Contact details
About
Overview
Kirsten is a Lecturer in Mental Health Services Research and the Programme Director for the MRes in Clinical Research. As a psychologist with a special interest in the prevention and treatment of inter-generational mental health difficulties, her research has particularly focussed on the experiences of people diagnosed with personality disorder who may be survivors of complex trauma, and on parent-infant interventions in the perinatal period. She joined City in 2020, having previously held NIHR Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship positions at Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College London. She is currently co-leading a project aimed at improving recognition and differentiation of autism in women/ transwomen/ AFAB people who may otherwise be given a diagnosis of personality disorder, funded by the McPin Foundation/ Words That Carry On. She has recently completed two evaluations of adaptations of the video feedback intervention for positive parenting (VIPP) for mothers using perinatal mental health services: an NIHR-funded randomised controlled trial of VIPP for parents with enduring difficulties in managing emotions and relationships, consistent with a personality disorder, and a Barts Charity funded feasibility evaluation of the VIPP intervention adapted for young babies. Prior to this, her NIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship explored the interplay between personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and evaluated outcomes and experiences of dialectical behaviour therapy and mentalization-based psychological therapies.
Qualifications
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom
- BA Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- PhD Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
Research students
2ndsupervisor
- Elissa Thompson, Research Student
- Kirsten Prest, Research Student
- Oliver Matias, Research Student
Publications
Publications by category
Chapter
- Barnicot, K. and Crawford, M.J. (2017). Specific Mental Health Disorders: Personality Disorders. International Encyclopedia of Public Health (pp. 55-59). Elsevier. ISBN 9780128037089.
Conference papers and proceedings (2)
- Gopalakrishnan, V.B. 41st SRIP Annual Virtual Conference 8th – 10th September 2021. .doi:10.1080/02646838.2022.2037828
- Barnicot, K., Crawford, M., Iles, J., Kalwarowsky, S., Parker, J., Ramchandani, P.... Stevens, E. (2021). The BOOST Trial: Feasibility trial of a video feedback parent-infant intervention for parents with personality disorder and their infants. 41st SRIP Annual Virtual Conference 8th 8-10 September, Online.
Dataset
- Barnicot, K. Boosting baby behaviour and bonding for parents with enduring difficulties in managing emotions and relationships.
Journal articles (58)
- Amadi, O., Papathanasioua, S., Ohene-Botwe, B. and Barnicot, K. (2026). Re: “Time to MRI acquisition matters in Cauda Equina syndrome”. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 57(4), pp. 102396-102396. doi:10.1016/j.jmir.2026.102396
- Turner, S.A., Josselin, D. and Barnicot, K. (2026). What Triggers Emotional Distress and Dysregulation Amongst Autistic Females and Could These Help To Differentiate Autism From Borderline Personality Disorder? An Exploratory Study with Inductive Content Analysis. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. doi:10.1007/s41252-026-00499-9
- Prest, K., Barnicot, K., Drew, S., Hurt, C., Nicklin, D., Harden, A.... Heys, M. (2026). Group Programmes to Improve the Skills, Confidence and Wellbeing of Caregivers of Children with Neurodisability: a Systematic Review of Effects. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. doi:10.1007/s10882-026-10059-7
- Barnicot, K., Thompson, E., Turner, S., Mandy, W., McCabe, R., Stark, E.... Parker, J. (2026). Overlapping And Differentiating Clinical Features of Autism and Borderline Personality Disorder in Women and People Assigned Female at Birth: A Cross-Sectional Study. Autism, 30(5), pp. 1292-1304. doi:10.1177/13623613261431309
- Matias, O., Bakou, A.E., Barnicot, K. and McCabe, R. (2026). The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for self-harm in males compared to females: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 63, pp. 101606-101606. doi:10.1016/j.lanepe.2026.101606
- Khudiakova, V., Sin, J., Suzuki, M. and Barnicot, K. (2026). Lived Experience, Family, and Clinician Perspectives on Barriers to Adult Autism Diagnosis and Post-Diagnostic Supports: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. doi:10.1007/s10882-026-10055-x
- Crawford, M.J., Leeson, V.C., Evans, R., Goulden, N., Kuhn-Thompson, F., Pandya, S.P.... Barnicot, K. (2026). Brief individual psychological intervention for people with probable personality disorder: a multicentre, researcher-masked, randomised, controlled superiority trial in England. The Lancet Psychiatry, 13(3), pp. 200-212. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(25)00372-4
