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      Prof Antonia Bifulco

      ROLE: Professor in Psychology
      SCHOOL: Science & Technology
      DEPARTMENT: Psychology
      TELEPHONE: +44 (0)20 8411 3705
      EMAIL: A.Bifulco@mdx.ac.uk
      1. Biography &
        Qualifications
      2. Learning &
        Teaching Interests
      3. Research Outputs &
        Interests
      4. Funded Research &
        Knowledge Exchange Projects
      5. Engagement &
        Impact

      • Biography &
        Qualifications

        BA Psychology/Philosophy (Exon); Postgrad Dip Soc (London); PhD Social Science (London). FellowRoyal Society of Arts; Associate Fellow, Chartered Psychologist and Chartered Scientist, British Psychological Society.

        Professor Bifulco joined Middlesex in July 2013, together with the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Centre (CATS) which she co-directs. She was previously at Kingston University, having spent most of her career at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her research is focused on social and lifespan influences on psychological disorder and she has investigated childhood experience, adversity and attachment style intergenerationally. She is an advocate of intensive interview measures and together with the CATS team runs training courses for researchers and practitioners on attachment style, childhood neglect/abuse and parenting. She currently directs an ESRC grant on designing an online interview on life events and difficulties in relation to depression and physical illness.


        Languages Spoken

      • Learning &
        Teaching Interests

        Prof Bifulco has taught on Lifespan Development which looks at both risk for clinical disorder and resilience. The main premise is that experiences at one lifestage can have major impacts on other lifestages, such as childhood neglect/abuse and problem development leading to issues in adolescent and adult adjustment. She has also engaged in teaching on Attachment Theory and its ramifications for development and clinical health. Her Health teaching has focused on life stress and its measurement and how this impacts on clinical health outcomes.

        Prof Bifulco also has an interest in Forensic studies, in particular how childhood neglect and abuse can lead to disorders such as psychopathy, and outcomes such as violent crime.

      • Research Outputs &
        Interests

        Professor Bifulco welcomesPhD students with interests in social factors in psychological disorder (depression, anxiety, conduct disorder); attachment style; childhood neglect/abuse; cross-cultural studies.

        Publications

        Publication Feed

        Characteristics of severe life events, attachment style, and depression – Using a new online approach

        Bifulco, Antonia and Kagan, Lisa and Spence, Ruth and Nunn, Stephen and Bailey-Rodriguez, Deborah and Hosang, Georgina M. and Taylor, Matthew and Fisher, Helen L. (2019) Characteristics of severe life events, attachment style, and depression – Using a new online approach. British Journal of Clinical Psychology , 58 (4). pp. 427-439. ISSN 0144-6657

        A contextual approach to trauma experience: lessons from life events research

        Spence, Ruth and Kagan, Lisa and Bifulco, Antonia (2019) A contextual approach to trauma experience: lessons from life events research. Psychological Medicine , 49 (9). pp. 1409-1413. ISSN 0033-2917

        Web-based measure of life events using Computerized Life Events and Assessment Record (CLEAR): preliminary cross-sectional study of reliability, validity, and association with depression

        Bifulco, Antonia and Spence, Ruth and Nunn, Stephen and Kagan, Lisa and Bailey-Rodriguez, Deborah and Hosang, Georgina M. and Taylor, Matthew and Fisher, Helen L. (2019) Web-based measure of life events using Computerized Life Events and Assessment Record (CLEAR): preliminary cross-sectional study of reliability, validity, and association with depression. JMIR Mental Health , 6 (1). ISSN 2368-7959

        Attachment style, loneliness and depression in older age women

        Spence, Ruth and Jacobs, Catherine and Bifulco, Antonia (2018) Attachment style, loneliness and depression in older age women. Aging and mental health . ISSN 1360-7863 (Published online first)

        Child abuse and protection: contemporary issues in research, policy and practice

        Davidson, Julia and Bifulco, Antonia (2018) Child abuse and protection: contemporary issues in research, policy and practice. Routledge. ISBN 9781138209992

        View more publications

      • Funded Research &
        Knowledge Exchange Projects

        ESRC project grant: Computerised Life Events Assessment Record (CLEAR). Developing a reliable and valid intearctive online method for measuring stressful life events and difficulties. Bifulco, Hosang, Farmer & Fisher. (£490,00, November 2013-2016).

        St Christopher's Fellowship: Evaluating the Attachment style in residential care.Bifulco & Jacobs, (£20,000 November 2012-13) (renewed annually).

        Southwark & Lambeth PCT: Evaluating the Oasis Youth Support project on Youth Violence: Ilan-Clarke, Bunn, Demarco & Bifulco, (£24,000 September 2013-2015).

        Mapping the landscape for parenting and relationship support programmes for offenders. Anna Ellison (Policis), Sian Williams (Toynbee hall) Julia Davidson & Antonia Bifulco (Kingston University) 2013 (£980,000) Ministry of Justice.

        Evaluation of the Youth Violence Prevention Programme, Bifulco, Ilan- Clarke, Brazier: Guy's and St. Thomas NHS Foundation Trust : 2010-2013 (£70,000).

        Understanding the process of online grooming and victim selection: The behaviour of men who target children and young people online. Webster, Davidson, Bifulco, Gottschalk, Pham and Caretti. European Community fund, £425,000, 33 months, June 2009- March 2012.

