Dr Catherine Sykes

Room: D511

Tel: 020 7040 8426

Specialisms:

Health Psychology – Experience of Coronary Heart Disease and Revascularisation, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Chronic Illnesss, Dealing with Dementia, Patient and Public Involvement, Health Care Improvement.

Catherine started her research career at the Health Research Centre, Middlesex University working on projects funded by the European Commission in the field of health promotion and dementia. At the end of a project which looked at the determinants of burden in carers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, Catherine felt that research which she had been able to access was not available to those who most needed it. Therefore she decided with David Marks to write a book synthesising all the recent European research in the field of dementia in a format accessible to carers. The book was launched in the European Parliament.

She then moved to the NHS with a view to putting health psychology theory into practice by improving the experience of patients with coronary heart disease. She managed a project that covered six London hospitals that focused on changing the systems within the organisations to improve the patient’s experience of revascularisation.

Catherine came to City University in 2003 to establish and manage the professional doctorate training in health psychology which has been accredited by the British Psychological Society. She has continued with her research in the field of coronary heart disease and obtained a grant from the NHS to develop and improve ways of involving patients and the public in health care decision making. She continues her work as a consultant health psychologist and has experience of working with a range of organisation including the NHS, charities, private organisations and community organisations.

Catherine has other external roles including being a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Health Psychology and external advisor for the Taught Doctorate in Health Psychology at Teesside University.

Publications:

Peer – Reviewed Articles

Sykes, C., Bicheno, S., Goodwin, W., & Gray, M. (2007). Patient, Carer and public involvement: measuring success. British Journal of Health Care Management, 13, 50-54.

Sykes, C. M. & Goodwin, W. (2007). Assessing patient, carer and public involvement in health care. Quality in Primary Care,15, 45-52.

Sykes, C.M., Nelson, S., & Marshall, K. (2006). Patient satisfaction of the Angina Plan in a rapid access chest pain clinic. The British Journal of Cardiology, 13, 361-362.

Beronova, E. & Sykes, C. (2007). A systematic review of computer-based softwares for educating patients with coronary heart disease. Patient Education and Counselling (in press)

Sykes, C.M., Willig, C. & Marks, D. (2004). Discourse analysis of the European Commission’s Health Promotion Programme. Journal of Health Psychology, 9, 131-141

Marshall, K., Nelson, S. & Sykes, C, (2005). Analysing and improving a rapid access chest pain clinic. Nursing Times, 101, 32-33.

Murray, G., Levy, R., Machin, S., Hall, S., Sykes, C. & Price, K. (2003). The angina journey: a major challenge in cardiology. The British Journal of Cardiology, 10, 446-449.

Marks, D.F. & Sykes, C.M. (2002). A randomised controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy for smokers living in a deprived area of London with a one year follow- up. Psychology Health and Medicine, 7, 17-24.

Marks, D. F. & Sykes, C.M. (2002). Evaluation of the European Communities’ Action Programme on Health Promotion, Information, Education and Training 1996- 2000. Health Promotion International, 17, 105 –118.

Sykes, C.M. & Marks, D.F. (2001). Effectiveness of a cognitive behaviour therapy self- help programme for smokers. Health Promotion International, 16, 255-260.

Sykes, C.M. & Marks, D.F. & McKinley J. (2001) Commentary: Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders – Project funding opportunities within the European Community. Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders, 15, 102-105.

Books:

Marks, D.F., Murray, M., Evans, B., Willig, C., Sykes, C.M. & Woodall, C. (2005). Health Psychology. Theory, Research & Practice. London: Sage

Marks, D.F. & Sykes, C.M. (2000). Dealing with Dementia: New European Research. London: Middlesex University Press. Foreword by Lars Rasmussen. Book launch: European Parliament.

Book Chapters:

Marks, D. F. & Sykes, C.M. (2003) Synthesising evidence: Systematic reviews, meta- analyses and preference analyses. In D. F. Marks & Yardley (Eds.), Research Methods for Clinical and Health Psychology. London: Sage

Marks, D.F., Sykes, C.M. & McKinley, J. (2002). Health Psychology: Overview and Professional Issues. In A.M. Nezu, C.M. Nezu, P.A. Geller & I.B. Weiner (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychology, Volume Nine: Health psychology. New York: Wiley