Bryony Sheaves

I am a Research Clinical Psychologist within O-CAP. The overall aim of my research is to improve psychological treatments for people experiencing distressing voices and paranoid thoughts (psychotic experiences). 

My fellowship is investigating the psychological mechanisms involved in the experience of hearing derogatory and threatening voices.  This will inform cognitive behavioural treatment developments.

Much of my work to date has focused on the association between sleep disturbance and psychotic experiences, working as part of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi).  Our research has highlighted novel psychological mechanisms associated with the occurrence of nightmares and we have used this to inform a brief CBT treatment for nightmares for patients experiencing high levels of paranoia (The Nightmare Intervention Study, NIteS).  

I have previously coordinated two insomnia treatment trials.  This work has shown that insomnia is one contributory cause of a range of mental health problems, including paranoia and hallucinatory experiences (OASIS).  The OWLS trial demonstrated that CBT for insomnia is feasible and acceptable to deliver in a brief intervention for patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward.  This sleep treatment led to large improvements in insomnia with promising reductions for mental health problems and length of admission.  

I have also enjoyed working as a trial clinical psychologist on the Feeling Safe Programme pilot study and the Self-Confidence Study.

I am an HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist and completed my clinical doctorate at the Institute of Psychiatry.  My research through my clinical training investigated the occurrence of nightmares in individuals who experience delusions and/or hallucinations.

Link to the Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis page