Centre for Public and Psychosocial Health

Understanding and affecting mechanisms of risk and resilience in Mental health. This work employs psychosocial and biological methods to understand vulnerability to common psychological disorders (Depression, Schizophrenia, Eating Disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, ADHD, Autism, Personality Disorders), and uses that knowledge to develop and evaluate interventions to protect against the onset-, facilitate recovery from- or manage living with psychopathology. It provides for research-informed teaching on several modules (advanced biological psychology, clinical neuropsychology, personality, personality disorders and violence), including one of the largest year three modules in NTU Psychology, Psychopathology.

Our work on trauma and distress comprises several qualitative and quantitative studies. Qualitative work includes studies of the psychological impact of sharing traumatic experiences within the family; The psychological impact of documenting stories of trauma; The impact of traumatic injuries and predictors of return to work; The experience of gender-based violence in war- coping strategies and justice; evaluating psychological intervention for violent women in forensic settings.

Quantitative work seeks to investigate and ameliorate the impact of trauma on psychological wellbeing, including the evaluation of interventions (e.g., psychosensory, psychoeducation, cognitive training, mindfulness, embodiment and self-compassion) to lower distress in response to trauma and improve psychological outcomes. Examples of intervention groups include: mother-child dyads emerging from domestic violence backgrounds; children with adverse experiences (e.g., history of child labour in India); academics and students; care workers; athletes; parents with distressed infants/excessive crying.

Our work in adverse childhood experiences on mental health and trauma-informed intervention focuses on investigating the risk factors and impact of adverse childhood experiences, such as domestic violence and abuse (DVA), and trauma-focused intervention approaches. Within this work, we seek empirical evidence to identify intervention targets and evaluate interventions for building resilience, processing trauma and coping with negative or dysregulated mood states (e.g., fear, anxiety, anger, aggression) that might result from adversity. There are several ongoing projects that are highly impactful and involve 3^rd sector organisations, schools and practitioners. For example, members of the centre (i) examine the impact of domestic violence and abuse on mental well-being in children (see LWA Flagship study), (ii) teachers recognition of the signs of child abuse and DVA in school teachers. This work is impactful in supporting the educational sector to identify at risk individuals for referral, prevention and early intervention.

These projects also involve collaborations with third sector organisations with clear pathways to national and international impact. This research is evidence-based practice-focused, where we apply evidence and theory to the implementation and evaluation of assessment and intervention approaches. We have extensively engaged with external partners and organisational bodies contributing to the release of various reports and presentation at external political bodies (e.g., United Nations). This is currently generating substantial impact.

This converges with current collaboration with India and London on the impact of trauma on brain function and cognitive remodelling in children and adolescence. Trauma is a major risk factor for dysregulation of the immune system (inflammation) and as such increases vulnerability to several psychological and physical illnesses.

Our work particularly focuses on behavioural addiction and includes the prevention and reduction of problem gambling, problem gaming, problem social media use (and other behavioural addictions); as well as identifying, evaluating and promoting safer behaviour and ways to alleviate suffering of people impacted by behavioural addictions. For example, we evaluate responsible gambling tools offered by the gambling industry. Other work identifies problematic online gambling and internet use using account-based tracking data and WIFI use (e.g., by students at university).

We promote evidence-based decision making in determining practice and policy​ in the area of behavioural addictions among multi-stakeholder groups. Our IGRU/Behavioural addiction research group is one of the most well-known and highly published internationally in this field. We also undertake some research in substance addiction. For example, on assessment of brain function in people recovering from substance addiction; and investigation of co-occurrence between substance and behavioural addiction.

Our cyberpsychology work seeks to improve safety and security of internet-based lifestyles and user outcomes for engagement with digital technologies. This includes investigation of prevalence and mitigation of problematic or excessive uses of digital technologies, and the development of programmes to enhance online, digital and media literacy skills, with the view to improving health and wellbeing.

Our work in personality is impactful and theory shifting. Our ongoing work develops personality frameworks (e.g., re-enforcement sensitivity, dark traits, empathy, schizotypy) that can be applied to explain, and predict, behaviour and wellbeing. We use self-report experimental designs, including virtual reality and biological methods to understand individual differences in personality and how these relate to risk for poor psychological health and/or maladaptive behaviour. For example, our work on aversive traits such as psychopathy has led to the discovery of a novel psychological construct which we have coined as the “The Dark Empath” (see flagship).

