Current news including research outputs
The School of Psychology has a thriving research community actively investigating both basic and applied research problems across a diverse range of topics within psychology.
Below is our list of current research outputs interspersed with reports of activities
Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2025). (opens in a new window)Handbook of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology: A Contextual Approach (4th ed.). Routledge.
Alan Carr published O’Dwyer, C., Davis, B.Á., O’Connor, M., Keating, A., Sharry, J., Looney, K., McDarby, F., Doran, A., Murphy, E., & Carr, A. (2025). A cluster randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a Parents Plus group-based parenting program to promote healthy lifestyles among children and their families. Archives Public Health, 83, 111. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01555-x
Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2025). Processi creativi associati a un modello integrativo di terapia sistemica. [Creative processes associated with an integrative model of systemic therapy.] In M. Mariotti, C. Loriedo, G. Saba, C. Sluzki, & P. Stratton (Eds.), La terapia sistemica che funziona: creatività e manualizzazione nella prevenzione, nella terapia e nell'insegnamento. [Systemic therapy that works: Creativity and manualization in prevention, therapy and teaching.] Franco Angeli.
Louise McHugh published Cox, G., Stapleton, A., Russell, T., McHugh, L., & Kavalidou, K. (2025). Probable Suicide Among Men in Farming and Agricultural-Related Occupations in the Republic of Ireland: Exploring Coronial Data. Journal of Agromedicine, 1–11. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2025.2498339
Louise McHugh published Lespine, L.-F., Rueda-Delgado, L. M., Vahey, N., Ruddy, K. L., Kiiski, H., Enz, N., Boyle, R., Rai, L., Pragulbickaite, G., Bricker, J. B., McHugh, L., & Whelan, R. (2025). Changes in inhibition-related brain function and psychological flexibility during smoking abstinence: A machine-learning prediction of time to relapse. European Addiction Research. Advance online publication. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1159/000546112
Glen Jankowski published Jankowski, G S. “Decolonizing Research: Recommendations from a Migrant Home Photovoice Study.” Qualitative Research in Psychology 0, no. 0 (n.d.): 1–23. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2025.2485941
Kathy Looney published O’Dwyer, C., Davis, B.Á., O’Connor, M., Keating, A., Sharry, J., Looney, K., McDarby, F., Doran, A., Murphy, E., & Carr, A. (2025). A cluster randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a Parents Plus group-based parenting program to promote healthy lifestyles among children and their families. Archives Public Health, 83, 111. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01555-x
Alan Carr published Carr, A., Kieran, A., Sherbersky, H., Shepherd, M., Galbraith, M., Whittinger, N., Pomini, V., Kunsang Yang Yang Nearchou, N., & Stratton, P. (2025). Development and preliminary validation of the C-SCORE: A brief scale for use in systemic couple therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 47, e12485. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12485
Alan Carr published Carr, A., & Helps, A. (2025). Alan Carr Q&A about 2 review papers. Context, 197, 53-54.
Méadhbh Brosnan & Jessica Bramham published Stein, C., O’Keefe, F., Brosnan, M., Flynn, C., McGuigan, C., Bramham, J. (2025). Cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis: The role of depression and fatigue. (opens in a new window)https://doi:10.1177/13524585251338757
Méadhbh Brosnan published Pearce, D. J.*, Loughnane, G. M*., Chong, T. T.-J., Demeyere, N., Mattingley, J. B., Moore, M. J., New, P. W., O’Connell, R. G., O’Neill, M. H., Rangelov, D., Stolwyk, R. J., Webb, S. S., Zhou, S.-H. Brosnan, M. B†., Bellgrove, M. A†. (2025)Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying post-stroke deficits in contralesional perceptual processing. Journal of Neuroscience (in press) * joint first authorship; †joint senior authorship; click here for the preprint
Méadhbh Brosnan & Jessica Bramham Research Grant: Ad Astra Lab-Based Research Funds €25,565
Christine Linehan was Appointed Associate Editor, Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities.
