Paul Davis | University of Surrey (original) (raw)

Papers by Paul Davis

Research paper thumbnail of Is shame a barrier to sobriety? A narrative analysis of those in recovery

Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 2019

Aims: Experiencing shame can be a risk factor for relapse for people recovering from alcohol depe... more Aims: Experiencing shame can be a risk factor for relapse for people recovering from alcohol dependence, but for some it may act as a necessary protective factor for preventing relapse. Knowing how best to manage shame is therefore an important issue, yet the precise nature of the relationship between shame and alcohol dependence remains largely unexplored. Research questions: (1) In what ways do participants tell their stories of shame? (2) How is shame experienced and/or understood by those in recovery from alcohol dependence? Method: Eight participants were recruited from Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) groups and invited to tell their story of recovery. Stories were then analysed using a narrative analysis, focusing on how participants narrated their stories and made sense of their experiences of shame in particular. Findings: Participants spoke about an inherent deep-rooted negative view about themselves, which was present long before alcohol dependence developed. Alcohol served as a means of connection to others and a way of artificially relieving feelings of worthlessness. Recovery was about finding somewhere safe to talk about feelings of shame and make sense of these experiences. Conclusions: The results indicate that management of shame is an important component of recovery programmes for alcohol dependence.

Research paper thumbnail of Substance misuse in young people; a brief (one-session) intervention (BI) framework for reducing hazardous or harmful use

Research paper thumbnail of What is the Role of Eye Movements in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? A Review

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 2012

Background:Controversy continues to exist regarding how EMDR works and whether its mechanisms dif... more Background:Controversy continues to exist regarding how EMDR works and whether its mechanisms differ from those at work in standard exposure techniques.Aims:To investigate first whether eye movement bilateral stimulation is an essential component of EMDR and, second, the current status of its theoretical basis.Method:A systematic search for relevant articles was conducted in databases using standard methodology.Results:Clinical research evidence is contradictory as to how essential EMs are in PTSD treatment. More positive support is provided by analogue studies. With regards to potential theoretical support, some evidence was found suggesting bilateral stimulation first increases access to episodic memories; and second that it could act on components of working memory which makes focusing on the traumatic memories less unpleasant and thereby improves access to these memories.Conclusions:The results suggest support for the contention that EMs are essential to this therapy and that a ...

Research paper thumbnail of The effectiveness of behavioural interventions in the primary prevention of Hepatitis C amongst injecting drug users: a randomised controlled trial and lessons learned

Harm Reduction Journal, 2008

Aim: To develop and evaluate the comparative effectiveness of behavioural interventions of enhanc... more Aim: To develop and evaluate the comparative effectiveness of behavioural interventions of enhanced prevention counselling (EPC) and simple educational counselling (SEC) in reducing hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection in sero-negative injecting drug users (IDU). Design: Randomised controlled trial (RCT) of EPC intervention in comparison with simple educational counselling (SEC). Setting Specialised: Drug services in London and Surrey, United Kingdom. Participants and Measurements: Ninety five IDUs were recruited and randomised to receive EPC (n = 43) or SEC (n = 52). Subjects were assessed at baseline using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), the Injecting Risk Questionnaire (IRQ), and Drug Injecting Confidence Questionnaire (DICQ). The primary outcome was measured by the rate of sero-conversion at 6 months and 12 months from baseline and by the ASI, IRQ and DICQ at 6 months from baseline. Hepatitis C testing was undertaken by the innovative test of the dried blood spot (DBS) test which increased the rate of testing by 4 fold compared to routine blood testing. Findings Seventy: Eighty two subjects (82%) out of the 95 recruited were followed up at 6 months and 62 (65%) were followed up at 12 months. On the primary outcome measure of the rate of seroconversion, 8 out of 62 patients followed-up at twelve months seroconverted, three in the EPC group and five in the SEC group, indicating incidence rates of 9.1 per 100 person years for the EPC group, 17.2 per 100 person years for the SEC group, and 12.9 per 100 person years for

