The University of Sheffield
Department of Psychology

Professor Pauline Slade BSc, MSc, PhD

Pauline SladeAddress:
University of Sheffield
Sheffield S10 2TN
UK
Tel: (+44) (0)114 222 6568
Fax: (+44) (0)114 222 6610
Email: p.slade@sheffield.ac.uk
Room: WB C17

Qualifications

BSc Psychology and Physiology (Nottingham), MSc Clinical Psychology (Leeds), PhD Psychology (Sheffield)

Teaching and administrative duties

I teach on module 319: Clinical Psychology. I also sit on the Postgraduate Studies Committee.

Research Interests

My research interests are in psychological aspects of reproductive health. They cover two main areas;

  1. The experience of pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. This includes aspects such as contraceptive use, difficulties related to pregnancy such as infertility, miscarriage and termination.
  2. Reproductive health across the life span menarche; menstrual cycle symptoms and the menopause, together with an interest in chronic pelvic pain and other gynaecological problems.

From a psychological perspective I am interested in the concepts of attachment, social support and how these features relate to couples´ relationships and adaptation to potentially difficult events associated to fertility and birth.

Post traumatic stress symptoms after childbirth
Current research projects are focussed in post traumatic stress symptoms after childbirth, in terms of risk and protective factors, investigations of cognitive biases and relationships with infant.

Other studies relate to psychological interventions for postnatal distress, predictors of distress related to fertility concerns and factors affecting contraceptive use in teenagers.

Grants

Western Park Hospital Cancer Charity. Clinical Psychologist Co-Investigator: Preserving fertility: oocyte freezing in women undergoing potentially sterilising chemotherapy (2010-2012). £70,000

Research for Patient Benefit. Psychologist Co-Investigator: The Self-Hypnosis for Intrapartum Pain Management (SHIP). (2009-2012). £239,753

NIHR Academic Health Centres of the Future - Leics, Northants & Rutland CLAHRC.Psychologist Co-Investigator: Psychological Approachs for Preventing Perinatal Depression Antenatally–Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial of Community Midwifery Training (2009-2012). £555,463 plus matched NHS funding

NHS R&D Health Technology Award (HTA). Co investigator. Led by Paul Sutcliffe at ScHARR as Principal investigator: Group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Post natal depression- systematic review. (2008-2010). £ 122,503.

ESRC Network Grant 1 of 3 holders with University of Oxford & University of Sussex. International Network for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Childbirth (2006-2008). £15,000

NHS R&D Health Technology Award (HTA). Psychologist Co-Investigator: responsibility for design and overseeing psychology RAs: Psychological Interventions for Postnatal Depression: A Randomised Trial and Economic Evaluation (PONDER) (April 2003 – March 2007) £838,108

Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology. Ayers S, McKenzie-McHarg, K and Slade P: to support conference organisation for Post traumatic stress. (Awarded June 2008) £1000

Small Grants Scheme for Obstetrics Gynaecology and Neonatology. Pais, T., and Slade, P. : for the development of a fear of labour scale. (April 2008) £500

ESRC Collaborative Award Slade P and Wright A: Understanding contraceptive consultations with teenagers (in consultation with Sheffield Contraceptive and Sexual Health Services (Sept 2005-2008). Equivalent to £45,000 plus fees

Activities and Distinctions

Key Publications

Escott, D., SLADE, P., & Spiby, H. (2009). Preparation for pain management during childbirth:The psychological aspects of coping strategy development in antenatal education. Clinical Psychology Review 7, 617-622.

Morrell, J., SLADE, P., & all, e. (2009). Clinical effectiveness of psychological interventions for postnatal depression. British Medical Journal 338, a3045.

Davies, J., SLADE, P., Wright, I., & Stewart, P. (2008). Post traumatic Stress Symptoms Following Childbirth and Mothers' Perceptions of their Infants. Infant Mental Health Journal., 29, 537-554.

Haywood, A., SLADE, P., & King, H. (2007). An examination of the association between postnatal distress and premenstual symptoms in a community sample. Journal of Affective Disorders, 99, 241-245.

SLADE, P., O'Neill, C., Simpson, A. J., & Lashen, H. (2007). The relationship between perceived stigma, disclosure patterns, support and distress in new attendees at an infertility clinic. Human Reproduction, 22(8), 2309-2317.

SLADE, P, LAXTON–KANE M AND SPIBY H (2006).
The role of the transtheoretical model and attachment in smoking in pregnancy.Addictive Behaviours, 31, 743-757

JOHNSON, R.C. AND SLADE, P. (2002)
Does fear of labour predict caesarean section?
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 109 1213-1221.

CZARNOCKCA, J. AND SLADE, P. (2000).
Prevalence and predictors of post traumatic stress symptoms following childbirth.
British Journal Clinical Psychology 39 35-52

View a full list of Pauline Slade's publications

Current Postgraduate Students