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Scoping review: Does Psychoeducation for Non-Epileptic Seizures increase quality of life and/or decrease seizure occurrence? This research examined the content and efficacy of psychoeducational interventions for non-epileptic seizures (NES) in terms of seizure frequency and quality of life. Databases were searched and seventeen eligible studies identified. Findings revealed that components and modalities of interventions varied greatly, though all included information about NES, its symptomology and the mind-body link. Methods of evaluating the interventions also varied and though reporting on significance of findings was inconsistent, there was a general trend in symptom reduction and improvement in general wellbeing. Findings illustrate that psychoeducation has potential benefit as an intervention in its own right, however inconsistency in the findings suggests that psychoeducation is unlikely to be a sufficient intervention as a standalone treatment for most people and may be best placed as a second step in a stepped care model, between initial diagnosis and further psychological treatment. Furthermore, the present literature needs replication and greater sample sizes for more certain conclusions to be drawn. Service Improvement Project: Decision making in NF2 Hearing Interventions. The project aimed to understand experiences of people with Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) under the Oxford and South West service, in terms of psychological impact of NF2 and support required for decisions to take up hearing interventions (hearing aids, auditory brain stem implants (ABI) and cochlear implants (CI)). Fifty surveys were completed and analysed. Qualitative findings demonstrated physical symptoms contributed to emotional distress, social isolation and challenged sense of identity. Quantitative findings showed people generally felt informed and ready to take up hearing interventions, with many feeling satisfied with the outcome. People without CI/ABI expressed that surgery risk and visibility of devices were barriers. Service recommendations include increasing accessibility of psychological support before interventions, greater provision of information, and consideration of communication and emotional needs of patients. Theory Driven Research Project: How do autistic traits influence affirmative experiences of gender identity? This research examined the experiences of gender diverse people with differing levels of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits in their physical and social affirmations of gender. Responses to an online survey were split into two groups and analysed according to high and low ASD trait levels. Findings revealed that no differences existed between the groups in importance and sense of passing as their identified gender. There were also no differences between groups in social belonging to gender diverse groups and gender congruence. The only significant difference found was that people with higher levels of ASD traits reported lower psychological functioning. Thus, services need to be mindful of ensuring they are autism-informed in their standard approach and recognise the additional stress that ASD can place on wellbeing. This is particularly salient when people belong to multiple minority groups where impression management occurs across an intersection of stigmatised identities.

Aims: This study aimed to develop an insight into the experience of seeking psychological support in the police service, specifically with a view to identifying the barriers and facilitative processes. Method: Qualitative data were collected from eight police employees, using semistructured interviews. Data from the interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Five superordinate themes and seventeen subordinate themes emerged from the data. The first superordinate theme ("The culture of the police force: fitting into the collective identity") described how participants fitted into the cultural demands of the job and the teams in which they work. Finding a way to integrate into the organisation whilst attempting to maintain one's individuality, and fitting in to the mixed expectations of the public were also described. The second superordinate theme ("Protecting the self') described ways in which participants protected themselves from emotional harm and the criticism of others. The third superordinate theme ("The acceptability of help") described participants' feelings about the legitimacy of their problems and whether seeking help implied weakness or was a tool by which to become stronger. The fourth superordinate theme ("Accessibility of help") described people's lack of awareness of sources of help, their feelings about the location of welfare officers and how this affected accessibility, and the importance of privacy and confidentiality. The final superordinate theme ("The importance of trust") described how trust was influenced by dual roles, valuing self-promotion over others and shared understanding between the help-seeker and the helper. Conclusions: Multiple barriers to help-seeking were identified, at the intrapersonal, interpersonal and systemic levels. The role of the culture of the police was confirmed as an important factor in the decision about whether or not to seek help, via the formation of a strong identity. This culture influenced the way in which help-seeking was perceived at a systemic level, the most common attitude being that seeking help was weak. Methods through which participants protected themselves, the perceived accessibility of help and the level of trust in one's management and other sources of support also influenced help-seeking. Help-seeking in the police service needs to be encouraged with these issues in mind. Service implications and ideas for future research are presented.