PhD Study : Modelling the stress related continuum based on a nationally representative UK survey.

Apply and key information

Summary

For the upcoming 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), the ICD-11 Working Group for Disorders Specifically Associated with Stress disaggregated trauma-related symptoms into those that were deemed to be directly related to the traumatic event, and those that were deemed to reflect more pervasive psychological disturbances that can arise following traumatic exposure, but are not necessarily directly linked to the traumatic event itself (Maercker et al., 2013). This separation of symptoms led to the formulation of two distinct, but related, trauma-based disorders: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). The diagnosis of CPTSD includes the core PTSD symptoms, and additional symptom clusters that reflect disturbances in self-organization (DSO). The DSO symptom clusters include (1) affective dysregulation, both hyperactivation and hypoactivation of emotional responses, (2) a persistent negative self-concept, and (3) disturbances in relationships. It is proposed that PTSD and CPTSD represent important elements in a ‘stress response continuum’, but also that other psychological disorders may be part of this. For example, anxiety, adjustment disorder, complicated grief, symptom indicators of borderline personality disorder, and psychotic-like experiences may all represent different points on the ‘stress response continuum’ and be predicted by specific patterns of trauma exposure. This model is analogous to the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) that models diagnoses as indictors of global trans-diagnostic latent variables (Kotov et al., 2017).This project will be based on data from a large nationally representative survey of the UK general population (data will be available December 2017) and is in collaboration with Thanos Karatzias, a Professor of Mental Health at Edinburgh Napier University, and a Clinical and Health Psychologist at the Rivers Centre for Traumatic Stress, Edinburgh. It is expected that the successful applicant will (1) develop a comprehensive understanding of psychometric models of mental health, (2) skills in quantitative statistical methods, (3) work with Professor Karatzias and Dr Gorman on the clinical implications of the study, and (4) be instrumental in the production of high-quality publications.

References

Kotov, R., Krueger, R. F., Watson, D., Achenbach, T. M., Althoff, R. R., Bagby, R. M.,…Zimmerman, M. (2017). The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP): A dimensional alternative to traditional nosologies. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 126(4), 454–477. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/abn0000258
Cloitre, M., Garvert, D. W., Weiss, B., Carlson, E. B., & Bryant, R. A. (2014). Distinguishing PTSD, complex PTSD, and borderline personality disorder: A latent class analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5(1), 25097.
Wolf, E. J., Miller, M. W., Kilpatrick, D., Resnick, H. S., Badour, C. L., Marx, B. P., ... & Friedman, M. J. (2015). ICD–11 complex PTSD in US national and veteran samples: Prevalence and structural associations with PTSD. Clinical Psychological Science, 3(2), 215-229.
Schnyder, U., & Cloitre, M. (Eds.). (2015). Evidence based treatments for trauma-related psychological disorders: A practical guide for clinicians. Springer.
Caspi, A., Houts, R. M., Belsky, D. W., Goldman-Mellor, C. J., Harrington, H., Israel, S., … Moffitt, T. E. (2014). The p factor: one general psychopathology factor in the structure of psychiatric disorders? Clinical Psychological Science, 2, 119-137.
Kotov, R., Ruggero, C. J., Krueger, R. F., Watson, D., Yuan, Q., & Zimmerman, M. (2011). New dimensions in the quantitative classification of mental illness. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68, 1003-1011.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

First Class Honours (1st) Degree
Masters at 70%
Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
Publications record appropriate to career stage

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living