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 paranoid thoughts or distressing voices (psychotic experiences). 

My fellowship is investigating the psychological mechanisms involved in the experience of hearing harmful 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 co-ordinated the OWLS and OASIS trials.  OASIS demonstrated that insomnia is one contributory cause of a range of mental health problems, including paranoia and hallucinatory experiences.  OWLS demonstrated that it is feasible and acceptable to deliver a two week CBT intervention to stabilise sleep for patients admitted at acute crisis to a psychiatric hospital.  The treatment led to large effect size improvements in insomnia.

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