        Evaluation of the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse (CECA) assessment in child safeguarding services. Kingston Safeguarding Services, May 2011-May 2012, £28,000.

        Developing the Child Attachment Style interview, Bifulco, Ilan-Clarke & Thomas. St Christopher's Fellowship, 2010-2011 (£15,000).

        Putting children at the centre of police practice. Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Command. Julia Davidson and Antonia Bifulco £26,000, 2007-10 (£8,00 to AB).

        Evaluation of Specialist Homes Action Research Project (SHARP) (2008-11) A. Bifulco, C. Jacobs, A. Bunn St Christopher's Fellowship £75,356, 3 years.

        Inter-disciplinary approaches to abuse and trauma in offenders. Providing seminars and workshops Bifulco, Davidson & Mezey, South West London Academic Network July 2009. £2,000.

        Evaluating the use of the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse interview in Safeguarding Services. 2010, Bifulco, Jacobs and Ilan-Clarke. Kingston Safeguarding services in partnership with West London Life Long Learning (£15,000).

        Lifespan RADAR: Lifespan initiative for Research and Data Archive Repository. Bifulco, Smith, Pope JISC £30,000, April 2009– May 2010 (www.lifespancollection.org.uk).

        Knowledge Exchange – Developing the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies (2008-2010) Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF4) Bifulco, £72,000, 2 years.

        Continuous Professional Development courses for health, social care and criminal justice professionals for the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies. West London Life Long Learning. 2009 Bifulco & Davidson, £14,500.

        Evaluation of the primary and community care research support programme (PCCRSP) Antonia Bifulco, Laura Brazier & Catherine Jacobs (Guy's & St Thomas's Trust) £20, 850, over 2 years, 2007-9.

        Evaluation of interventions to improve self-esteem in Southwark Secondary Schools – Teenage Pregnancy Programme Antonia Bifulco & Amanda Bunn (Southwark Children's Services) £10,636, 12-months 2007-8.

        Attachment Assessment in Adoption and success of placement: A prospective study using multiple methods.(2006-07) A Bifulco, C Jacobs, & S Farnfield Surrey Children's Services, £17,000, 1 year.

        Additional after hours and asylum service for the Permanence Stability Service in Surrey (2006-07) Antonia Bifulco, Catherine Jacobs, Margaret Ramsay (Surrey CAMHS service)£11,000, 1 year.

        Evaluating CAMHS Weekend pilot service for Deliberate Self Harm (2007) Prof Antonia Bifulco & Maggie Ramsay (Surrey CAMHS service) £7,000, 9 months.

        Evaluation of Specialist Homes Action Research Project (SHARP) (2006-8) A. Bifulco, C. Jacobs, A. Bunn St Christopher's Fellowship £57,356, 2 years.

        Delivery of CBT: An evaluation of current practice and recommendations for improvements (2007-09). Amy Scammell1, Astrid Schepers1 & Toni Bifulco (Wandsworth PCT Research Centre1 and RHUL) £46,604, (2 years). SG&SW Health Trust (£5,000 to RHUL), 2 years.

        Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF 3). Second stage of WestFocus Knowledge Exchange: Lead on RHUL Health network 06-08 and RHUL Social Inclusion network 06-08: HEIF 3 £140,000.

        HEIF2 WestFocus Knowledge Exchange – Lead on RHUL engagement in Health and Social Inclusion Networks – Projects on Research Practice Partnership & Health Solutions- £200,000: July 2004-July 2006 (HEIF 2).

        Southwark Children's Fund Evaluation – A. Bifulco, A, Scammell & M.Whiting (in partnership with Wandsworth PCT Research Centre (Southwark Safeguarding). 1/11/2004-1/11/2005 (£45,000).

        Evaluation of services supporting families –Family Resource Teams. Health Action Zone, Southwark PCT: A. Bifulco & C. Jacobs (Sept 2004-2006: £90,000).

        Consultation on attachment and evaluation of The Attachment Project (TAP) A. Bifulco & C, Jacobs. 1/10/2004-1/10/2006 (£32,000) Surrey Adoption Services.

        Adapting assessment tools for the adoption/fostering context. Commissioned evaluation, 'Parents for Children' A . Bifulco 1/11/02- 1/11/04 (£26,000) 'Research into mental health in primary care setting'; Wandsworth Primary Care Research Centre (BRG) A. Bifulco; 15/8/03-15/3/04; (£31,000).

        Diagnostic and etiological assessment of adolescent perpetrators of sexual abuse in Europe T. Pham, Bifulco A, de Ruiter C, Archer E, Vanderstukken O, Spaut JM: 1/2/03-1/2/04 (EU: Stop II) (E128,004).

        Psychiatric disorder in young adult males: its association with mothers' depressive vulnerability'. Project Grant; MRC; Bifulco & Moran; 1/11/1996-1/9/2000; (£213,000).

      • Engagement &
        Impact

        Through the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies (cats-rp.org.uk) Prof Bifulco engages in knowledge exchange projects with a number of health and social care agencies. She is currently working with youth violence in A&E departments with the Oasis Trust and with attachment issues in young people in residential care with St Christopher's Fellowship. The measures she has developed through her research career are now offered as assessments through training courses in the Attachment Style interview, the Parental Role Interview and the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Interview.

        She is a reviewer on a number of clinically-focused journals and those involved with trauma and abuse. She is on the editorial board for Psychotraumatology and the Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic.

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