Research paper thumbnail of Semantic priming and verbal learning in current opiate users, ex-users and non-user controls

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 2012

Relevant articles included in the present literature review were identified by cross searching a ... more Relevant articles included in the present literature review were identified by cross searching a number of databases generated using MetaLib, a service available to members of UCL, and by hand searching the reference section of journal articles. Databases searched included EMBASE, MEDLINE, Journals @OVID, PsycINFO and PubMed. Terms searched were memory, memory biases, cognitive biases, addiction, drugs, drug dependency, substance abuse. 1. findings of studies have been inconsistent. In the present study, semantic priming and verbal learning were assessed in 16 current opiate users on a methadone maintenance programme, 16 ex opiate users in rehabilitation programmes who had been abstinent for an average of 19 months and 16 healthy controls. The groups were matched on IQ, age and employment status. Current and ex-users showed intact automatic and controlled semantic priming. Ex-users showed a verbal learning impairment compared with controls. Both current and ex-users were impaired in recalling semantically unrelated words, but unimpaired in recalling semantically related words. The findings may suggest a relative lack of spontaneous use of mnemonic strategies and imply that highly structured information would help opiate-using clients in treatment.

Research paper thumbnail of Enhanced recognition of facial expressions of disgust in opiate users receiving maintenance treatment

Addiction, 2006

Recruitment of participants for this research relied heavily on the help of the staff of the Marg... more Recruitment of participants for this research relied heavily on the help of the staff of the Margarete Centre, Core Trust, Thurston House, SHARP, Phoenix House and Job Centre. I greatly acknowledge their time and effort in encouraging their clients to take part, and helping me to coordinate the interviews. Importantly, this research would not have been possible without the clients themselves. Aside from my deep gratitude to them for them taking the time and patience to participate, their willingness to share their experiences greatly enriched my experience of conducting this research. Many thanks also to Val Curran, Dominic O 'Ryan and Paul Davis for their supervisory help and support throughout. Lastly, a very special mention to Joanna Coyle, my fellow trainee and recruiter. We laughed together and cried together. Here's to a focus group!

Research paper thumbnail of Is shame a barrier to sobriety? A narrative analysis of those in recovery

Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 2019

Aims: Experiencing shame can be a risk factor for relapse for people recovering from alcohol depe... more Aims: Experiencing shame can be a risk factor for relapse for people recovering from alcohol dependence, but for some it may act as a necessary protective factor for preventing relapse. Knowing how best to manage shame is therefore an important issue, yet the precise nature of the relationship between shame and alcohol dependence remains largely unexplored. Research questions: (1) In what ways do participants tell their stories of shame? (2) How is shame experienced and/or understood by those in recovery from alcohol dependence? Method: Eight participants were recruited from Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) groups and invited to tell their story of recovery. Stories were then analysed using a narrative analysis, focusing on how participants narrated their stories and made sense of their experiences of shame in particular. Findings: Participants spoke about an inherent deep-rooted negative view about themselves, which was present long before alcohol dependence developed. Alcohol served as a means of connection to others and a way of artificially relieving feelings of worthlessness. Recovery was about finding somewhere safe to talk about feelings of shame and make sense of these experiences. Conclusions: The results indicate that management of shame is an important component of recovery programmes for alcohol dependence.

Research paper thumbnail of Substance misuse in young people; a brief (one-session) intervention (BI) framework for reducing hazardous or harmful use

Research paper thumbnail of What is the Role of Eye Movements in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? A Review

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 2012

Background:Controversy continues to exist regarding how EMDR works and whether its mechanisms dif... more Background:Controversy continues to exist regarding how EMDR works and whether its mechanisms differ from those at work in standard exposure techniques.Aims:To investigate first whether eye movement bilateral stimulation is an essential component of EMDR and, second, the current status of its theoretical basis.Method:A systematic search for relevant articles was conducted in databases using standard methodology.Results:Clinical research evidence is contradictory as to how essential EMs are in PTSD treatment. More positive support is provided by analogue studies. With regards to potential theoretical support, some evidence was found suggesting bilateral stimulation first increases access to episodic memories; and second that it could act on components of working memory which makes focusing on the traumatic memories less unpleasant and thereby improves access to these memories.Conclusions:The results suggest support for the contention that EMs are essential to this therapy and that a ...

