Click here to read the approval guidelines for research projects and evaluations being carried out at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Autism Diagnostic Aid (ADA)
Lead – Dr. Saman Shahzad, Consultant Psychiatrist and Dr Mahesh Odiyoor, Consultant Psychiatrist and Strategic Clinical Director
Dr Odiyoor was involved in the development of the Autism Diagnostic Aid (ADA) tool. The tool was based on the diagnostic criteria for autism as described in the ICD-10. The project is now focussing on the validation of the ADA tool as a diagnostic tool for autism in people with intellectual disabilities.
Decision Support Tool – Physical Health (DST-PH)
Lead – Dr. Sujeet Jaydeokar, Consultant Psychiatrist and Operational Clinical Director
This project involved development of a risk stratification tool to identify people with learning disabilities and complex physical health conditions who were at risk for premature mortality / preventable deaths and drive targeted interventions in primary and secondary care to reduce the risk of premature mortality. Following on from the development of the tool, the project is currently working on evaluating psychometric properties of the tool.
Lead - Danny Acton Clinical Nurse Specialist, research lead CANDDID and PhD student
The project is a PhD project with the Chester University. The project uses qualitative and quantitative method to design and deliver a dementia educational programme and toolkit to understand the effectiveness of this approach in reducing psychological distress and improving confidence in carers supporting a person with intellectual disability and dementia.
Dynamic Support Database – Transforming Care (DSD-TC)
Lead – Dr. Ceri Woodrow, Clinical Psychologist
The project involved development of a risk stratification tool to identify people with learning disabilities, autism or both who were at risk of admission to specialist inpatient settings. This project was supported by the North West Operational Delivery Network (ODN). Following on from the development of the tool, the project is currently evaluating outcomes of targeted interventions in those identified as at risk of admissions to inpatient unit.
Global Mental Health Assessment Tool – Intellectual Disability (GMHAT-ID)
Lead – Dr. Sujeet Jaydeokar, Consultant Psychiatrist and Operational Clinical Director and Dr. Mahesh Odiyoor, Consultant Psychiatrist and Strategic Clinical Director
Global Mental Health Assessment Tool is a computer-assisted clinical interview schedule that could be used for the assessment of mental health issues in the general population. This is a well validated tool and the primary care version is used internationally. The project is looking at adapting the tool for the use in people with intellectual disability.
Lead - Danny Acton, Clinical Nurse Specialist and research lead CANDDID
The project is being completed in 2 phases. The first phase involved adapting a manual of Group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (GCST) for use with people with intellectual disability and dementia. The second phase of the project will involve working alongside a national study being completed by University College London to combine and test the manual's effectiveness for people with intellectual disability and dementia.
Lead - Danny Acton, Clinical Nurse Specialist and research lead CANDDID
The project is being completed in two-stages. Stage 1 involved developing a multi-component anxiety management programme in co-production with people with intellectual disability with a lived experience of an anxiety disorder. To complete stage 2 of the study an application has been made to the National Institue of Health Research (NIHR) for funding to complete a clinical trial to understand the feasibility of the MCAMP-ID.
Universal Needs-Based Resource Allocation (UNBRA)
Lead researcher – Dr. Susanne Meddings, Clinical Psychologist
Project involves development of a tool to aid clinical assessment of support needs and associated resource implications for adults on inpatient Learning Disability Assessment and Treatment Units. The tool would allow appropriate allocation of resources to inpatient services, based on the needs of the patient population and to ensure safe and effective care.
Lead - Danny Acton Clinical Nurse Specialist and research lead CANDDID
The project involves using virtual reality immersive technology to create healthcare environments to support people with intellectual disability attend health appointments and tolerate routine healthcare procedures. A proof-of-concept study is currently being completed.