- Amadi, O., Papathanasiou, S., Ohene-Botwe, B. and Barnicot, K. (2026). Does a new MRI on-call service improve the timely imaging for suspected cauda equina syndrome? Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 57(1), pp. 102131-102131. doi:10.1016/j.jmir.2025.102131
- King, J.D., McQuaid, A., Barnicot, K., Bassett, P., Leeson, V.C., Di Simplicio, M.... Crawford, M.J. (2025). Trajectory of severe COVID anxiety and predictors for recovery in an 18-month UK cohort. BJPsych Open, 11(6). doi:10.1192/bjo.2025.10884
- Barnicot, K. and Crawford, M. (2025). The frequency and correlates of complex post-traumatic stress disorder among patients being treated for borderline personality disorder: cross-sectional study. BJPsych Open, 11(6). doi:10.1192/bjo.2025.10838
- Barnicot, K., Stevens, E., Robinson, F., Labovitch, S., Ballman, R., Miele, M.... Iles, J. (2025). Video feedback for young babies and maternal perinatal mental illness: intervention adaptation, feasibility and acceptability. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 43(5), pp. 1214-1230. doi:10.1080/02646838.2024.2322636
- Prest, K., Barnicot, K., Hurt, C., Badenhorst, F., Borek, A., Whyte, M.... Heys, M. (2025). Adapting a Participatory Group Programme for Caregivers of Children with Complex Neurodisability from Low-, Middle-Income Countries to a High-Income Setting: Moving from “Baby Ubuntu” to “Encompass”. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(7), pp. 1144-1144. doi:10.3390/ijerph22071144
- Prest, K., Harden, A., Barnicot, K. and Heys, M. (2025). A coadapted community-based participatory group programme for parents/carers of children with complex neurodisability (Encompass-2): a pilot and feasibility study protocol. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 11(1). doi:10.1186/s40814-025-01619-3
- McBride, S., Goulden, N., Barnicot, K., Corrigan, K., Shen, S., Guillemard, S.... Crawford, M.J. (2025). Mental Health and Personality Functioning of People With Probable Personality Disorder Who Have Coexisting Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Personality and Mental Health, 19(1). doi:10.1002/pmh.70010
- Crawford, M.J., Leeson, V.C., Evans, R., Goulden, N., Weaver, T., Trumm, A.... Barnicot, K. (2024). Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Structured Psychological Support for people with probable personality disorder in mental health services in England: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 14(6). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086593
- Crawford, M.J., King, J.D., McQuaid, A., Bassett, P., Leeson, V.C., Tella, O.... Barnicot, K. (2024). Severe COVID anxiety among adults in the United Kingdom: cohort study and nested feasibility trial. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1). doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05446-9
- Maconick, L., Ikhtabi, S., Broeckelmann, E., Pitman, A., Barnicot, K., Billings, J.... Johnson, S. (2023). Crisis and acute mental health care for people who have been given a diagnosis of a ‘personality disorder’: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 23. doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05119-7
- Zarska, A., Barnicot, K., Lavelle, M., Dorey, T. and McCabe, R. (2023). A Systematic Review of Training Interventions for Emergency Department Providers and Psychosocial Interventions delivered by Emergency Department Providers for Patients who self-harm. Archives of Suicide Research, 27(3), pp. 829-850. doi:10.1080/13811118.2022.2071660
- King, J.D., McQuaid, A., Leeson, V.C., Samuel, O., Grant, J., Imran Azeem, M.S.... Crawford, M.J. (2023). The association of severe COVID anxiety with poor social functioning, quality of life, and protective behaviours among adults in United Kingdom: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry, 23. doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04595-1
- Barnicot, K., McCabe, R., Bogosian, A., Papadopoulos, R., Crawford, M., Aitken, P.... Rohricht, F. (2023). Predictors of Post-Traumatic Growth in a Sample of United Kingdom Mental and Community Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), pp. 3539-3539. doi:10.3390/ijerph20043539
- Barnicot, K., Parker, J., Kalwarowsky, S., Stevens, E., Iles, J., Ramchandani, P.... Crawford, M. (2023). Mother and clinician experiences of a trial of a video feedback parent–infant intervention for mothers experiencing difficulties consistent with ‘personality disorder’: A qualitative interview study. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. doi:10.1111/papt.12453
- Barnicot, K., Welsh, M., Kalwarowsky, S., Stevens, E., Iles, J., Parker, J.... Crawford, M. (2022). Video feedback parent‐infant intervention for mothers experiencing enduring difficulties in managing emotions and relationships: A randomised controlled feasibility trial. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(4), pp. 1188-1210. doi:10.1111/bjc.12388
- Crawford, M.J., Leeson, V.C., McQuaid, A., Samuel, O., King, J.D., Di Simplicio, M.... Barnicot, K. (2022). Severe COVID-19 anxiety among adults in the UK: protocol for a cohort study and nested feasibility trial of modified cognitive-behavioural therapy for health anxiety. BMJ Open, 12(9). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059321
- Barnicot, K., Redknap, C., Coath, F., Hommel, J., Couldrey, L. and Crawford, M. (2022). Patient experiences of therapy for borderline personality disorder: Commonalities and differences between dialectical behaviour therapy and mentalization‐based therapy and relation to outcomes. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 95(1), pp. 212-233. doi:10.1111/papt.12362
- Sen, P., Barnicot, K., Podder, P., Dasgupta, I. and Gormley, M. (2022). Exploring the prevalence of personality disorder and the feasibility of using the SAPAS as a screening tool for personality disorder in an emergency department in India. Medicine, Science and the Law, 62(1), pp. 8-16. doi:10.1177/00258024211011387
- Cook, E., Markham, S., Parker, J., John, A., Barnicot, K. and McManus, S. (2022). Risk, responsibility, and choice in research ethics. The Lancet Psychiatry, 9(1), pp. 5-6. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00434-x
- Barnicot, K., Allen, K., Hood, C. and Crawford, M. (2020). Older adult experience of care and staffing on hospital and community wards: a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1). doi:10.1186/s12913-020-05433-w
- Barnicot, K., Michael, C., Trione, E., Lang, S., Saunders, T., Sharp, M.... Crawford, M.J. (2020). Psychological interventions for acute psychiatric inpatients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 82, pp. 101929-101929. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101929
- Collins, A., Barnicot, K. and Sen, P. (2020). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Personality Disorder Prevalence and Patient Outcomes in Emergency Departments. Journal of Personality Disorders, 34(3), pp. 324-347. doi:10.1521/pedi_2018_32_400
- Barnicot, K. (2020). Evidence-based psychological interventions for borderline personality disorder in the United Kingdom. Who falls through the gaps? Journal of Psychological Therapies, 5(2), pp. 148-167
- Barnicot, K. and Crawford, M. (2019). Conclusions and questions from a non-randomised comparison of routine clinical services implementing different treatment models for borderline personality disorder. Psychological Medicine, 49(16), pp. 2812-2814. doi:10.1017/s0033291719002447
- Katsakou, C., Pistrang, N., Barnicot, K., White, H. and Priebe, S. (2019). Processes of recovery through routine or specialist treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD): a qualitative study. Journal of Mental Health, 28(6), pp. 604-612. doi:10.1080/09638237.2017.1340631
- Lei, H., Barnicot, K., Maynard, E., Etherington, A., Zalewska, K., Quirk, A.... Crawford, M.J. (2019). Factors influencing use of community treatment orders and quality of care that people receive: results of a national survey in England and Wales. BJPsych Bulletin, 43(5), pp. 227-235. doi:10.1192/bjb.2019.23
- Barnicot, K. and Crawford, M. (2019). Dialectical behaviour therapy v. mentalisation-based therapy for borderline personality disorder. Psychological Medicine, 49(12), pp. 2060-2068. doi:10.1017/s0033291718002878
- Hall, K., Barnicot, K., Crawford, M. and Moran, P. (2019). A systematic review of interventions aimed at improving the cardiovascular health of people diagnosed with personality disorders. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 54(8), pp. 897-904. doi:10.1007/s00127-019-01705-x
- Barnicot, K. and Crawford, M. (2018). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder: Treatment Outcomes and Mediators. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(6), pp. 899-908. doi:10.1002/jts.22340
- Sharp, M., Gulati, A., Barker, C. and Barnicot, K. (2018). Developing an emotional coping skills workbook for inpatient psychiatric settings: a focus group investigation. BMC Psychiatry, 18(1). doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1790-z
- Yiend, J., Barnicot, K., Williams, M. and Fox, E. (2018). The influence of positive and negative affect on emotional attention. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 61, pp. 80-86. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.06.008
- Insua‐Summerhays, B., Hart, A., Plummer, E., Priebe, S. and Barnicot, K. (2018). Staff and patient perspectives on therapeutic engagement during one‐to‐one observation. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 25(9-10), pp. 546-557. doi:10.1111/jpm.12497
- Innocent, S., Podder, P., Ram, J.R., Barnicot, K. and Sen, P. (2018). Using the SAPAS to identify risk for personality disorders among psychiatric outpatients in India: A feasibility study. Personality and Mental Health, 12(1), pp. 15-24. doi:10.1002/pmh.1394
