Psychotherapy Research Day: Evidence and its discontents - Conference Resources 

The Faculty of Medical Psychotherapy welcome you to our inaugural one-day research conference. Designed to provoke critical thinking, the event features keynote speakers, poster presentations, and expert talks covering both qualitative and quantitative discipline.We look forward to welcoming you to London on Monday 13 July.

In an era where treatments live or die on the altar of their effectiveness, psychotherapy research remains contested. Can the complexity of therapy really be reduced to a single number? Are clinical trials tools of progress or instruments of distortion? And who gets to do research: only academics, or clinicians too? This is a day for challenge, dialogue, and fresh thinking, bringing together researchers and clinicians across modalities. 

Expect challenge over comfort, debate over consensus, and ideas that stay with you. Bring your questions. Bring your doubts. Bring your discontents. Join us to help shape the future of psychotherapy research in psychiatry.

Dr Vikram Luthra

Consultant Psychiatrist in Medical Psychotherapy (dual trained) at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Psychoanalyst (Member of Institute of Psychoanalysis). He is Clinical Lead for the Take Time (doctors and dentists in difficulty) service which covers the Yorkshire and Humber region. He is the Joint-Training Programme Director Medical Psychotherapy in Yorkshire and Humber. He is Vice- Chair of RCPsych Medical Psychotherapy Faculty. His work includes supporting the development of reflective skills in doctors and furthering psychotherapeutic skills within psychiatry.

He is an educator and trainer for undergraduate and postgraduate learners in Medicine and holds an Honorary Senior Lecturer position at the University of Leeds. He is an examiner for the RCPsych. His other interests include supporting the development of reflective skills in doctors and furthering psychotherapeutic skills within psychiatry.

 

Dr Giles Story

Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychotherapy Service, Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. Giles is a group analyst, and Academic working group lead, Medical Psychotherapy Faculty.

View the conference programme.

Does psychotherapy need research?

While clinical frameworks state that therapies offered within the NHS must be evidence-based, many practitioners question if the intersubjective nature of therapy can truly be captured by numerical data or clinical trials. Conversely, as psychiatry undergoes a "relational renaissance," new opportunities arise to use research creatively, including improving access for under-represented groups and developing more meaningful outcome measures.

Designed to provoke critical thinking, the event features keynote speakers, poster presentations, and expert talks covering both qualitative and quantitative disciplines. We look forward to you joining us for what will undoubtedly be a thought-provoking and enriching event.

Please note that the presentations are the intellectual property of the speaker and the College and any unauthorised broadcasting/copying of the material is strictly prohibited. Presentations are only available where speakers have kindly provided permission.

Statistical Spin, Linguistic Obfuscation – The Corruptions of Science - Farhad Dalal, psychotherapist and group analyst

The ‘Psi’ professions – psychiatry, psychology, as well as some schools of psychotherapy –claim to be scientific disciplines grounded in empirical evidence. In this talk I will argue that much of the evidence is problematic, and on some occasions downright corrupt. I will suggest that the issue is not one of ‘bad apples’, but is systemic. In particular, I will interrogate the evidential claims for the efficacy of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and find them wanting.

Grasping the Nettle: The Case for Psychotherapy Research - Liz Allison, Director of the Psychoanalysis Unit, University College London.  and Dr Emma Hotopf, consultant psychiatrist and clinical lead, Maudsley Self Harm Service

Dr Liz Allison and Dr Emma Hotopf will explore the challenges and benefits of engaging with research in psychotherapy for clinicians and for the field, drawing on examples from their own work with colleagues.  

Measuring Mentalising across Clinical Contexts: Some Lessons Learned - Implications for Practice and Research - Dr Tobias Nolte, psychoanalyst and research fellow, University College London

In this talk I will outline some of the lessons learned from assessing mentalizing in clinical practice and research. I will draw on findings from a number of studies (RCT and others) to facilitate discussion around the utility of measuring certain capacities of people undergoing NHS mental health secondary care. I will try and outline some aspects of how measurement-based approaches have informed the development of MBT and conclude with an agenda of how this can be taken forward in the future - primarily with a focus of co-created approaches.

Service user involvement in an RCT of MBT for offenders with antisocial personality disorder - Dr Jessica Yakeley, consultant psychiatrist and clinical lead, Portman Clinic

Service user involvement in psychotherapy research is in its infancy. In this talk, I describe 2 qualitative studies exploring the experiences of peer researchers, and of Experts by Experience ( individuals with lived experience of offending and mental health difficulties) involved in implementing a randomised controlled trial of mentalization-based treatment for antisocial personality disorder within the criminal justice system.  Findings highlighted the unique contribution of shared lived experience in fostering epistemic trust, engagement and mentalizing, alongside significant challenges related to role ambiguity, power dynamics, boundary management and emotional toll. The studies underscore the need for robust training, supervision and organisational support when embedding peer roles in forensic interventions.

Mindfulness for difficult-to-treat acute depression: the implications of the respond trial for psychiatry - Dr Florian Ruths, consultant psychiatrist and medical psychotherapy lead in CBT, King’s College London

Non-remission after psychological therapy for major depressive disorder is common, and there is no standard next-step treatment. This randomised trial evaluated mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for adults who did not achieve remission after NHS Talking Therapies. MBCT was delivered online and compared with treatment as usual. MBCT led to significantly lower depressive symptoms, was likely cost-effective, and no serious harms were reported. MBCT appears to be an effective, scalable, and cost-justified further-line treatment for depression, supporting its use within NHS Talking Therapies and similar clinical settings.

Physician, know thyself (and study it)' Conducting research on personal therapy in psychiatry as a trainee - Dr Jennifer Dunn, Resident doctor in core training

Dr Jennifer Dunn, a core trainee from Scotland, will outline the process of setting up a national study examining how psychiatrists (of all grades and subspecialties) use personal therapy. From study idea to research data collection via a national survey to analysis, she will hope to illuminate the processes involved and show that this is an undertaking trainees can engage in! Provisional findings from the study will be shared.

Large Group Experience - Dr Maria Papanastassiou, consultant psychiatrist and All Delegates

The large group will be a co creation from all delegates participating in the conference. It will provide an opportunity for delegates to express their thoughts and feelings about the conference and to find one’s voice in a large group. The aim is for a creative discourse to take place where the experience of the day can be reflected upon and understood a little more. The large group conductor will introduce the group and time boundaries and facilitate the discussion and, via the lens of the large group, will aim to deepen the experience of the day.

Thank you for attending the conference.

We'd really appreciate it if you could spend a few moments completing the feedback form and letting us know what went well and if there were any aspects that could be improved.

All comments received remain confidential and are viewed in an effort to improve future events.

You will automatically receive a certificate of attendance 1 week after the event has taken place.

This conference is eligible for 1 CPD point for each hour of educational activity, subject to peer group approval.

Book your place and join us for the Annual Medical Psychotherapy Faculty Conference which is taking place at Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford this year.

The theme of this year's conference is Body-Mind Integration. To reflect on this theme, we have talks from a wealth of speakers including our Forensic Psychotherapy colleagues, Dr Anna Motz and Dr Gwen Adshead, considering how a lack of integration can lead to acting out with violence. We also have a conversation on Psychedelic Assisted Therapy with Dr Jonny Martell and Prof Guy Goodwin. There are also sessions by Dr Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan, author of Unheard: The Medical Practice of Silencing, and Dr Susan Mitchell.

We will also have a large experiential group and a self-care using compassion group on both days of the conference as well as a selection of illuminating workshops on topics including Psychodrama, Music Therapy and Climate Change.

View the conference programme and register your place.