Personality disorder
Personality disorder affects 1-in-12 of the adult population. The condition has significant effects on the health of individuals, their life expectancy and their use of services. Research from our Centre (Lead: Paul Moran) has charted the epidemiology of personality disorder, tracked its public health consequences and tested novel interventions designed to help people with the condition. Our research has contributed to clinical guidelines and influenced policy in the field.
The personality disorders research theme spans epidemiological studies and translational research and we use a range of methods including observational studies, randomised controlled trials and mixed methods studies.
Selected current grants
Jacobsen P (CI), Moran P (lead for University of Bristol). Mental Health Research Group. £10,801,946.23. (£1,585,936.03 to University of Bristol). 01/01/2025-31/12/2030.
Macleod J (PI). Moran P, et al. Theme co-lead for Mental Health. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Applied Research Collaborations West. £8,999,999. 2019 – 2026
Macleod J (PI). Moran P, et al. Theme co-lead for Mental Health. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Mental Health Infrastructure funding. Applied Research Collaborations West. £750,000. 2022– 2026Moran P, Bulsara K, Clement C, Greenwood R, McLeod H, Eley C, Badger N, Donaldson M, Webber M, Family Connections: A feasibility trial of a skills training programme for carers of patients with borderline personality disorder. £252,066. Research for Patient Benefit. 30th April 2023-30th April 2025.
Williamson V, Lamb D, Moran P, Walker J, Kothari R, Murphy D, Linehan A, Experiences and impact of moral injury among staff who work within the prison estate: a study to co-design a staff support program to promote mental well-being. National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR). Grant Reference Number: MH085. £148,396. 01/10/2024 – 31/03/2026
Selected publications
Fonagy P, Simes E, Yirmiya K, Wason J, Barrett B,Frater A, Cameron A, Butler S, Hoare Z, McMurran M, Moran P, Crawford M, Pilling S, Allison E, Yakeley J, Bateman A (2025). Mentalization-based treatment for antisocial personality disorder in male offenders on community probation in England and Wales (Mentalizing for Offending Adult Males, MOAM): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Psychiatry.
Moran P, Bick D, Biddle L, Borries B, Kandiyali R, Mgaieth F, Patel V, Rigby J, Seume P, Sadhnani V, Smith N, Swales M, Turner N (2025). Perinatal emotional skills groups for women and birthing people with borderline personality disorder: outcomes from a feasibility randomised controlled trial. BJPsychOpen, 11 (2025), e12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.833
Robson EM, Husin HM, Vijayakumar N, Dashti SG, Moreno-Betancur M, Moran P, Patton GC, Sawyer SM (2025). The course of common mental disorders across adolescence: the Child to Adult Transition Study (CATS). Lancet Psychiatry Jan;12(1):44-53. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00361-4. Epub 2024 Dec 4.
Hodsoll J, Strawbridge R, King S, Taylor R, Breen G, Grant N, Grey N, Hepgul N, Hotopf M, Kitsune V, Moran P, Tylee A, Wingrove J, Young A, Cleare A (2024). Predictors of outcome following psychological therapy for depression and anxiety in an urban primary care service: a naturalistic Bayesian prediction modeling approach.Psychological Medicine. 54(16):4503-4517. doi:10.1017/S0033291724001582
Moran, P, Chandler A, Dudgeon P et al. (2024). The Lancet Commission on Self-Harm. The Lancet https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01121-8
Knipe D, Moran P, Howe L, Karlson S, Kapur N, Revie L, John A. Ethnicity and suicide in England and Wales: A national linked cohort study (2024). Lancet Psychiatry Volume 11, Issue 8, 611 – 619 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00184-6
Gajwani R, Sim F, McAllister K, Smith H, McIntosh E, Moran P, Ougrin D, Smith M, Gumle A, Chanen A, Minnis H (2024). The BRIDGE project: a feasibility randomised controlled trial of brief, intensive assessment and integrated formulation for young people (age 14-24) with features of borderline personality disorder (Protocol) Psychiatry, 24 September 2024 Sec. Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry. Volume 15 - 2024https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1389578
Vamvakas G,Jarrett M, Barrett B, Campbell C, Forrester A, Trebilcock J, Walker J, Weaver T, Khondoker M & Moran P (2024) The effectiveness of the offender personality disorder pathway: a propensity score-matched analysis, Psychology, Crime & Law, DOI: 1080/1068316X.2024.2310532
Warbrick, L.A., Dunn, B.D., Moran, P.A.et al. (2023). Non-randomised feasibility study of training workshops for Talking Therapies service high-intensity therapists to optimise depression and anxiety outcomes for individuals with co-morbid personality difficulties: a study protocol. Pilot Feasibility Stud 9, 170 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01394-z
Padmanathan P, Cohen R, Gunnell D, Biddle L, Griffith E, Breheny K, Hickman M, Munien N, Patel A, Crocker E, Moran P. Development of a brief intervention for Emergency Department attendees presenting with self-harm and co-occurring substance use problems: a Delphi method study. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention 45(4), 254–262. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000933
Monk-Cunliffe J, Kadra-Scalzo G, Finamore C, Dale O, Khondoker M, Barrett B, Shetty H, Hayes RD, Moran P (2023). Defining severity of personality disorder using Electronic Health Records: short report. Open BJPsych Open, 9(5), E137. doi:10.1192/bjo.2023.509
Padmanathan, P, Lamb D, Scott H, Stevelink S, Greenberg N, Hotopf, Morriss R, Raine R, Rafferty AM, Madan, Dorrington S, Wessely, Moran P. Suicidal thoughts and behaviour among healthcare workers in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study. PLOS ONE 2023 Jun 21;18(6):e0286207. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286207
Scott H, Stevelink S, Gafoor R, Lamb D, Carr E, Bakolis I, Bhundia R, Docherty M, Dorrington S, Gnanapragasam S, Hegarty S, Hotopf M, Madan I, McManus S, Moran P, Souliou E, Raine R, Razavi R, Weston D, Greenberg N, Wessely S (2022). Most accurate prevalence of PTSD and common mental disorders in healthcare workers in England: a two-phase epidemiological survey. Lancet Psychiatry. 10(1), 40-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(22)00375-3
Monk-Cunliffe J, Borschmann R, Monk A, O'Mahoney J, Henderson C, Phillips R, Gibb J, Moran P (2022). Crisis interventions for adults with borderline personality disorder (MS# COCHRANEMHAN-2022-00215R3 (Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009353.pub2
Moran P, Moreno-Betancur M., Coffey C, Spry E, Patton G (2022). The impact of early intervention on the population prevalence of common mental disorders: a 20-year prospective study. British Journal of Psychiatry 1-9. doi:10.1192/bjp.2022.3
Padmanathan P, Forbes H, Redaniel MT, Gunnell D, Lewer D, Moran P, Watson B, Degenhardt L, Hickman M. Self-harm and suicide during and after opioid agonist treatment among primary care patients in England: a cohort study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2022 Feb;9(2):151-159. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00392-8. Epub 2021 Dec 15. PMID: 34921800.