- Dale, O., Sethi, F., Stanton, C., Evans, S., Barnicot, K., Sedgwick, R.... Moran, P. (2017). Personality disorder services in England: findings from a national survey. BJPsych Bulletin, 41(5), pp. 247-253. doi:10.1192/pb.bp.116.055251
- Barnicot, K., Insua-Summerhayes, B., Plummer, E., Hart, A., Barker, C. and Priebe, S. (2017). Staff and patient experiences of decision-making about continuous observation in psychiatric hospitals. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52(4), pp. 473-483. doi:10.1007/s00127-017-1338-4
- Barnicot, K., Gonzalez, R., McCabe, R. and Priebe, S. (2016). Skills use and common treatment processes in dialectical behaviour therapy for borderline personality disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 52, pp. 147-156. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2016.04.006
- Sanatinia, R., Cowan, V., Barnicot, K., Zalewska, K., Shiers, D., Cooper, S.J.... Crawford, M.J. (2016). Loss of relational continuity of care in schizophrenia: associations with patient satisfaction and quality of care. BJPsych Open, 2(5), pp. 318-322. doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.116.003186
- Crawford, M.J., Barnicot, K., Patterson, S. and Gold, C. (2016). Negative results in phase III trials of complex interventions: Cause for concern or just good science? British Journal of Psychiatry, 209(1), pp. 6-8. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.115.179747
- González, R.A., Kallis, C., Ullrich, S., Barnicot, K., Keers, R. and Coid, J.W. (2016). Childhood maltreatment and violence: Mediation through psychiatric morbidity. Child Abuse & Neglect, 52, pp. 70-84. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.01.002
- Barnicot, K. and Ramchandani, P. (2015). What’s in a name? Borderline personality disorder in adolescence. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 24(11), pp. 1303-1305. doi:10.1007/s00787-015-0787-0
- Barnicot, K., Couldrey, L., Sandhu, S. and Priebe, S. (2015). Overcoming Barriers to Skills Training in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Qualitative Interview Study. PLOS ONE, 10(10), pp. e0140635-e0140635. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140635
- Highton-Williamson, E., Barnicot, K., Kareem, T. and Priebe, S. (2015). Offering Financial Incentives to Increase Adherence to Antipsychotic Medication. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 35(2), pp. 120-127. doi:10.1097/jcp.0000000000000276
- Barnicot, K., Wampold, B. and Priebe, S. (2014). The effect of core clinician interpersonal behaviours on depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 167, pp. 112-117. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.05.064
- Barnicot, K., Savill, M., Bhatti, N. and Priebe, S. (2014). A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Effects on Hospitalisation and Post-Treatment Follow-Up. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83(3), pp. 192-193. doi:10.1159/000357365
- Barnicot, K. and Priebe, S. (2013). Post‐traumatic stress disorder and the outcome of dialectical behaviour therapy for borderline personality disorder. Personality and Mental Health, 7(3), pp. 181-190. doi:10.1002/pmh.1227
- Gaglia, A., Essletzbichler, J., Barnicot, K., Bhatti, N. and Priebe, S. (2013). Dropping out of dialectical behaviour therapy in the NHS: the role of care coordination. The Psychiatrist, 37(8), pp. 267-271. doi:10.1192/pb.bp.112.041251
- Barnicot, K., Katsakou, C., Bhatti, N., Savill, M., Fearns, N. and Priebe, S. (2012). Factors predicting the outcome of psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(5), pp. 400-412. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.04.004
- Katsakou, C., Marougka, S., Barnicot, K., Savill, M., White, H., Lockwood, K.... Priebe, S. (2012). Recovery in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): A Qualitative Study of Service Users' Perspectives. PLoS ONE, 7(5), pp. e36517-e36517. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036517
- Priebe, S., Bhatti, N., Barnicot, K., Bremner, S., Gaglia, A., Katsakou, C.... Zinkler, M. (2012). Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Self-Harming Patients with Personality Disorder: A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 81(6), pp. 356-365. doi:10.1159/000338897
- Priebe, S., Barnicot, K., McCabe, R., Kiejna, A., Nawka, P., Raboch, J.... Kallert, T. (2011). Patients’ subjective initial response and the outcome of inpatient and day hospital treatment. European Psychiatry, 26(7), pp. 408-413. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.03.009
- Barnicot, K., Katsakou, C., Marougka, S. and Priebe, S. (2011). Treatment completion in psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder - a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 123(5), pp. 327-338. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2010.01652.x
Report
- Morris, S., Hill, S., Traolach, B., Tromans, S., Morgan, Z., Appleby, L.... McManus, S. (2025). Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/4. online: NHS England.