Ashworth Research Centre (ARC) is a partnership between Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). It is a forensic-clinical research unit based within Ashworth Hospital and the only dedicated academic research unit in the UK that is housed within a high secure mental health hospital.
The mission of ARC is to develop research that enriches the quality of patient care in forensic mental health by informing and enhancing clinical practice. Broadly, our work aims to create and develop research projects with a focus on improving evidence-based practice in forensic mental health.
Researchers at ARC
- pursue original research projects in forensic psychology and mental health
- conduct research on behalf of Mersey Care secure services
- provide in-house research consultation for Mersey Care secure services
- support evidence-based policy development for Mersey Care secure services.
ARC is directed by Professor Jane Ireland, Professor of Forensic Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, and a Forensic Psychologist at Ashworth Hospital where she leads the violence therapy treatment programme. She is also an accredited EMDR (trauma) therapist and provides trauma therapy across Mersey Care services.
The Centre is co-led by Dr Simon Chu, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, who has expertise in experimental psychological science and research methodology. ARC is staffed by a dedicated team of Research Associates and there are several PhD students working with us at any one time, with postgraduate research scholarships funded by ARC, UCLan or external funding bodies (e.g., ESRC). ARC also hosts research and clinical interns from the University of Maastricht each year. Overall, ARC provides a thriving, dynamic and collaborative research environment.
You can contact the team at arc@merseycare.nhs.uk.
ARC pursues original research projects in the fields of forensic psychology and forensic mental health to the benefit of service delivery at Ashworth Hospital.
A selection of the current (2024) prominent research projects being undertaken at ARC includes:
- The development of a self-harm risk assessment tool for forensic services
- An investigation of transdiagnostic issues involving post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and autism spectrum disorder
- Disordered thinking and autobiographical memory specificity in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia
- The influence of circadian rhythm and sleep disorders on internalizing and externalizing behaviour in psychosis
- The impact of dreams, nightmares, and sleep disturbances in forensic mental health
- Using eye-tracking methodology to elucidate patterns in social information processing in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia
- A validation of the new ICD-11 diagnostic interview for personality disorder
Recent publications authored or co-authored by members of the ARC team
2024
Authors: Ireland, J. L., Levtova, Y., Semaan, C. M. A., Steene L. M. B., Henrich, S., Gaylor, L., Driemel, L., Voltz, S., Homann, J., Dickopf, M., Greenwood, L., Chu, S. Published: Aggressive Behavior.May 2024
PMID: 38764372 DOI: 10.1002/ab.22150
The impact of institutional child abuse: A systematic review using Reflexive Thematic Analysis
Authors: Ozanne, R., Ireland, J. L., Ireland, C. A., Thornton, A
Published: ScienceDirect September to October 2024
Authors: Levtova, Y., Melunovic, I., Mead, C., Ireland, J. L.
Published: Journal of Forensic Practice 8 February 2024
ISSN: 2050-8794
Risk and protective factors for self-harm in secure mental health hospitals: a systematic review.
Authors: Steene, L. M. B., Gaylor, L., Ireland, J. L.
Published: Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research 2023
ISSN: 1759-6599
.
Authors: Webb, E. L., Ireland, J. L., Lewis, M., Morris, D.
Published: Trauma, Violence and Abuse.
PMID: 37083056 PMCID: PMC10913356 DOI: 10.1177/15248380231167390
Policing Hate Crime: Exploring the Issue with a Cohort of Sworn Police Officers
Birch, P., McNeill, K., Levtova, Y., & Ireland, J. L.
Published: Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology.1 February 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-023-09641-y
2023
Authors: Sebalo, I., Steene, L., Gaylor, L., Ireland, J. L.
Published:. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 26 July 2023
ISSN 2009-3829
A systematic review into risk and protective factors for online sex offending.
Authors: Steene, L., Krishnan, N., Ireland, J. L., Gaylor, L.
Published: An International Impact Journal.
Authors: Trajtenberg, N., Sanchez de Ribera, O., Cook. Stephen, Ireland, J. L. (2023).
Published: Brain Injury.February 2023
PMID: 36748998 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2023.2170467
Dual diagnosis in a forensic patient sample: A preliminary tripartite investigation to inform group treatment delivery for substance use.
Authors: Krishnan, N., Ireland, J. L.
Published: Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice
Official URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24732850.2023.2281431.
Authors: Ireland, J. L., Ireland, C., Hynes, S
Published: Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice.
The centrality of cognition and coping styles in driving aggressive responses.
Authors: Sebalo, I, Ireland, J. L., Chu., S.
Published: International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 2024
PMID: 36351356 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2022.101842
The impact of institutional child abuse: views of professionals
Ozanne, R., Ireland, J. L., Ireland, C. A., & Thornton, A. (2023).
Published: The Journal of Forensic Practice October 2023
ISSN: 2050-8794 October 2023
Understanding Post-Crisis Trauma Recovery for the Past Decade in Uniformed Services: A Narrative Review.
De Silva, R., Ireland, J L., Birch, P., Ireland, C., Lewis, M., Dissanayaka, R., Atapattu, M. (2023).
Published: Mental Health Review Journal.
Gaslighting and its application to interpersonal violence.
Authors: Dickson, P., Ireland., J. L., Birch, P. (2023).
Published: Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice