Tina Alwyn is a Chartered Psychologist, registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a Reader in Health Psychology and Addiction. She works with a supported housing organisation one day a week. She has wide ranging experience in the development of effective evidence based treatments for alcohol dependence and substance misuse and evaluating substance misuse service provision; developing evidence based interventions for children and young people and their parents; developing assessment and screening measures (e.g. the FAST); developing brief interventions;, evaluating the evidence base and developing theoretical frameworks and models; evaluating health care utilisation; and evaluating and predicting behaviour change.
Tina has recently reviewed access to, and provision of psychological therapy in Wales for the Welsh Government. This review will inform the Welsh Mental Health Strategy.
Tina is a deputy editor of the Journal of Substance Use and reviews papers and research proposals for the Alcohol Research UK, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Journal of Health Psychology. She is also a member of the International Society of Addiction Journal Editors. Tina has been invited as a key speaker at a number of conferences on issues relating to substance misuse and has published extensively in peer reviewed journals and other appropriate arenas.
My main focus is in applied research in health, in particular mental health and the substance misuse field. There are four strands to my field of research and knowledge:
Projects completed to date:
1. Evaluation and policy related to health care
- Review of access to, and provision of psychological therapies in Wales. Welsh Government (2013).
- Mapping the impact of alcohol on a town and city centre in South Wales to underpin Public Health policy. Funded By Bridgend and Swansea City council.
- The development of a compendium of good practice for children and young substance misuse services. Cardiff: Welsh Government (2012)
- Review and revise three modules of the substance misuse treatment framework for Wales (2011)
- An evaluation of the effectiveness of social normative interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in young people. This project was commissioned through the Alcohol Education Research Council and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and Drinkaware. (2010)
- Collate and evaluate the feedback to the consultation documents: ‘National Core Standards for Substance Misuse Services in Wales’; ‘Guidance for Establishing Substance Misuse Area Planning Boards’; and the ‘Guidance for Integrated Care and Integrated Care Pathways for Substance Misuse Services in Wales’. (2012)
- Developing a Substance Misuse Commissioning Strategy 2010-2013 Newport City Council June 2010.
- Writing the ‘Guidance for Integrated Care and Integrated Care Pathways for Substance Misuse Services in Wales’ on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.
- Evaluation of the provision of substance misuse services for a number of counties in Wales.
- A scoping exercise to identify the requirements for, and current provision of, counselling across substance misuse services in Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. Completed February 2009
- Mapping of alcohol related admissions to A&E departments. Commissioned by Welsh Government. 2008
- Mapping of student drinking and alcohol related beliefs. Commissioned by Welsh Government. 2008
2. Alcohol dependence and misuse
My research in this area relates very much to behaviour change.
- Training for secondary care nurses to deliver screening (FAST) and a brief intervention to reduce the impact of alcohol-related admissions £60,000. 2010
- The addition of a psychological intervention to a home detoxification programme. Funded by Welsh Office R&D for £65,000. 1996-2000
- The clinical implications of hazardous alcohol consumption and binge drinking for dental students. Funded by the Chief Medical Officers grant, Welsh Assembly for £9,000. 2006
- Promoting safe and sensible attitudes to alcohol in children and their families (Phase 2). Funded by the Alcohol Education Research Council for £43,000. Beginning 2005
- Promoting safe and sensible attitudes to alcohol in children and their families: A pilot study (Phase 1). Funded by the Alcohol Education Research Council for £35,000. 2003-2004
- Psychological aspects of injecting in diabetic participants. Unfunded. 2004 – to-date
- The United Kingdom Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT). Funded by Medical research council for. 1996-2004
- The implementation of a brief intervention for identified hazardous drinkers in A&E Departments. Funded by the Health development Agency for £50,000, 1998-1999
- The feasibility of alcohol interventions in Accident & Emergency departments. Funded by HDA for £40,000.1998-1999
3. Health Promotion
- Survey of mental health promotion projects in Wales. Funded by Health Promotion Wales. 1997
- The effectiveness of mental health promotion interventions. Funded by Health Promotion Wales. 1996
- A survey of Welsh smoking prevention and cessation projects & activities. Funded by Health promotion Wales. 1997
4. Measurement and assessment
- The development of a brief global outcome measure for alcohol dependence and related problems. Funded by WORD for £63,000. 2000 – 2002
- The development of a brief screening measure to assess hazardous drinking (Fast Alcohol Screening Measure [FAST]). Funded by the Alcohol Education & Research Council for £40,000 . 2000-2001
Memberships
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Health Care and Professions Council registered
Chartered Psychologist
Research Interests
Addiction: substance use (including alcohol)
Mental health and well being
Evidenced based practice
Screening for health
Health behaviour change
