadman, R., Sayal, K., Armstrong, M., Harroe, C., Majumder, P., …Clarke, D. (2016). Uncovering key patterns in self-harm in adolescents: sequence analysis using the card sort task for self-harm (CaTS). Journal of Affective Disorders, 206, 161-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.004

Background Self-harm is a significant clinical issue in adolescence. There is little research on the interplay of key factors in the months, weeks, days and hours leading to self-harm. We developed the Card Sort Task for Self-Harm (CaTS) to invest... Read More about Uncovering key patterns in self-harm in adolescents: sequence analysis using the card sort task for self-harm (CaTS).

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-harm repetition and recovery in young adults (2016)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Clarke, D., Sayal, K., Vostanis, P., Armstrong, M., Harroe, C., …Townsend, E. (2016). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-harm repetition and recovery in young adults. Journal of Health Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316631405

Six young adults (19–21) with repeat self-harm for over five years were interviewed about their self-harm, why they continued and what factors might help them to stop. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis identified six themes: Keeping self-harm... Read More about An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-harm repetition and recovery in young adults.