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, and has featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4 and many other media outlets.

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

- ROSETA (NIHR Advanced Fellowship - Sam Smith, University of Leeds) - definitive factorial trial of interventions for non-adherence to hormone therapies https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR300588

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

"How do you know you know that you’re doing ACT?" An experimental study of simulated therapy sessions to explore the measurement properties of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Fidelity Measure (ACT-FM): Collins Daniel, Vowles Kevin E, Norton Samuel, McCracken Lance M, Curran David, Graham Christopher D; Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science Vol 37 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100926
Psychological risk factors for suicide and self-harm thoughts and behaviours, irrespective of intention in Nigeria: Kasim Bahijja Tanko, Graham Christopher Darryl, Russell Kirsten, Rasmussen Susan; 9th Suicide & Self-harm Early & Mid-Career Researchers’ Forum 2025 (2025)
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 Vol 11 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-025-01644-2
Acceptability of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for medication-decision-making and quality of life in women with breast cancer : a qualitative process evaluation: Green Sophie MC, Hall Louise H, Ellison Rachel, Clark Jane, Wilkes Hollie, Hartley Suzanne, Naik Jay, Buckley Sarah, Hirst Charlotte, Hartup Sue, Neal Richard D, Velikova Galina, Farrin Amanda, Collinson Michelle, Graham Christopher D, Smith Samuel G; British Journal of Health Psychology Vol 30 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12802
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 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.28322
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

More publications

Research

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Professional Activities

NIHR159167 – A cluster randomized controlled trial of online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) training to improve mental wellbeing in staff caring for terminally ill people and their caregivers: Consultant; 2025
Brown University - Promotion referee: Consultant; 2025
ACT for fear of recurrence: Speaker; 17/10/2024
Frontiers in Psychology (Journal): Editor; 10/2024
NHS Lanarkshire: Visiting researcher; 1/7/2024
COMMEND Trial results presented on BBC News Breakfast: Recipient; 10/5/2024

More professional activities

Projects

Acceptance Commitment Therapy: Graham, Christopher Darryl (Principal Investigator) Rickardsson, Nils (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2027
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
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
Evaluation of PeRsOnalised PrEhabilitation in acute myeloid Leukaemia (PROPEL): Graham, Christopher Darryl (Principal Investigator); 27-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2027