![Dr Lucy Thompson Dr Lucy Thompson](/img/200x200/staffpages/uploads/s02lt3/avatar/LEbFr9xPkg6YVIJthoh60JvInE1SHcmLNCzDZPPd.jpeg)
BA, PhD, MPH, CPsychol
Senior Research Fellow
- About
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- Email Address
- lucy.thompson@abdn.ac.uk
- Office Address
Centre for Rural Health
Centre for Health Science
Old Perth Road
Inverness IV2 3JH
Tel: 01463 255896
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
I am a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Rural Health within the Institute of Applied Health Sciences. I have PhD in Psychology and a Master of Public Health which have provided the ideal foundation for my research interest in early child development and parental wellbeing. Before coming to the University of Aberdeen I spent several years working in the NHS as a senior public health researcher and my research has continued to have an applied focus. My publications span subjects including whole population screening for neurodevelopmental problems, evaluation of parenting support interventions, use of whole population datasets and data linkage, and systematic literature reviews. I have recently been involved in running feasibility pilot trials and I am particularly interested in how we can optmise the application of trial methodology for complex socio-behavioural interventions.
Qualifications
- BA Social Sciences1996 - Glasgow Caledonian University
- PhD Psychology2003 - Glasgow Caledonian University
- MPH Public Health2009 - University of Glasgow
External Memberships
Part of my time is spent coordinating an international research network for the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre at Gothenburg University (gu.se/en/gnc), a role I have held since 2012. This programme includes groundbreaking work on early indicators of neurodevelopmental disorders through a national cohort study in Japan (www.env.go.jp/chemi/ceh/en/about/outline.html), a new cohort study in the Faroe Islands, and developing work in rural South Africa.
I am an Honorary Research Fellow with the University of Glasgow Institute of Health and Wellbeing.
- Research
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Research Overview
My research focuses on early predictors of childhood mental health and neurodevelopmental problems, such as language delay, disruptive behaviour problems like ADHD, and autism spectrum conditions. I am particularly interested in the perinatal period and how best we can support parents and help developing families thrive. I value a multi-disciplinary and mixed-methods approach to obtaining the best quality evidence that reflects people’s lived experiences. I have taken a lead role in a number of studies investigating the effectiveness of parenting support interventions, including the current Mellow Babies Trial. With colleagues I set up a whole population mental health screening project in the education system in Glasgow (the ChiME datasets), and have examined the predictive validity of health visitor screening and observation of video-recorded parent-child interaction for the later identification of neurodevelopmental problems.
I am keen to supervise research projects in the field of early child development, particularly around early identification of and support for neurodevelopmental problems. I am currently seeking a student to develop a programme of work on refining a method of parent-infant observation for use by non-specialist health and social care professionals. See bit.ly/CP_research_lucy_thompson for more information.
Research Areas
Applied Health Sciences
Psychology
Supervision
Group processes and social context in parenting interventions. Jessica Tanner, University of Aberdeen, current primary supervisor
Spatiotemporal variability in social, emotional and behavioural development of children. Samantha Ofili, Strathclyde University, current co-supervisor
Early predictors of neurodevelopmental outcomes in the Japan Environment and Children Study (JECS), Kahoko Yasumitsu-Lovell, Gothenburg University / Kochi Medical School, current co-supervisor
Development of a feasible and robust neurodevelopmental screen for South African children. Ben Truter, Gothenburg University / Stellenbosch University, current co-supervisor
The scope and predictive validity of screening for neurodevelopmental difficulties in pre-school aged children. Fiona Sim, University of Aberdeen, 2018
Modelling social, emotional and behavioural development in the first three years of school. Louise Marryat, University of Glasgow, 2014
Funding and Grants
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research (PHR). £1.2million. Does "Mellow Babies" improve the psychosocial health of mothers and their children? (2018-2022)
Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO). £134,799. Parents InC.: A feasibility randomised controlled trial of a parenting support programme focussed on families affected by ADHD (2018-2021).
Feis Rois / Spirit of 2012. £4990. Evaluation of the Tàlaidhean Ùra Fèis Rois Lullaby Project (2020-2021).
Trygfonden. DKK 14,279,670. A general practice-based cluster-randomised trial of the impact of a Resilience Programme on early child development (2018-2023).
William Grant Foundation. £30,000. Development and External Evaluation of the Mellow Parenting Observation Scale (2016-2021).
EU Horizon 2020. €1,133,169. Clinical validation of the predictive value of the Harimata Play Care Pro assessment for autism (2017-2019).
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). £2.2 million. Trial of Healthy Relationship Initiatives for the Very Early-years (THRIVE) (2013-2019).
Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy. £39,788. Antenatal parenting support for women vulnerable in pregnancy: an exploratory randomised controlled trial of Mellow Bumps (2012-2013).
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Research and Development Group. £39,532. Characterising neurodevelopmental problems identified at a universal nurse contact with 30-months-old children (2011-2012).
Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy. £39,971. Enhancing Information Systems to Support Children’s Health and Development: Exploring Options in Glasgow (2010-2012).
Child and Maternal Health Division of the Scottish Government. £52,325. Screening for emotional and behavioural problems at school entry (2009-2010).
- Publications
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Page 2 of 3 Results 26 to 50 of 56
Trial of healthy relationship initiatives for the very early years (THRIVE), evaluating Enhanced Triple P for Baby and Mellow Bumps for those with additional social and care needs during pregnancy and their infants who are at higher risk of maltreatment: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Trials, vol. 20, no. 1, 557Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3674-z
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Autism With and Without Regression: A Two-Year Prospective Longitudinal Study in Two Population-Derived Swedish Cohorts
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 49, pp. 2281-2290Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPredictive validity of preschool screening tools for language and behavioural difficulties: A PRISMA systematic review
PloS ONE, vol. 14, no. 2, e0211409Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211409
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/11867/1/journal.pone.0211409.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
- [ONLINE] View publication in Mendeley
Phase 3 diagnostic evaluation of a smart tablet serious game to identify autism in 760 children 3–5 years old in Sweden and the United Kingdom
BMJ Open, vol. 9, no. 7, e026226Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026226
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/12596/1/e026226.full.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
- [ONLINE] View publication in Mendeley
Development problems were common five years after positive screening for language disorders and, or, autism at 2.5 years of age
Acta Paediatrica, vol. 107, no. 10, pp. 1739-1749Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.14358
Primary schools and the amplification of social differences in child mental health: a population based cohort study
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 27-33Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe role of cholesterol metabolism and various steroid abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders: A hypothesis paper
Autism Research, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 1022-1044Contributions to Journals: Review articlesViolence is Rare in Autism: When It Does Occur, Is It Sometimes Extreme?
The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, vol. 151, pp. 49-68Contributions to Journals: ArticlesNo evidence of whole population mental health impact of the Triple P parenting programme: findings from a routine dataset
BMC Pediatrics, vol. 17, 40Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAccess to chlamydia testing in remote and rural Scotland
Rural and Remote Health, vol. 16, pp. 1-9Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMellow Parenting: systematic review and meta-analysis of an intervention to promote sensitive parenting
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, vol. 57, no. 12, pp. 1119-1128Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMapping area variability in social and behavioural difficulties among Glasgow pre-schoolers: linkage of a survey of pre-school staff with routine monitoring data
Child: Care, Health and Development, vol. 41, no. 6, pp. 853-864Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDevelopment of a triage tool for neurodevelopmental risk in children aged 30 months
Research in Developmental Disabilities, vol. 45-46, pp. 69-82Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2015.07.017
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/7553/5/RIDD_paper_revised_28_06_15_submitted.docx
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/7553/3/Appendix_06_02_15.docx
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/7553/1/figures_06_02_15.docx
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/7553/4/highlights_06_02_15.docx
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/7553/2/tables_06_02_15.docx
Extreme (“pathological”) demand avoidance in autism: a general population study in the Faroe Islands
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 24, no. 8, pp. 979-984Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0647-3
Exploring the social, emotional and behavioural development of preschool children: is Glasgow different?
International Journal for Equity in Health, vol. 14, 3Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-014-0129-8
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4316/1/s12939_014_0129_8.pdf
Antenatal parenting support for vulnerable women
British Journal of Midwifery, vol. 23, no. 10, pp. 724-732Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAssociations between social isolation, pro-social behaviour and emotional development in pre-school aged children: a population based survey of kindergarten staff
BMC Psychology, vol. 2, 44Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEarly parental physical punishment and emotional and behavioural outcomes in preschool children
Child: Care, Health and Development, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 337-345Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12061
Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers
Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 288-301Contributions to Journals: ArticlesLanguage and social/emotional problems identified at a universal developmental assessment at 30 months
BMC Pediatrics, vol. 13, 206Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-13-206
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3129/1/Sim_et_al_2013.pdf
Assessing wellbeing at school entry using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: professional perspectives
Educational Research, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 87 - 98Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2013.767027
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
A universal 30-month child health assessment focussed on social and emotional development
Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 13 - 22Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v3n1p13
Language delay is not predictable from available risk factors
The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2013, 947018Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDisruptive behaviour disorders: a systematic review of environmental antenatal and early years risk factors
Child: Care, Health and Development, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 611-628Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01366.x
Matching parenting support needs to service provision in a universal 13-month child health surveillance visit
Child: Care, Health and Development, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 665–674Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01315.x