Professor Christopher Darryl Graham

Psychology

Personal statement

I am probably most accurately considered a 'research clinical psychologist'. I joined Strathclyde in February 2023 as Professor of Clinical Psychology via the Global Talent Attraction Programme.

I undertake a funded (NIHR, Yorkshire Cancer Research) research programme in clinical health psychology – mostly evaluating the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for improving quality of life in physical and mental health conditions within clinical trials. Work from this programme is published in the leading medical and clinical psychology journals, including The Lancet, Psychological Medicine, Clinical Psychology Review, Annals of Behavioural Medicine.

My main research areas are:

1) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as applied to chronic diseases and mental health

2) Psychological therapies for people living with neuromuscular conditions

3) Psychological interventions for maintaining well-being during and after cancer treatment

Current trials include:

- FRESH START (NIHR) - multi-centre RCT - testing ACT alongside other talking therapies for improving well-being for those who self-harm https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/RP-PG-1016-20005

- CONTACT-GAD (NIHR) - multi-centre RCT - testing ACT as a treatment for treatment resistent GAD in older adults https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR134141

- PROPEL (NIHR) - multi-centre RCT - testing a MDT intervention for improving fatigue and well-being in leukaemia https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR134257

Teaching and wider roles:

I teach on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and psychological therapy across programmes in Psychology. I supervise several doctoral students internally and externally at other institutions. I supervise many students on the Masters in Clinical Health Psychology. I lead the mental health stream of the Future Hospitals Initiative. I am a member of the Department Ethics Committee.

I am Associate Editor of the British Journal of Health Psychology and Chair of the Mental Health sub-committee for the International Standards of Care for FSH Muscular Dystrophy. I am on the Medical Advisory Board for the Myositis Association. I hold honorary academic appointments at the University of Warwick and University of Leeds.

Publications

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Publications

Results of a feasibility study of the FReSH START intervention to improve quality of life and other outcomes in people who repeatedly self-harm (Function REplacement in repeated Self-Harm: Standardising Therapeutic Assessment and the Related Therapy): , Copsey Bethan, Wright-Hughes Alexandra, Farrin Amanda, Gates Cara, Farley Kate, Brennan Cathy, McMillan Dean, Graham Christopher Darryl, Bojke Chris, Mattock Richard, Martin Adam, Bijsterveld Petra, Horrocks Judith, Hartley Suzanne, McAdam Marsha, Hammond-Jones Dafydd, Bryant Louise D, House Allan, Guthrie Elspeth; Pilot and Feasibility Studies (2025)
Supporting endocrine therapy adherence in women with breast cancer : findings from the ROSETA pilot fractional factorial randomized trial: Smith Samuel G, Green Sophie MC, McNaught Emma, Graham Christopher D, Foy Robbie, Ow Pei Loo, French David P, Hall Louise H, Wilkes Hollie, Taylor Christopher, Ellison Rachel, Raine Erin, Walwyn Rebecca, Howdon Daniel, Clark Jane, Rousseau Nikki, Buxton Jacqueline, Moore Sally JL, Waller Jo, Parbutt Catherine, Velikova Galina, Farrin Amanda, Collinson Michelle; Annals of Behavioural Medicine Vol 59 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaf003
Assessing multidimensional fidelity in a pilot optimization trial : a process evaluation of four intervention components supporting medication adherence in women with breast cancer: Green Sophie MC, Graham Christopher D, Collinson Michelle, Ow Pei Loo, Hall Louise H, French David P, Rousseau Nikki, Wilkes Hollie, Taylor Christopher, Raine Erin, Ellison Rachel, Howdon Daniel, Foy Robbie, Walwyn Rebecca EA, Clark Jane, Parbutt Catherine, Waller Jo, Buxton Jacqueline, Moore Sally JL, Velikova Galina, Farrin Amanda J, Smith Samuel G; Translational Behavioral Medicine Vol 15 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibae066
Long‐term outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy ( ACT ) compared to standard medical care for improving quality of life in muscle disorders: Graham Christopher D, Rose Michael, Edwards Victoria, Vari Chiara, O'Connell Nicola, Taylor Emma, McCracken Lance M, Radunovic Aleksander, Rakowicz Wojtek, Norton Sam, Chalder Trudie; Muscle and Nerve Vol 71, pp. 398-405 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.28322
Experiences of acceptance and commitment therapy for people living with motor neuron disease (MND) : a qualitative study from the perspective of people living with MND and therapists: , Rawlinson Charlotte, Gould Rebecca L, McDermott Christopher J, Thompson Ben, Weeks Kirsty, Gossage-Worrall Rebecca, Serfaty Marc A, Graham Christopher D, McCracken Lance, White David, Howard Robert J, Al-Chalabi Ammar, Goldstein Laura H, Orrell Richard W, Chhetri Suresh K, Noad Rupert, Radunovic Aleksandar, Williams Tim, Young Carolyn A, Bursnall Matt, Bradburn Mike, Young Tracey, Ealing John, McLeod Hamish, Weatherly Helen, Cave Richard, Pagnini Francesco, Cooper Cindy, Shaw Pamela J, Lawrence Vanessa, Lawrence Vanessa; Cognitive Behaviour Therapist Vol 17 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X24000333
Editorial : Contextual-behavioral approaches to improving well-being and mental health in chronic physical illness: Carvalho Sérgio A, Matos Marcel, Ferreira Nuno, Graham Christopher D; Frontiers in Psychology Vol 15 (2024); https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1497106

