The Cognition in Emotional Disorders and Resilience (CEDAR) group is led by Professor Colette Hirsch and Dr Fran Meeten. It comprises of post-doctoral researchers, clinical and health psychologists, research clinicians, research assistants, PhD, Master’s, and undergraduate students. It is based in the Psychology Department of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London.
We conduct research into anxiety, depression, and repetitive negative thinking, both within clinical and non-clinical populations, as well as at the interface between physical and mental health. Our work also focuses on understanding the mechanisms that foster resilience and using this information to develop new ways of supporting people to build resilience.
Anxiety disorders affect 264 million people a year and depression 322 million globally, and rates are increasing. Anxiety and depression are also amongst the top ten causes of years lost to disability worldwide. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the psychological treatment of choice for these disorders, but they are not effective for everyone. Our team have been focusing on the development of new digital therapeutics that target key mechanisms that predict and maintain anxiety and depression.
Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) such as worry, and rumination predicts and maintains anxiety and depression. Importantly, RNT, anxiety and depression are all maintained by a tendency to draw negative conclusions from uncertain/ambiguous information (interpretation bias), but people without anxiety or depression are more likely to generate positive interpretations. Our new digital therapeutic, Learning Effective New Strategies (LENS), can be used to train people to make more positive interpretations. It is a theory-driven, accessible, web-based interpretation training intervention, that can be completed at home at a convenient time. LENS reduces RNT, anxiety and depression. We are now extending this work through the RELAX and REGAIN research studies.
A second research area in the CEDAR group examines the bi-directional processes between body and mind in the treatment of RNT. We are interested in better understanding how using specific breathing techniques know to calm body states, may also affect our mental state. We are beginning to explore this research are in the HEARTMIND study.
Pictured right to left: Yogini Sawjani, Jessica Steward, Fran Meeten, Colette Hirsch, Toni, David Spalding and Brittannia Volkmer.
People
King's PhD in Mental Health Research for Health Professionals Fellow
Professor in Cognitive Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychologist Senior Lecturer
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Projects
REGAIN study
Recent research by our collaborators identified RNT as an independent risk factor for cognitive decline. We already know that RNT is a risk factor for anxiety and depression. Hence, reducing RNT in adults who are over 60 years old could help reduce cognitive decline as well as anxiety and depression. We are developing an online intervention tailored for adults aged 60 and over who engage in high levels of RNT. We plan to test whether this does indeed reduce anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline in the longer term. If you are aged 60 or over and are interested in helping us with this research project, please email: cedar-worry@kcl.ac.uk .
Distress in Long Term Conditions (LTC)
We have conducted experimental research to identify key mechanisms that maintain distress in people suffering from LTC. Building on our findings we have developed various tailored online interventions to target distress around fatigue in LTC, promote resilience in breast cancer survivors and reduce worry and anxiety in people with Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). On completion of ongoing feasibility and acceptability trials, we will test the efficacy of an online, scalable intervention platform, targeting a range of transdiagnostic psychologically mediated problems associated with LTC (anxiety/worry, fatigue, low resilience), that could be easily rolled out across the UK.
HEARTMIND study
This research funded by the Medical Research Council examines heart rate variability biofeedback as an intervention for symptoms of anxiety. We are looking for individuals aged 18-40 to participate in a study examining mind-body links in worry. Participation in the study will involve completing online screening questionnaires relating to your experiences of anxiety, worry, and your health status. If you meet the inclusion criteria, you will be invited to complete additional questionnaires within 24 hours prior to attending a single in-person testing session at King’s College London’s Denmark Hill campus. If you choose to attend the in-person session, you will be asked to wear electrodes on your torso to record your heart rate, and a belt around your abdomen to record your breathing. You will be asked to complete a range of computer-based cognitive tasks and breathing exercises whilst wearing the equipment. It is expected to take 10 minutes to complete the screening questionnaires, 10 minutes to complete the additional questionnaires, and 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the in-person session. You will have the choice of being reimbursed £25 via bank transfer, or being given a £25 Love2shop voucher, for your time.
