Professor Christopher Darryl Graham

Psychology

Contact

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 

Work from this programme has been published in the leading medical and clinical psychology journals, including The Lancet, Psychological Medicine, Clinical Psychology Review, Annals of Behavioural Medicine.  

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 am a HCPC-registered clinical psychologist (DClinPsychol). My clinical work has largely been in NHS Clinical Neuropsychology services. I am proud to be a Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist in NHS Lanarkshire.

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. 

Previous roles:

I was previously Academic Director/Deputy Director of Northern Ireland’s Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Queen's University Belfast. Prior to this I held a personal research fellowship at the University of Leeds. Before this I trained in clinical psychology (DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh, and in academic psychology (PhD) at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London. 

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Publications

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
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 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.28322
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 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibae066
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
Acceptability of four intervention components supporting medication adherence in women with breast cancer : a process evaluation of a fractional factorial pilot optimization trial
Green Sophie M C, Rousseau Nikki, Hall Louise H, French David P, Graham Christopher D, Lloyd Kelly E, Collinson Michelle, Smith Samuel G, Ow Pei Loo, Taylor Christopher, Howdon Daniel, Foy Robbie, Walwyn Rebecca, Clark Jane, Parbutt Catherine, Waller Jo, Buxton Jacqueline, Moore Sally J L, Velikova Galina, Farrin Amanda, Smith Samuel G
Prevention Science Vol 25, pp. 1065-1078 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-024-01711-9

More publications

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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
External Examined Doctorate in Clinical Psychology )- Uni of Glasgow
Examiner
1/1/2024
NIHR (External organisation)
Advisor
2024
MIHRA Psychological Impact and Well-being Group
Visiting researcher
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

More projects

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Contact

Professor Christopher Darryl Graham
Psychology

Email: christopher.graham@strath.ac.uk
Tel: Unlisted