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 current focus is on the association between sleep disturbance and psychotic experiences, working as part of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi).  I am the trial co-ordinator and therapist for the Nightmare Intervention Study (NIteS).  This is testing a brief CBT intervention for nightmares for people experiencing paranoia.  

I have previously worked as trial co-ordinator for the OWLS and OASIS trials.  OWLS demonstrated that it is feasible and acceptable to deliver a 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.  The OASIS trial demonstrated that insomnia is one contributory cause of a range of mental health problems, including paranoia and hallucinatory experiences.  I have also enjoyed working as a trial clinical psychologist on other O-CAP trials including 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