Other studies
We have identified several key modifiable mechanisms associated with both resilience and low levels of anxiety and depression in teachers, trainee teachers, GPs and unpaid caregivers. We have begun to examine whether these processes predict later levels of anxiety and depression. We are now developing and testing accessible online prevention interventions, targeting these mechanisms to reduce the risk of anxiety/depression and promote resilience in people in long-term stressful occupations/situations. We are also conducting research to test our new trainee teacher tailored intervention designed to promote resilience to the stresses of teacher training.
RELAX Study
RELAX (‘REducing Levels of AnXiety’) is investigating whether a new web-based training can reduce anxiety in pregnant women and new mothers.
Scaling up LENS
Establishing a digital therapy for anxiety, depression and resilience.
Shift Focus
A study testing an online training designed for young people to help shift focus away from worry.
Activities
Public Engagement
We regularly contribute to public engagement events and collaborate with people in the arts to ensure that anxiety is accurately portrayed in their work. We have worked with theatre makers Hannah Ringham and Glen Neath on ‘Die or Run’, a play portraying anxiety. Professor Hirsch was the anxiety clinical consultant helping curate ‘On Edge: Living in an Age of Anxiety’ at the Science Gallery (2019-2020). Professor Hirsch is currently working with Michelle McMahon, a playwright, on a production depicting anxiety called ‘Fear’. We have also given invited talks on worry and anxiety to GP consortium, large corporations, government departments, perinatal organisations (e.g., Maternity Voices Partnership) and a keynote at Cheltenham Science Festival. We have disseminated our resilience findings to cancer charities (e.g., Maggie’s; Keeping Abreast) and our teacher research to teachers in schools, as well as organisations such as ‘Education Support Partnership’ and ‘Transition to Teach’.
Deutsche Bank Hackathon
A 24-Hour Global MQ Transforming Mental Health Hackathon, sponsored by Deutsche Bank, challenged over 1350 employees worldwide with turning a web-based mental health platform, developed by Professor Colette Hirsch as part of the LENS project, into a prototype mobile app to reduce negative thinking patterns in people with anxiety disorder and depression.
Our Team
Professor Colette Hirsch
Prof Colette Hirsch is a Professor of Cognitive Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London and Deputy Theme Lead of the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre Digital Therapies theme. She is also an Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT), where she set up and runs the first dedicated Generalised Anxiety Disorder service in the UK. Professor Hirsch’s research is mainly focused on the thinking habits that foster and maintain anxiety and depression. She has been at the forefront of developing new digital interventions to reduce anxiety and low mood.
Dr Fran Meeten
Dr Fran Meeten is a Clinical Psychologist Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. She also holds an honorary Clinical Psychologist position in the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust where she undertakes clinical work with a focus on the treatment of anxiety. Dr Meeten’s research examines the mechanisms that underpin the development and maintenance of mood and anxiety disorders and explores how these mechanisms can be targeted in treatment. She employs a broad range of techniques including cognitive, behavioural, and psychophysiological to develop a research portfolio that examines repetitive negative thinking in emotional disorders from a brain-body perspective. She has an interest in exploring how we can improve therapeutic outcomes. In 2022, Dr Meeten started work as Principal Investigator (PI) on a Medical Research Council New Investigator Research Grant examining heart rate variability biofeedback as an intervention for symptoms of anxiety.
Dr Brittannia Volkmer
Dr Brittannia Volkmer is the Clinical Trial Coordinator for the RELAX study and has been involved in health research trials at King’s College London since 2017. She has a PhD in Health Psychology from City, University of London (2020) and has completed charity work with families raising young children. Brittannia supported parents experiencing stress through the COVID-19 pandemic. For the RELAX project, she has taken the lead on creating scenarios to be used in the RELAX intervention, which are tailored to the specific worries and anxieties experienced during pregnancy.
Dr David Spalding
David Spalding is a Research Associate for the Medical Research Council grant examining heart rate variability biofeedback as an intervention for symptoms of anxiety. He has a PhD in Psychology from the University of Strathclyde (2021). His research has focused on the how individuals’ everyday experiences of anxiety may affect their attention and short-term ‘working’ memory abilities.
