Based at the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the NSIC Psychology Service conducts research which focuses on improving the psychological wellbeing and rehabilitation of people and their families living with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Led by Dr Jane Duff, the clinical and research teams consist of psychologists, psychological therapists, family counsellor, assistant psychologists and research assistants.

 

The team has over 150 publications, You can find the full list, including plain English summaries here. 

 

The NSIC Psychology Team has led on several research innovations in health and rehabilitation, and in particular the creation of two SCI specific measures that are used world-wide:

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1. The Appraisals of DisAbility: Primary and Secondary Scale (ADAPPS) helps clinicians to understand how people’s appraisals (how people with spinal cord injuries think about their condition) influence their coping and adjustment to spinal cord injury which can in turn be used within psychological therapy.

 

2. The Stoke Mandeville Spinal Needs Assessment Checklist (SMS-NAC) and Goal Planning Programme helps a clinical team to set client centred rehabilitation goals with the individual and their family.  The SMS-NAC covers a wide range of physical, psychological and social needs following spinal cord injury (SCI) and the self-management knowledge and skills needed to live life well with SCI.

 

The NSIC Psychology Service is involved with or leading on several current research projects; more information is available on their current projects here.

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If you would like further information about a specific project, please contact the NSIC Psychology Service by emailing bht.nsicresearchpsychology@nhs.net