David Sher

Aside from contributing to studies undertaken by the Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP) research group, my work centres on exploring the experiences of those that have recovered from paranoia, in order to inform understanding and more effective treatment for people experiencing persecutory delusions.

In particular, my research aims to identify salient factors that encourage recovery. This is achieved in part through interviewing patients with psychosis and their carers in the National Health Service (NHS). It is intended that this will contribute towards developing effective psychological interventions that help bring persecutory delusions to an end in a larger percentage of patients.

Additionally, my work explores the onset, persistence and remission of paranoia, alongside investigation of patient priorities in terms of future research and treatments.

I also have a research background in autism, psychology and education, having completed an MPhil in these areas at Gonville & Caius College at the University of Cambridge.

Sher D.A., Gibson J.L. (2021). Pioneering, prodigious and perspicacious: Grunya Efimovna Sukhareva's life and contribution to conceptualising autism and schizophrenia. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. doi: 10.1007/s00787-021-01875-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34562153.

Sher, D.A. (2020). The aftermath of the Hans Asperger exposé: implications for psychologists. The Psychologist, 33(9), 76-79. Retrieved from https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-33/september-2020/aftermath-hans-asperger-expose

Sher, D.A. (2019, June 28). We cannot afford to lose even one child. The Psychologist. Retrieved from https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/we-cannot-afford-lose-even-one-child