Dr Gabriella Tyson
Gabriella Tyson is a Postdoctoral Researcher for the Digital Therapeutics theme of the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) identifying, assessing and modifying key mechanisms that maintain psychological disorders. She has a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford (2022). She has previously worked with at-risk occupational groups on preventative interventions for mental health disorders.
Dr Anna Cartwright
Dr Anna Cartwright is a PhD Fellow funded by the Wellcome Trust at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. She is a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, interested in the interactions between physical and mental health. Her PhD will focus on refining and optimising an online intervention for fear of cancer recurrence in people who are living beyond breast cancer. The project will involve working closely with people with lived experience of breast cancer and fear of cancer recurrence, to develop and test the impact of a novel intervention component.
Jo Bennett
Jo Bennett is a Research Midwife for the RELAX study in the Cognition in Emotional Disorders and Resilience group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. She joined the RELAX team in October 2022. Jo holds a BSc (Hons) in Midwifery from King’s College London (2005). She obtained her Registered Midwife qualification from The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery at King’s College London in 1998. Jo has worked clinically as a midwife at St Thomas’ Hospital in London (Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust) since 1998. She has also worked as lead midwife on a nutrition and exercise workshop for pregnant women as part of the Lambeth Early Action Partnership.
Yogini Sawjani
Yogini Sawjani is a Research Assistant for the RELAX study in the Cognition in Emotional Disorders and Resilience group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. She holds a BSc in Psychology from University College London (2020) and an MSc in Mental Health Studies from King's College London (2021). Yogini has previously worked on a study testing a novel psychological intervention for generalised anxiety disorder as well as a feasibility and acceptability trial of an online training program which aims to boost resilience and reduce emotional distress amongst breast cancer survivors.
Jessica Steward
Jessica Steward is a Research Assistant for the Shift Focus Research Project in the Cognition in Emotional Disorders and Resilience group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. She holds a BSc in Psychology from Cardiff University (2018) and a MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences from University College London (2021). Jessica has previously worked on a clinical trial testing online cognitive therapy for young people presenting with PTSD.
Toni Ejoor
Toni Ejoor is a Research Assistant for the Medical Research Council grant examining heart rate variability biofeedback as an intervention for symptoms of anxiety. She holds a BSc in Medical Neuroscience from University of Sussex (2018) and a MSc in Applied Neuroscience from King’s College London (2021). Toni has previously worked as a community Mental Health Recovery Practitioner, providing recovery-based support to individuals with mental illnesses.
Liberty Wade
Liberty Wade is a Research Assistant for the Heart-Mind Project, examining heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) as an intervention for anxiety. She is currently completing a BSc in Psychology with a professional placement year at King’s College London.
Victoria Ferreira
Victoria Ferreira is an undergraduate BSc Psychology student, currently undertaking a placement year as an Honorary Research Assistant. She is involved in the RELAX study and Shift Focus research project.
People
King's PhD in Mental Health Research for Health Professionals Fellow
Professor in Cognitive Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychologist Senior Lecturer
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Projects
REGAIN study
Recent research by our collaborators identified RNT as an independent risk factor for cognitive decline. We already know that RNT is a risk factor for anxiety and depression. Hence, reducing RNT in adults who are over 60 years old could help reduce cognitive decline as well as anxiety and depression. We are developing an online intervention tailored for adults aged 60 and over who engage in high levels of RNT. We plan to test whether this does indeed reduce anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline in the longer term. If you are aged 60 or over and are interested in helping us with this research project, please email: cedar-worry@kcl.ac.uk .
Distress in Long Term Conditions (LTC)
We have conducted experimental research to identify key mechanisms that maintain distress in people suffering from LTC. Building on our findings we have developed various tailored online interventions to target distress around fatigue in LTC, promote resilience in breast cancer survivors and reduce worry and anxiety in people with Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). On completion of ongoing feasibility and acceptability trials, we will test the efficacy of an online, scalable intervention platform, targeting a range of transdiagnostic psychologically mediated problems associated with LTC (anxiety/worry, fatigue, low resilience), that could be easily rolled out across the UK.
