Mike Crawford

I am a Professor of Mental Health Research in the Division of Psychiatry and an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. In 2019, I was appointed an NIHR Senior Investigator. My research focuses on the development and evaluation of interventions for people with mental health problems. A major focus of my work has been on developing better services for people with a diagnosis of ‘personality disorder’. This includes a national evaluation of community pilot services for people with personality disorder and randomised trials of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Problem Solving Therapy and Structured Psychological Support. I have worked with colleagues to examine the role peer support groups, day therapeutic communities and parenting interventions for people with personality disorder. Our randomised trials medical treatments for emotional distress experienced by people with personality disorder have found little evidence of patient benefit. I have also examined the effectiveness of arts therapies for people with psychosis, brief interventions for people with harmful alcohol use and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for people with health anxiety. Current studies include randomised trials of low-intensity interventions for people with personality disorder and CBT for people with the prevalence and impact of coexisting Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among people with personality disorder. My research involves close collaboration with Experts by Experience and I have worked with users of metal health services to evaluate service innovations and develop national standards for assessing and improving service quality. As an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust, I helped set up the Trust’s first specialist service for people with personality disorder and provide medical input the Waterview Service for people with Complex Emotional Needs.

• Faculty of Medicine