More publications

Research

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Professional Activities

ACT for fear of recurrence: Speaker; 17/10/2024
Frontiers in Psychology (Journal): Editor; 10/2024
NHS Lanarkshire: Visiting researcher; 1/7/2024
MIHRA Psychological Impact and Well-being Group: Visiting researcher; 1/1/2024
External doctoral supervisor: Behavioural interventions for increasing the uptake of pulmonary rehabilitation (local NIHR funding Teesside): Consultant; 2024
External Examiner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology - Uni of Liverpool: Examiner; 1/1/2024

More professional activities

Projects

Joint RA Post - Epilepsy (WQSE/Strath): Graham, Christopher Darryl (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2027
Mental Health Futures Collaborative: Cogan, Nicola (Principal Investigator) Parra Rodriguez, Mario (Principal Investigator) Fleming, Leanne (Principal Investigator) Quinn, Neil (Principal Investigator) Tse, Dwight (Principal Investigator) Knifton, Lee (Principal Investigator) McCann, Lisa (Principal Investigator) Maguire, Roma (Principal Investigator) Smith, Matthew (Principal Investigator) Graham, Christopher Darryl (Principal Investigator) Grealy, Madeleine (Principal Investigator) Stephen, Susan (Principal Investigator) Weir, Natalie Mcfadyen (Principal Investigator) Donnachie, Craig (Principal Investigator) Cameron, Julie (Principal Investigator) Kane, Tony (Co-investigator) Lakey, Trevor (Academic) Donovan, Kevin (Fellow); This Engage with Strathclyde event is aimed at all those with an interest in mental health including people with lived experience, NHS and social care personnel and staff, occupational health and human resource management staff, student support services, university student and staff, academics, private and public sector and other personnel interested in mental health research and knowledge exchange.; 12-Jan-2023 - 12-Jan-2023
A randomised CONtrolled trial of Tailored Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for older people with treatment resistant Generalised Anxiety Disorder (CONTACT-GAD): Graham, Christopher Darryl (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2027
Evaluation of PeRsOnalised PrEhabilitation in acute myeloid Leukaemia (PROPEL): Graham, Christopher Darryl (Principal Investigator); 27-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2027
Function Replacement in repeated Self-Harm: Standardising Therapeutic Assessment and the Related Therapy: FReSH START: Graham, Christopher Darryl (Principal Investigator); 27-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2026