Research Programmes

The Centre has recently completed two major research programmes.

The first was a randomised control trial of the therapeutic approach being used by the Centre entitled, 'Post-traumatic stress disorder in the context of terrorism and other civil conflict in Northern Ireland: randomised controlled trial'. This research was published by the British Medical Journal in 2007 and concluded that cognitive therapy is an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder related to terrorism and other civil conflict. For more information click here

The second research project was a regional study of the prevalence and distribution of Troubles related trauma entitled, 'Trauma, Health and Conflict in Northern Ireland'. The Research was carried out in partnership with the University of Ulster and was funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The research team concluded that at a minimum, one quarter of all lifetime PTSD and possibly as much as one third is linked to traumatic events associated with the civil conflict. For more information click here

In September 2005 a group of 50 or so USA and UK academics, researchers, practitioners and authors in disaster mental health, trauma and related fields met in the Emergency Planning College in York, England, to participate in a 3-day workshop aimed at considering the mental health challenges and issues arising from catastrophic events.  A report on the workshop was subsequently published and can be downloaded from here.  The Report draws together the key observations and conclusions of the workshop.  We here at the NICTT are most grateful to the British Consulate in New York and the Emergency Planning College for their support for the workshop and to the participants who made such a significant contribution over the three-day event.

If you would like to know more about the workshop and its conclusions please contact us here at the Centre.

The Centre is currently undertaking two further research projects, again in partnership with the University of Ulster namely
 
1.     A health economics study of the costs associated with trauma in Northern Ireland [due for completion Nov 2010]
2.     An assessment of the impact of the Troubles on the ageing and aged population [due for completion June 2011]

Both research projects are funded through philanthropic assistance from the Lupina Foundation [Canada] and in kind support from the University of Ulster.  Both project will use as a primary source the data from the Northern Ireland Study of Health and Stress which is a major study of mental health in the Northern Ireland adult population.  The research will take a stratified sampling of the population using an international instrument developed by Harvard to support the primary study as one of nearly 30 being taken around the world under the auspices of the WHO World Mental Health Initiative.

If you would like to know more about the research please contact us here at the Centre.