Research paper thumbnail of The effectiveness of behavioural interventions in the primary prevention of Hepatitis C amongst injecting drug users: a randomised controlled trial and lessons learned

Harm Reduction Journal, 2008

Aim: To develop and evaluate the comparative effectiveness of behavioural interventions of enhanc... more Aim: To develop and evaluate the comparative effectiveness of behavioural interventions of enhanced prevention counselling (EPC) and simple educational counselling (SEC) in reducing hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection in sero-negative injecting drug users (IDU). Design: Randomised controlled trial (RCT) of EPC intervention in comparison with simple educational counselling (SEC). Setting Specialised: Drug services in London and Surrey, United Kingdom. Participants and Measurements: Ninety five IDUs were recruited and randomised to receive EPC (n = 43) or SEC (n = 52). Subjects were assessed at baseline using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), the Injecting Risk Questionnaire (IRQ), and Drug Injecting Confidence Questionnaire (DICQ). The primary outcome was measured by the rate of sero-conversion at 6 months and 12 months from baseline and by the ASI, IRQ and DICQ at 6 months from baseline. Hepatitis C testing was undertaken by the innovative test of the dried blood spot (DBS) test which increased the rate of testing by 4 fold compared to routine blood testing. Findings Seventy: Eighty two subjects (82%) out of the 95 recruited were followed up at 6 months and 62 (65%) were followed up at 12 months. On the primary outcome measure of the rate of seroconversion, 8 out of 62 patients followed-up at twelve months seroconverted, three in the EPC group and five in the SEC group, indicating incidence rates of 9.1 per 100 person years for the EPC group, 17.2 per 100 person years for the SEC group, and 12.9 per 100 person years for

Research paper thumbnail of Semantic priming and verbal learning in current opiate users, ex-users and non-user controls

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 2012

Relevant articles included in the present literature review were identified by cross searching a ... more Relevant articles included in the present literature review were identified by cross searching a number of databases generated using MetaLib, a service available to members of UCL, and by hand searching the reference section of journal articles. Databases searched included EMBASE, MEDLINE, Journals @OVID, PsycINFO and PubMed. Terms searched were memory, memory biases, cognitive biases, addiction, drugs, drug dependency, substance abuse. 1. findings of studies have been inconsistent. In the present study, semantic priming and verbal learning were assessed in 16 current opiate users on a methadone maintenance programme, 16 ex opiate users in rehabilitation programmes who had been abstinent for an average of 19 months and 16 healthy controls. The groups were matched on IQ, age and employment status. Current and ex-users showed intact automatic and controlled semantic priming. Ex-users showed a verbal learning impairment compared with controls. Both current and ex-users were impaired in recalling semantically unrelated words, but unimpaired in recalling semantically related words. The findings may suggest a relative lack of spontaneous use of mnemonic strategies and imply that highly structured information would help opiate-using clients in treatment.

Research paper thumbnail of Enhanced recognition of facial expressions of disgust in opiate users receiving maintenance treatment

Addiction, 2006

Recruitment of participants for this research relied heavily on the help of the staff of the Marg... more Recruitment of participants for this research relied heavily on the help of the staff of the Margarete Centre, Core Trust, Thurston House, SHARP, Phoenix House and Job Centre. I greatly acknowledge their time and effort in encouraging their clients to take part, and helping me to coordinate the interviews. Importantly, this research would not have been possible without the clients themselves. Aside from my deep gratitude to them for them taking the time and patience to participate, their willingness to share their experiences greatly enriched my experience of conducting this research. Many thanks also to Val Curran, Dominic O 'Ryan and Paul Davis for their supervisory help and support throughout. Lastly, a very special mention to Joanna Coyle, my fellow trainee and recruiter. We laughed together and cried together. Here's to a focus group!