Research Community

The primary focus of Professor Chérie Armour's research programme is on mental health in those who have experienced stress, adversity, and trauma. She focuses on a range of psychological disorders including, but not limited to, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety and Dissociation. Chérie is also focused on exploring the concept of post adversity psychological resilience. She works across child, adolescent, and adult populations and focuses on a range of trauma types including childhood maltreatment, interpersonal, sexual, and domestic violence, and occupational related traumas (experienced by healthcare workers, emergency services and Armed Forces). In addition, Chérie looks at the impact of secondary trauma in families.

Professor Dominic Muprhy is a Clinical Psychologist and Head of Research at Combat Stress. Dominic gained his first degree, an MA in psychology from Glasgow University in 2003.  He then joined King’s College London as part of the team that established the King's Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR). Dominic is President of the UK Psychological Trauma Society (UKPTS) and Executive Board member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS). He is also part of the Five Eyes Veterans Mental Health Consortium and works on NATO research task groups. Dominic has specialised clinically and academically within the field of PTSD and military mental health.

Edgar Jones is an authority on the psychological effects of modern war and conflict. He has studied both conventional armed forces and terrorism, exploring how individuals cope during periods of intense stress and the impact of traumatic experiences on their wellbeing. In addition, he has researched moral injury, an enduring belief of being wronged or having been compelled to act in ways that feel wrong, in servicemen and women. He has recently completed a study of Gurkha and Fijian veterans to explore the impact of discrimination on mental health in the UK armed forces. Edgar Jones has also published on risk factors for radicalisation and support of political violence. He has written extensively on shell shock, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic multi-symptom illness suffered as a result of military service. The author of a number of reports for government and military or mental health charities, his work seeks to shape policy and practice.

Edgar Jones originally studied history, researching a doctorate at Nuffield College, Oxford. He subsequently joined the department of psychiatry at Guy's Hospital where he completed a doctorate in clinical psychopathology and trained as a psychodynamic psychotherapist. Having previously taught at University College London and been a senior research fellow at the LSE, Edgar Jones joined the Institute of Psychiatry in January 1998. He was awarded the Gideon de Laune Gold Medal by the Faculty of the History and Philosophy of Medicine, Society of Apothecaries in 2007, and received a President’s Medal for a significant contribution to improving the lives of people with mental illness from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2015.

Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith is a Professor within the Edinburgh Napier Business School and is the founder and Director of the Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement, also at Edinburgh Napier university. Gerri is also the lead for the new Scottish Armed Forces Evidence and Research (SAFE&R) Hub and the University Research Lead for Military Research. Gerri’s research work rests within three key disciplines: human and organisational development, management, and wellbeing.

Professor John Brewer is a Professor of Post Conflict Studies and Senior Fellow at The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast. Professor Brewer has extensive research experience into Veteran transition and most recently worked on two FiMT-funded projects examining the impact of counter-insurgency warfare on the post-conflict reintegration of UK Armed Forces personnel. He recently researched the negative transitioning experiences of British Armed forces ex-personnel including those who have been in prison, homeless or received mental health support. Current research interests includes analysis of online extremism, including the susceptibility of some Veterans to become involved in extreme networks, and methods to prevent this.

Professor Jonathan Bisson served in the British Army and is now a practising Psychiatrist and Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at Cardiff University. He is the Director of Traumatic Stress Wales and Health for Health Professionals, and Deputy Director of the National Centre for Mental Health. Jonathan was co-chair of the UK’s first PTSD NICE Guideline Development Group and chair of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies’ Treatment Guidelines Committee. He developed and continues to lead Cardiff University’s Traumatic Stress Research Group. He also developed and was the first director of NHS Veterans Wales and Health and Care Research Wales. Jonathan is particularly passionate about developing and evaluating effective new treatments to treat PTSD and/or following traumatic events that can be implemented into clinical practice.