Up-regulating positive affect in adolescence: exploring novel cognitive intervention strategies for depression and anxiety
To start: 1st October 2019
Award(s): fully funded 3-year SGDP PhD studentship
Project:
The tripartite model of anxiety and depression (Watson & Clark, 1991), has long recognized the separable constructs of negative and positive affect. However, existing psychological interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, focus on reducing of symptoms of negative affect, without aiming to increase positive affect. While these treatments can be effective, estimates suggest that up to 50% of individuals fail to achieve clinically significant improvements in symptoms or functioning (March et al., 2005; Loerinc et al., 2015; Hollon et al., 2006). Novel strategies aiming to enhance positive affect may offer a potential to reduce this treatment gap.
Adolescence may be an optimal window to intervene to impact long-term trajectories for psychological health. The neural systems involved in experience and regulation of positive and negative affect continue to develop across childhood and into adolescence (Casey, 2018). In particular, neurocircuitry implicated in the regulation of positive affect has peak sensitivity to rewarding stimuli in mid-late adolescence (Braams et al., 2015). Experimental evidence demonstrating the efficacy of cognitive strategies for regulating emotional experiences comes from self-report, behavioural and neuroimaging paradigms investigating negative affect (Ochsner et al., 2012; Young et al., 2018). There is a lack of comparable research exploring regulation of positive affect, with very few studies investigating these processes in adolescence (Young et al., 2019).
This project involves three main aims: 1) patient and public involvement (PPI) research exploring the strategies adolescents use to enhance/maintain positive affect; 2) investigation of the impact of cognitive regulation strategies on behavioural measures of positive affect; 3) investigating the impact of these strategies on neurophysiological measures of positive affect (i.e., reward system functioning in the brain).
Supervisors: Professor Andrea Danese, Dr Katherine Young & Dr Jennifer Lau
Entry requirements: Applicants should have a Bachelors degree with 2:1 or higher in a relevant science subject.
Students who do not meet the above primary criteria may apply if they satisfy the following conditions:
- A 2.2 BSc degree and a MSc in a relevant subject with Merit or Distinction
- A 2.1 or higher non-science first degree (BA) and a MSc in a relevant subject with Merit or Distinction
Award types and eligibility: Fully funded for three years, Home/EU tuitions fees (studentship not available to Overseas applicants), annual stipend and some research and travel costs.
How to apply:
Applicants must complete and submit an online admissions application, via the admissions portal by midnight (23:59 GMT), Sunday 7th July 2019.
On the ‘Choosing a programme’ page, please select ‘Research degrees’ and enter the keyword Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Research MPhil/PhD (Full Time)
In your application, you will be asked to include:
- Academic Transcripts – where applicable, academic transcripts must be submitted with the online admissions application
- Details of your qualifications (you will need to attach copies)
- Details of previous employment
- A personal statement describing your interests and why you wish to apply for this project. Please include this as an attachment rather than using the text box.
- Academic References – all admissions applications require two supporting references. If the applicant is relying on his/her referees to submit references directly to the College after he/she has submitted his/her admissions application, then the applicant must ensure that their chosen referees are made aware of the funding deadline.
In the Funding section, please tick box 5 and include the following reference: SGDP-DEP-2019
Please note there is no need to complete the Research Proposal section in your application as the project has already been set.
You are welcome to email Katherine Young (katherine.s.young@kcl.ac.uk, supervisor) for more information regarding the project and studentship.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Oliva Rees, Postgraduate Research Administrative Assistant.
References must be received by the deadline for the applicant to be eligible.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing date: Sunday 7th July 2019 (23:59 GMT)
Interviews: Monday 15th July (time TBC)
Further information:
About the IoPPN (link to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/about/index.aspx)
Studying at the IoPPN (link to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/study/index.aspx)
MSc programmes at the IoPPN (link to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/school/institute-of-psychiatry-psychology-and-neuroscience/programmes#graduate)
Research degrees at the IoPPN (link to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/study/prospective-students/programmes-of-study/pgr/welcome.aspx)
KCL Researcher Development Programme (link to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/school/RDP/training-and-development/Researcher-Development-Programme-2014-15.pdf)