PRESENTATION
Good Sleep: Improving the relationship between pain and depression for those with chronic pain
Individuals with chronic pain often experience co-existing sleep problems and depression-related states. Chronic pain, sleep problems, and depression interrelate, and have been shown to exacerbate one another, which negatively impacts quality of life. We have conducted research which explores the relationships between pain severity, pain interference, sleep quality, and depression among individuals with chronic pain, and tested whether sleep quality may moderate the relationship between pain and depression. This presentation will provide a brief overview of our findings, which suggest that sleep quality may be a relevant therapeutic target for individuals with chronic pain and co-existing depression.
About the Presenter
Dr Liz Halstead is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University College London. Dr Halstead has worked in various charitable organisations supporting children and adults with neurodevelopmental conditions, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities. Upon completing her PhD, she became a clinical and research lead in industry, leading the clinical development of telehealth-based therapies and mobile APPs. Dr Halstead developed a telehealth resilience-building intervention for adults with multiple sclerosis and their support partners and led the clinical development of a sleep mobile application (winner of the Medtech Innovate award 2019) to treat insomnia in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and major depressive disorder. At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr Halstead completed training in advanced cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. She is a British Psychological Society chartered psychologist and consult for organisations on resilience, mental health, and sleep.
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