Dr Vaughan Bell  BSc (Hons)  MSc  CertHE  PhD  DClinPsy  CPsychol  FBPsS  Xyzzy

I currently work as a clinical psychologist between national specialist neuropsychiatry and psychosis services at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. I also work for University College London as an associate professor. I’m also co-editor of the scientific journal Cognitive Neuropsychiatry.

My research interests focus on three main areas: the cognitive neuropsychiatry of psychosis, delusions and hallucinations; the neuropsychology of suggestion and dissociative disorders; brain injury and neuropsychological assessment. You can read my scientific publications here and my citations profile on Google Scholar here.

As a clinical psychologist I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and the British Psychological Society in the UK, and the Colegio Colombiano de Psicólogos in Colombia.

Previously, I completed my PhD on “Delusions and Belief Formation: A Cognitive Neuropsychiatric Approach” at Cardiff University with Profs Haydn Ellis and Peter Halligan.

I completed my clinical doctorate (DClinPsy) at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London with a thesis entitled “Neuropsychology and Perfusion Neuroimaging of Dissociation: Implications for Models of Psychopathology” with Dr Quinton Deeley.

In terms of clinical services, I have worked in acute and community neurorehabilitation (UK), inpatient neuropsychiatry (Colombia), community and emergency mental health (Colombia), inpatient behavioural disorders and mental health in autism (UK) and outpatient psychosis and neuropsychiatry services (UK).

I regularly write for mainstream publications about psychology, neuroscience and mental health. You can read many of my articles here.

I speak Spanish to a professional level and, although English is my native language, it tends to be a bit hit and miss until I’ve woken up properly.

In this bit, I’m going to talk myself up by mentioning the awards I’ve been given, but I promise it will be brief.

In 2009, I was made an international member of the ‘Chair of Psychopathology and Clinical Psychiatry Professor Germán Berrios’ which is awarded annually by the Department of Psychiatry at the Universidad de Antioquia, in Medellín, Colombia.

In 2012, I was awarded the Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media which is given annually “to three writers, reporters, or editors who have made major contributions to public understanding of mental health issues”.

In 2014, I was awarded the British Psychological Society’s Public Engagement and Media Award jointly with Tom Stafford for our long-term partnership writing for MindHacks.com

In 2016, I was awarded the British Psychological Society’s May Davidson Award for outstanding contributions to the development of clinical psychology within the first 10 years of qualifying.