HEARTMIND study
This research funded by the Medical Research Council examines heart rate variability biofeedback as an intervention for symptoms of anxiety. We are looking for individuals aged 18-40 to participate in a study examining mind-body links in worry. Participation in the study will involve completing online screening questionnaires relating to your experiences of anxiety, worry, and your health status. If you meet the inclusion criteria, you will be invited to complete additional questionnaires within 24 hours prior to attending a single in-person testing session at King’s College London’s Denmark Hill campus. If you choose to attend the in-person session, you will be asked to wear electrodes on your torso to record your heart rate, and a belt around your abdomen to record your breathing. You will be asked to complete a range of computer-based cognitive tasks and breathing exercises whilst wearing the equipment. It is expected to take 10 minutes to complete the screening questionnaires, 10 minutes to complete the additional questionnaires, and 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the in-person session. You will have the choice of being reimbursed £25 via bank transfer, or being given a £25 Love2shop voucher, for your time.
Other studies
We have identified several key modifiable mechanisms associated with both resilience and low levels of anxiety and depression in teachers, trainee teachers, GPs and unpaid caregivers. We have begun to examine whether these processes predict later levels of anxiety and depression. We are now developing and testing accessible online prevention interventions, targeting these mechanisms to reduce the risk of anxiety/depression and promote resilience in people in long-term stressful occupations/situations. We are also conducting research to test our new trainee teacher tailored intervention designed to promote resilience to the stresses of teacher training.
RELAX Study
RELAX (‘REducing Levels of AnXiety’) is investigating whether a new web-based training can reduce anxiety in pregnant women and new mothers.
Scaling up LENS
Establishing a digital therapy for anxiety, depression and resilience.
Shift Focus
A study testing an online training designed for young people to help shift focus away from worry.
Publications
Activities
Public Engagement
We regularly contribute to public engagement events and collaborate with people in the arts to ensure that anxiety is accurately portrayed in their work. We have worked with theatre makers Hannah Ringham and Glen Neath on ‘Die or Run’, a play portraying anxiety. Professor Hirsch was the anxiety clinical consultant helping curate ‘On Edge: Living in an Age of Anxiety’ at the Science Gallery (2019-2020). Professor Hirsch is currently working with Michelle McMahon, a playwright, on a production depicting anxiety called ‘Fear’. We have also given invited talks on worry and anxiety to GP consortium, large corporations, government departments, perinatal organisations (e.g., Maternity Voices Partnership) and a keynote at Cheltenham Science Festival. We have disseminated our resilience findings to cancer charities (e.g., Maggie’s; Keeping Abreast) and our teacher research to teachers in schools, as well as organisations such as ‘Education Support Partnership’ and ‘Transition to Teach’.
Deutsche Bank Hackathon
A 24-Hour Global MQ Transforming Mental Health Hackathon, sponsored by Deutsche Bank, challenged over 1350 employees worldwide with turning a web-based mental health platform, developed by Professor Colette Hirsch as part of the LENS project, into a prototype mobile app to reduce negative thinking patterns in people with anxiety disorder and depression.
Our Team
Professor Colette Hirsch
Prof Colette Hirsch is a Professor of Cognitive Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London and Deputy Theme Lead of the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre Digital Therapies theme. She is also an Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT), where she set up and runs the first dedicated Generalised Anxiety Disorder service in the UK. Professor Hirsch’s research is mainly focused on the thinking habits that foster and maintain anxiety and depression. She has been at the forefront of developing new digital interventions to reduce anxiety and low mood.
Dr Fran Meeten
Dr Fran Meeten is a Clinical Psychologist Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. She also holds an honorary Clinical Psychologist position in the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust where she undertakes clinical work with a focus on the treatment of anxiety. Dr Meeten’s research examines the mechanisms that underpin the development and maintenance of mood and anxiety disorders and explores how these mechanisms can be targeted in treatment. She employs a broad range of techniques including cognitive, behavioural, and psychophysiological to develop a research portfolio that examines repetitive negative thinking in emotional disorders from a brain-body perspective. She has an interest in exploring how we can improve therapeutic outcomes. In 2022, Dr Meeten started work as Principal Investigator (PI) on a Medical Research Council New Investigator Research Grant examining heart rate variability biofeedback as an intervention for symptoms of anxiety.
