Primary Care & Health Sciences
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I joined Keele in 2007 as a research assistant within the Research Institute of Public Policy and Management, where my research focused on educational practice. I then moved to a research associate post within the Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences in 2008 where I have been working on projects looking at factors associated with low back pain. My undergraduate degree was in psychology (BSc Hons 1st, Staffordshire University, 2001) and my PhD was in Psychiatry, which considered the impact of behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (University of Birmingham, 2005).
My primary research focus is on the epidemiology of chronic pain. I am involved in projects that consider the long term outcomes for those with low back pain, the influence of families and partners on back pain, the psychosocial influences on chronic pain and the relationships between chronic pain and other common morbidities. Additional projects include considering long term prognostic factors for back pain, the role of sleep in the development of depression, and the role of early childhood trauma on pain in adulthood.
Selected Publications
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2013. Prognostic Indicators of Low Back Pain in Primary Care: Five-Year Prospective Study. Journal of Pain. doi>
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2013. The role of sleep problems in the development of depression in those with persistent pain: a prospective cohort study. Sleep.
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2012. Impact of pain intensity on the relationship quality between couples where one has long term back pain. Poster presentation at RCGP conference, Glasgow, 2012.
Full Publications List show
Journal Articles
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2013. Prognostic Indicators of Low Back Pain in Primary Care: Five-Year Prospective Study. Journal of Pain. doi>
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2013. The role of sleep problems in the development of depression in those with persistent pain: a prospective cohort study. Sleep.
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2012. The association of anxiety and depression with future dementia diagnosis:a case control study in primary care. Family Practice. doi>
Other
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2012. Impact of pain intensity on the relationship quality between couples where one has long term back pain. Poster presentation at RCGP conference, Glasgow, 2012.
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2012. The role of sleep problems in the development of depression among those with chronic pain: a prospective cohort study. Poster presentation, SAPC, Glasgow 2012.
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2012. Anxiety and chronic widespread pain: the moderating effect of childhood abuse. Poster presentation, 14th World Congress on Pain, Milan, 2012.
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2012. Conceptual overlap of psychological constructs in low back pain:exploratory and confirmatory analysis. Oral presentation. Society for Back Pain Research. Isle of Man, 2012.
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2012. Prognostic indicators of low back pain in primary care: 5 year prospective study. Oral presentation. Society for Back Pain Research. Isle of Man 2012.
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2011. The influence of employment social support for risk and prognosis in non-specific spinal pain: a systematic review and meta analysis. Poster presentation. Society for Social Medicine, 2011, Warwick University, UK.
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2010. The role of relationship quality and perceived partner responses with pain and disability for those with back pain. Oral presentation. Society for Back Pain Research 2010. University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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2008. Evaluation of the Tamworth Child and Family Support Panel: Phase 2. Staffordshire County Council.
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2007. Evaluation of the Tamworth Child and Family Support Panel: Phase 1. Staffordshire County Council.
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2006. Evaluation of a comprehensive therapy intervention within a secondary educational setting. Current Education and Children's Services Research. Record No - 3818. www.ceruk.ac.uk. link>
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2004. An investigation of the impact of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) on carer well-being. Abstract. Neurobiology of Ageing. 25, S2, p 343.
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2004. Psychological morbidity and depression in carers. Alzheimer Society Making Headway Conference, 2004, Birmingham UK.
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2004. The determinants of burden in carers of those with dementia. 9th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders, 2004, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Quantitative Research Methods SSC (School of Medicine)
Psychosocial Aspects of Pain (School of Health and Rehabilitation)
Study co-ordinator - BaRNS and BeBack follow up studies
Chair - Psychology Discussion Group (RIPCHS)
Project supervision - MMedSci, PhD
Memberships - Society for Back Pain Research