Alan Carr published Sheehan, D., Nelson, J., & Carr, A. (2025). Investigation into the positive and negative outcomes for clinicians working with child survivors of sexual abuse. Child Abuse Review, 34(1), e70015. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1002/car.70015
Alan Carr published Davis, B. Á., O’Dwyer, C., Keating, A., Sharry, J., Murphy, E., Doran, A., Nearchou, F., & Carr, A. (2025). The Healthy Habits Questionnaire (HHQ): Validation of a measure designed to assess problematic influential behaviours amongst families of children living with obesity or a risk of developing obesity. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40(1),157-174. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045241286223
Louise McHugh published Cyniak-Cieciura, M., Popiel, A., Zawadzki, B., Cremeans-Smith, J. K., Alessandri, G., Bielak, P., McHugh, L.,… Topanova, G. T. (2025). Development of a Culture-Common Formal Characteristics of Behavior - Temperament Markers Inventory (FCB-TMI-CC). Journal of Personality Assessment, 107(1), 73–88. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2024.2363967
Jude Bek published Bek, J., Jehu, D.A., Morris, M.E., Hackney, M.E. (2025). Digital dance programs for Parkinson's disease: Challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Psychology. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1496146
Jude Bek published Jehu, D.A., Bek, J., Bennett, C., Hackney, M.E. (2025). Group and partnered dance for people living with dementia: An overview of intervention design and measurement considerations. Frontiers in Psychology. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1500688
Áine Ní Choisdealbha published Attaheri, A., Ní Choisdealbha, Á., Rocha, S., Brusini, P., Di Liberto, G. M., Mead, N., ... & Goswami, U. (2024). Infant low-frequency EEG cortical power, cortical tracking and phase-amplitude coupling predicts language a year later. PloS one, 19(12), e0313274.
(opens in a new window)https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0313274
Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2025) Couple therapy and systemic interventions for adult-focused problems: The evidence base. Journal of Family Therapy, 47, e12481.
(opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12481
Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2025) Family therapy and systemic interventions for child-focussed problems: The evidence base. Journal of Family Therapy, 47, e12476. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12476
Jude Bek published Bek, J., O’Farrell, R., Cooney, S.M. (2025). Experience in sports and music influences motor imagery: Insights from implicit and explicit measures. Acta Psychologica. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104650
Jude Bek published Bek, J., Jehu, D.A., Morris, M.E., Hackney, M.E. (in press). Digital dance programs for Parkinson's disease: Challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Psychology.
Jude Bek published Jehu, D.A., Bek, J., Bennett, C., Hackney, M.E. (in press). Group and partnered dance for people living with dementia: An overview of intervention design and measurement considerations. Frontiers in Psychology.
Sonya Deschenes awarded a new grant: From Research to Community: Developing Informative Tools for Diabetes
Sonya Deschenes published Depression Comorbidity. 17k EUR. HRB Knowledge Translation Award (2024-2025); Deschenes, Gottfried, & Gajewska.
Méadhbh Brosnan awarded a small grant from Enterprise Ireland for Proposal Support for Project RESILIENT CONNECTIVITY (15K EUR).
Niki Nearchou published Flinn, C., & Nearchou, F. (2024). Experiences of transition from adolescence to young adulthood in the context of chronic skin conditions: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Psychology & health, 1–29. Advance online publication. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2024.2434483
Niki Nearchou published Davis BÁ,...Nearchou, F. & Carr., A (2025). The healthy habits questionnaire (HHQ): Validation of a measure designed to assess problematic influential behaviours amongst families of children living with obesity or a risk of developing obesity. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 30(1):157-174. (opens in a new window)https://doi:10.1177/13591045241286223
Niki Nearchou awarded a new grant: Bitten by a Dog in the Republic of Ireland: A Human and Animal Problem, Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (248,000). Locksley Messam (PI, UCD Veterinary Science), Niki Nearchou, Aine Caroll & McGrath Guy (co PIs).
Glen Jankowski published Jankowski, G. S. (in press). Androgenetic Alopecia Care Requires Greater Evidence‐based Guidance, International Journal of Trichology.
Glen Jankowski launched 8 videos to bust myths about men’s baldness: (opens in a new window)https://thebaldingbuddy.wordpress.com/videos/ (Designed with Dirk Kranz, Josip Razum & Sakshat Joshi).
Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2024) Family therapy and systemic interventions for child-focused problems: The evidence base. Journal of Family Therapy, (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12476
Alan Carr published Carr, A., O’Dwyer, C., Davis, B., O’Connor, M., Twomey, C., Sharry, J., Keating, A,. Looney, K., Brosnan, E., Doran, A., & Murphy, E. (2024). New Parents Plus evidence: 2024 meta-analysis and PP healthy families research. Keynote address to the Parents Plus Innovations in Practice Conference, online, 13 November 2024.
Niki Nearchou published Mckenna, S., Grennan, S., O’Dowd, A. Murphy, E., Nearchou, N., O’Connor, M., Connaughton, L., & Carr, A. (2024). Validating a new state wellbeing measure & evaluating the A Lust for Life Schools Programme. Presented at the Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference, Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath, 13th-15th November 2024.
Jessica Bramham obtained Post-doctoral funding for Christina Seery from HSE Women’s Health Fund
1. Managing menopause and ADHD: Exploring lived experience €37,213.13
2. How can we support women with ADHD in the postpartum period €35,963.13
Louise McHugh published McHugh, L.,Farrell, L., & Moran, O. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Fund 2024. ‘Talk EDI to Me: Promoting Engagement in Affirming Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion’ Conversations among Higher Education Staff. €71,662.00.
Méadhbh Brosnan published Plini, E. R. G., Robertson, I. H., Brosnan, M. B., Dockree, P. M. (2024) Locus Coeruleus is associated with higher openness to experience and IQ: implications for the noradrenergic system for novelty seeking in daily life, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 1-24
Monika Pilch awarded CO-DECIDE: Digital space for collaborative future care decision-making, Enterprise Ireland, Commercialisation Fund Feasibility Grant, €14,920
Monika Pilch awarded Irish Hospice Foundation, Mapping the Landscape of Advance Care Planning in Ireland, €9000
Monika Pilch published Keesom, E., Lidström-Holmqvist, K., Ortiz-Catalan, M., Pilch, M., Lendaro, E., Hermansson, L., & Van Der Sluis, C. K. (2024). Reducing phantom limb pain using phantom motor execution enabled by augmented and virtual reality: participants’ perspectives on an innovative treatment. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-10.
Monika Pilch published Pilch, M., Hayes, C., Harney, O., Doyle, F., Thomas, S., Lunt, V., Hogan, M. Using Collective Intelligence to Develop Design Requirements for a Complex Intervention for Advance Care Planning in the Community. (2024, in press) Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Glen Jankowski published Jankowski, G. S. (2024). Alopecia areata’s psychosocial challenges: Complex but not irreparable, Dermatological Nursing.
Glen Jankowski published Jankowski, G. S., Kranz, D., & Razum, J. (2024). Men’s baldness stigma: A mixed methods international survey. Journal of Health Psychology.
Katie Gilligan-Lee Papers Accepted in Journal of Experimental Child Psychology “Exploring relative strengths in people with Down syndrome: Spatial thinking and its role in mathematics” and Early Years “ Dividing times: the views of early adopters of a new assessment framework on mathematics in England”.
Exploring relative strengths in people with Down syndrome: Spatial thinking and its role in mathematics - ScienceDirec
Full article: Dividing times: the views of early adopters of a new assessment framework on mathematics in England (tandfonline.com)
Barbara Dooley with Prof Peter Jones (Cambridge University) Section 1 leads for the Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Youth Mental Health. Commissioning editor Prof Pat McGorry. This commission draws on the best evidence in youth mental health globally, with authors drawn from all over the world.
(opens in a new window)https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/youth-mental-health
Christine wwarded fellowship of IASSIDD International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at world congress in Chicago.
Niki Nearchou IRC Postgraduate Scholarship 2024-2027 PHD student Christina Koretsidou: “Gender-based violence and sexual harassment in Higher Education among high-risk groups and people who identify with multiple minority identities”
Niki Nearchou appointed on the Board of Trustees - Pieta
Congratulations to PhD Scholar Samantha Trevaskis (Supervisor: Deschenes) on the IRC Postgraduate Scholarship titled “Psychosocial and health predictors of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder symptom severity in Ireland”.