Professor Richard Bentall 

Psychiatric classification and methodology in psychopathology

The development of a science of psychopathology requires the accurate description and classification of psychiatric problems. In a number of publications, I have argued that catagorical systems of psychiatric classification such as DSM-IV have very little scientific value. I have therefore advocated research targetted at specific psychological symptoms.

The psychology of psychotic symptoms

Much of my empirical research has focused on psychological mechanisms responsible for specific psychotic symptoms. In studies of auditory hallucinations I have explored cognitive failures which lead the hallucinating individual to misattribute their inner speech to an external source. In studies of persecutory delusions, I have investigated social reasoning (especially attributional andn theory of mind) biases which lead the deluded person to attribute malevolent intentions to others. Recently, this work has been extended to examine mechanisms responsible for manic symptomatology.

Psychological interventions for psychotic patients

Early studies on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions for patients who hear voices have been extended to large scale clinical trials, mostly funded by the MRC. I am a grant-holder (together with Shon Lewis, Nick Tarrier, Peter Kinderman and David Kingdon) for the SoCRATES (Study of Cognitive Realignment Therapy in Early Schizophrenia) project, in which over 300 first and second episode schizophrenia patients have been randomly assigned to CBT, supportive counselling or treatment as usual; this project is nearing completion. I am also a grant-holder (togather with Jan Scott, Richard Morriss, Peter Kinderman and Eugen Paykell) of a large scale multi-centre study of CBT for patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Most recently, with Tony Morrisson of Mental Services of Salford NHS Trust, I have begun a clinical trial of CBT for individuals at high risk of psychosis, the aim of which is to determine whether vulnerable individuals can be prevented from becoming ill.

Subjective appraisal of neuroleptic drugs

In recent years I have studied the subjective effects of neuroleptic drugs, the medical treatment most often given to schizophrenia patients. In addition to investigating patients' subjective appraisals of these drugs and determinants of their attitudes towards them, I am a grant holder (together with Jennie Day, David Healy and Anne Rogers) on the Neuro99 project, a clinical trial in which psychological interventions designed to influence neuroleptic adherence are being assessed.

Chronic fatigue syndrome

I am directing a clinical trial of a psychosocial intervention for chronic fatigue syndrome, which has been funded by the Lindbury Trust. This study, which has promising early results, is approaching completion.

Equivalence learning

My only non-clinical research interest is equivalence learning, a type of symbollic learning which appears to be restricted to the human species. The relationship between equivalence learning and language acquisition remains controversial. Together with David Dickins at the University of Liverpool, I have conducted behavioural experiments designed to explore this issue. Recently, with Krish Singh and Neil Roberts at Liverpool, we have conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of equivalence learning.

Laboratory

My research does not, as a rule, involve the use of complex equipment, and most data collection occurs out in the field (ie. psychiatric patients assessed at home, in clinics or on wards). However, I have recently become involved in functional neuroimaging research with collaborators in Liverpool and at the Institute of Psychiatry in London.

• PS2902(B) - Psychopathology
• PS1572 - Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
• PS3350 - Psychosis

Much work is carried out in collaboration with colleagues in the Faculty of Medicine (Profs Shon Lewis and Nick Tarrier, Dr Gill Haddock). Multicentre trials also involve collaborations with Profs David Kingdon (Southampton), Jan Scott (Glasgow), Eugene Paykel (Cambridge), and Morriss (Liverpool), and with Dr Peter Kinderman (Liverpool).