DClinPsych student David Sher shares his latest research publication

David Sher is reading for a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at New College. Previously, he has completed a DPhil (PhD) within the Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP) research group, at the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry. The DPhil was supervised by Professor Daniel Freeman, a renowned authority on psychosis. David’s work centred on exploring the experiences of patients that have recovered from paranoia, in order to inform understanding and more effective treatment for people experiencing persecutory delusions. Additionally, David’s work explored the onset, persistence, and remission of paranoia. A core focus of his work included investigation of patient priorities in terms of future research and treatment. David also has a research background in autism, psychology, and education, having completed an MPhil in these areas at Gonville & Caius College at the University of Cambridge. 

His latest article, published in the British Medical Journal (Mental Health) explores potential research priorities for understanding and treating severe paranoia through a priority-setting partnership between patients, carers, mental health staff, and researchers. For the first time, people with severe paranoia have been formally consulted and have revealed which research topics they feel should be prioritised. 

In this paper, the top 15 research priorities for severe paranoia are identified. The work was completed under the supervision of the Chair of Psychology at the Oxford University Department of Experimental Psychology, Professor Daniel Freeman, who is a world authority on delusions. A steering group with several lived experience representatives oversaw the conduct of the study.

The full article can be read here.