This work challenges the traditional theory that dark traits are underpinned by the absence of empathy, rather it proposes empathy as particularly protective in the context of dark traits. It formed part of a triad of dark trait papers that resulted in theoretical and practical impact, informing our understanding of dysfunctional attachment bonds and indirect/less observable forms of interpersonal aggression in those dark traits. The findings of this research stream strongly influence and directly impact our other research programmes on the impact of adverse childhood experiences on mental health and development of trauma-informed interventions. This work has also overlap with our collaborative (Brunel University, Broadmoor Hospital) studies in forensic populations (e.g., men with a history of homicide).

We use various brain imaging methods (e.g., electroencephalography, functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging, near infrared spectroscopy) to understand neurobiological underpinnings of both healthy and unhealthy function. In addition to traditional methods, we collaborate with computer scientists and engineers to apply machine learning methods for categorisation and prediction of brain states associated with health and/or response to intervention.

Our innovative work in molecular psychology integrates understanding of the central nervous system with the immune and enteric systems. Such work provides novel understanding of biological mechanisms underpinning several grand challenges in psychological health (schizophrenia, depression, maladaptive aggression, dementia), which substantially impact society and economic wellbeing. For example, depression is one of the most prevalent and disabling disorders worldwide, accounting for substantial personal, societal, health and economic burden (33% disability costs) and is a significant risk factor for all noncommunicable diseases.

Our work in this area includes local (cross-centre) and international (NZ, Singapore) collaborative projects on the role of the immune system in psychological (e.g., depression) and physical (e.g., prostate cancer) wellbeing. It contributes to understanding mechanisms of risk (e.g., between co-occurring disorders, due to genotypes, or as a results of environment/trauma) and intervention (e.g., based on nutrition, social connection, mindfulness, emotional training). We can use this information to advise people on optimising wellbeing throughout the lifespan, and directing intervention strategies through precision medicine. This work has contributed to the development of the university research environment by supporting the establishment of a wetlab in NTU psychology and upgrading lipid analysis capability in Chemistry. It forms the basis of several (10 ongoing) PhDs and external income.

This programme evaluates work, education and recreation spaces for their impact on health, performance and wellbeing. For example, using virtual reality technology we have re-design NTU building interiors to enhance biophilic quality bringing nature into the space. We compare spaces varying in biophlic quality on participant self-reported wellbeing and brain responses whilst investigations. We also explore the role of Art in a similar way. If our ideas are supported, we will be able to identify ways in which NTU can cost-effectively enhance student experience. This work has been funded through KTP and internal awards.

We have several ongoing projects aimed at supporting psychological function and quality of life in an increasingly ageing society. People live and work longer (1/6 people will be over 60 in 2030). By 2050, over-80-year-olds will triple those of 2020[1]. Yet, cognitive health in older people has not improved comparatively. This carries huge individual, societal and economic burden. Unless addressed, age-related spending in UK will exceed 26% of GDP by 2065. Thus, in 2018, UK directed £300m toward resolving the grand challenge of an ageing society. Equally important to reducing pathology is understanding psychological thriving in life’s later years which has implications for productivity and safety in working life, supporting socialisation and self-efficacy, reducing loneliness, and improving overall quality-of-life.

In order to capitalise on the benefits of an ageing society, we seek to understand and ameliorate adverse changes in cognitive function that can occur with age. These include impairment to sensory processing, memory, executive function and understanding others. Some of this work applies machine learning methods to brain data to improve early detection and diagnosis of pathological ageing (e.g., dementia). Our other work aims to support people who are experiencing cognitive decline in everyday activities such as shopping and/or making financial decisions. This work is supported by external bids (see below) and contributes to several PGR projects. Work in has stimulated collaboration across NTU as well as nationally and internationally.  We also have ongoing involvement in relevant third sector organisations (e.g., for Parkinson’s Disease).

Our lifespan work includes studies that aim to understand and support people with developmental disorders, such as Attention, deficit hyperactivity disorder, Autism and Schizophrenia. This includes understanding and addressing particular needs of neurodiverse populations and creating learning programmes that cater to those needs.

For example, the Point OutWords (TM) AP (see flagship) aims to help people with autism work with their parents, caregivers, teachers or therapists to learn how to communicate by pointing, typing or speaking. Other work investigates the impact of domestic abuse on the development of internalising and externalising disorders in children and adolescents.

We have several major ongoing projects that seek to develop health care capacity in low-and middle-income countries. Of particular note, is our Public Health work in Uganda, where we have developed significant training programmes for health care professionals. We have also worked with colleagues in Uganda and Kenya to create a transnational mobility programme. This aligns to NTU’s Connecting Globally strategy in providing staff and student mobility to broaden horizons and gain a competitive edge in the global arena.