Dr Brittannia Volkmer
Dr Brittannia Volkmer is the Clinical Trial Coordinator for the RELAX study and has been involved in health research trials at King’s College London since 2017. She has a PhD in Health Psychology from City, University of London (2020) and has completed charity work with families raising young children. Brittannia supported parents experiencing stress through the COVID-19 pandemic. For the RELAX project, she has taken the lead on creating scenarios to be used in the RELAX intervention, which are tailored to the specific worries and anxieties experienced during pregnancy.
Dr David Spalding
David Spalding is a Research Associate for the Medical Research Council grant examining heart rate variability biofeedback as an intervention for symptoms of anxiety. He has a PhD in Psychology from the University of Strathclyde (2021). His research has focused on the how individuals’ everyday experiences of anxiety may affect their attention and short-term ‘working’ memory abilities.
Dr Gabriella Tyson
Gabriella Tyson is a Postdoctoral Researcher for the Digital Therapeutics theme of the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) identifying, assessing and modifying key mechanisms that maintain psychological disorders. She has a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford (2022). She has previously worked with at-risk occupational groups on preventative interventions for mental health disorders.
Dr Anna Cartwright
Dr Anna Cartwright is a PhD Fellow funded by the Wellcome Trust at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. She is a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, interested in the interactions between physical and mental health. Her PhD will focus on refining and optimising an online intervention for fear of cancer recurrence in people who are living beyond breast cancer. The project will involve working closely with people with lived experience of breast cancer and fear of cancer recurrence, to develop and test the impact of a novel intervention component.
Jo Bennett
Jo Bennett is a Research Midwife for the RELAX study in the Cognition in Emotional Disorders and Resilience group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. She joined the RELAX team in October 2022. Jo holds a BSc (Hons) in Midwifery from King’s College London (2005). She obtained her Registered Midwife qualification from The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery at King’s College London in 1998. Jo has worked clinically as a midwife at St Thomas’ Hospital in London (Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust) since 1998. She has also worked as lead midwife on a nutrition and exercise workshop for pregnant women as part of the Lambeth Early Action Partnership.
Yogini Sawjani
Yogini Sawjani is a Research Assistant for the RELAX study in the Cognition in Emotional Disorders and Resilience group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. She holds a BSc in Psychology from University College London (2020) and an MSc in Mental Health Studies from King's College London (2021). Yogini has previously worked on a study testing a novel psychological intervention for generalised anxiety disorder as well as a feasibility and acceptability trial of an online training program which aims to boost resilience and reduce emotional distress amongst breast cancer survivors.
Jessica Steward
Jessica Steward is a Research Assistant for the Shift Focus Research Project in the Cognition in Emotional Disorders and Resilience group at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. She holds a BSc in Psychology from Cardiff University (2018) and a MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences from University College London (2021). Jessica has previously worked on a clinical trial testing online cognitive therapy for young people presenting with PTSD.
Toni Ejoor
Toni Ejoor is a Research Assistant for the Medical Research Council grant examining heart rate variability biofeedback as an intervention for symptoms of anxiety. She holds a BSc in Medical Neuroscience from University of Sussex (2018) and a MSc in Applied Neuroscience from King’s College London (2021). Toni has previously worked as a community Mental Health Recovery Practitioner, providing recovery-based support to individuals with mental illnesses.
Liberty Wade
Liberty Wade is a Research Assistant for the Heart-Mind Project, examining heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) as an intervention for anxiety. She is currently completing a BSc in Psychology with a professional placement year at King’s College London.
Victoria Ferreira
Victoria Ferreira is an undergraduate BSc Psychology student, currently undertaking a placement year as an Honorary Research Assistant. She is involved in the RELAX study and Shift Focus research project.
Group leads
Professor in Cognitive Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychologist Senior Lecturer