Applied Mental Health Research Group
The Mental Health Research Unit (MHRU) based at Kingsway House, Kingsway Hospital, Derby, was established in 1996 as a collaboration between Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Derby.
Under the direction of Paul Gilbert (Professor in Clinical Psychology), the MHRU has earned an international reputation for work in a number of areas such as mood disorders, psychosis, social anxiety, shame, self-criticism and compassion. This has resulted in the development of what is called Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). CFT addresses people's difficulties in self-acceptance or self kindness, especially when faced with distressing situations. We are just completing a study looking at the effectiveness of CFT for people with chronic eating difficulties (anorexia) and we are hoping to expand our research and therapeutic work to more clinical areas within the Trust. The MHRU has been among the first to identify the fear of positive emotion and, in particular, the fear of compassion and is exploring the nature of the fear of compassion in therapeutic contexts.
As well as high-profile, published research undertaken by the MHRU's research team, research activity within the MHRU ranges from support for small scale studies undertaken by Trust staff, to involvement in UK-wide studies. The MHRU is a linked clinical site of the East Midlands Hub of the Mental Health Research Network, and now employs two Clinical Studies Officers (CSOs) to assist with the Trust's involvement in national research studies.
Mental Health Research Unit
Kingsway House
Kingsway Hospital
Kingsway
Derby
DE22 3LZ
Tel: 01332 623579
Fax: 01332 623576
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