Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Focus
I have been a consultant psychiatrist with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust since 1998. Since April 2000 I have been a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Medical Education (Lead for Psychiatry) at The Queen’s University of Belfast and continue to work as a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Northern Trust. Currently I am co-lead for an innovative service for young people with "at risk mental states"-that is, those thought to be at risk of developing a psychotic illness.
I am Co-Clinical Lead of the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network, Mental Health Special Interest Group.
I am a Fellow of The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen's University.
I am Clinical Director of the Northern Ireland Regional Trauma Network, and have provided an advice to the Northern Ireland Office, The Executive Office, Deprtment of Health, Deprtment of Justice, the Commission for Victims and Survivors, the Victims and Survivors Service and the Veterans Commissioner..
Prizes and Awards
1995 Merck Research Prize Winner
1996 Senior Registrars Research Prize, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.
1997 Northern Ireland D.H.S.S. Clinical Research Award
1997 Galloway Award Winer (Research Prize awarded by National Schizophrenia Fellowship in Northern Ireland)
1997 Northern Ireland Section Royal College of Psychiatrists Research Prize Winner
2009 Appointed Honorary Professor by the Bamford Centre for Mental Health Research at the Ulster University, Magee, Derry
2012 Elected Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
2017 Chairman's Prize, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
2022 Finalist QUB Excellence Awards
Research Interests
1. First Episode Psychosis and At Risk Mental States:
I have a research interest in the impact of childhood trauma on mental health outcomes in young adulthood and have published widely in this area. This work, also carried out with Ciaran Shannon, has lead to the dissemination of our findings to a wide clinical audience through clinical reviews and the commissioning of a book chapter on the impact of childhood trauma on brain functioning. I was a Principle Investigator on the Northern Ireland First Episode Psychosis Study (NIFEPS).
2. Exploring the Impact of the "Troubles" on mental health:
I have a particular clinical and research interest in the impact of violence in the local context of Northern Ireland on mental health outcomes. Together with my colleague Dr Michael Duffy in the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work I organised a major international conference "Treating the Trauma of the Troubles" in November 2015.
3. Mental Health and Documentary Film:
I have worked on a programme of research and scholarship exploring the of mental health difficulties in documenatry film with my colleague Dr Des O'Rawe from Film Studies at Queen's University. In April 2016 togther with Dr O'Rawe I organised a symposium "Film and the politics of mental health". This event was supported by the Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and explored the relations between film and the politics of mental health by focussing on the theories and methods of Radical Psychiatry, with particular reference to R. D. Laing and Franco Basalgia, two figures closely associated with that movement and its influence on the post-war counter-culture The event included an illustrated talk by John Foot, author of the critically acclaimed study, The Man Who Closed the Asylums: Franco Basaglia and the Revolution in Mental Health Care (Verso, 2015), and a screening of Luke Fowler’s All Divided Selves (2011, 93 mins.), which was shortlisted for the 2012 Turner Prize. This event was attended by over 50 people and was supported by the Belfast Film Festival.
4. Medical Education Research:
I organise a resilience training programme for medical students at Queen's University. This programme has now been adopted by colleagues in Kenya. I am currently examining the impact of this training on oucomes and I am exploring the impact of previous negative life experiences on mental well-being and resilience in medical and other students.
5. Social and Clinical History of Psychiatry:
I have published in this area and work with colleagues in HAAP.
Teaching
I was the lead for psychiatry teaching for Phase Four Medical Students until 2018. I have provided teaching in psychopharmacology for Phase One and Two students. I organise a Student Selected Component (SSCs) on the The Impact of Psychological Trauma. I have also taught on History of Medicine, Movies, Myths and Mental Illness and Neuropsychopharmacology SSC’s.
I acted as examination organiser for the Diploma in Mental Health (postgraduate) from 1998 to 2009. I acted as organiser of the lecture courses for MRCPsych Parts One, Two and Three (postgraduate) from 2000 to 2014. The success rate in thses examinations has been consistently higher in the Northern Ireland Deanery than in any other of the 17 Royal College of Psychiatry deaneries.
With colleagues at Queen's and University College Dublin I have published an undergraduate textbook, "Models in Mental Health", which is aimed at students from a range of disciplines (including social work, psychology, nursing and medicine).A new edition has now been commissioned due to the success of the first (publication date 2025).
I am a chapter contributor to "Psychiatry by Ten Teachers" which is now in its second edition after selling very well in the first.
Other
Grant Income
Awarded Research Fellowship by Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services, 1997, for research into the role of serotonin in schizophrenia (one year salary and costs-total £33,000)
Awarded grant for materials to support research into tryptophan depletion in schizophrenia by Ulster Garden Villages, 1998 (£5500)
Principal Investigator, Northern Ireland First Episode Psychosis Study, five year programme grant awarded by Research and Development Office, Northern Ireland DHSSPS 2001 -2006 (£600,000)
Grant from Organon to support work on social functioning in schizophrenia, 2003 (£6000)
Service usage by patients with first episode psychosis in the Newtownabbey area, grant from Northern Ireland Regional Multiprofessional Audit Group, 2004 (£5000)
Grant from Lilly to support research into the relationship between abnormal blood sugars and antipsychotics, 2004 (£1000)
Regional Multi-professional Audit Group: £24,000 to create a database of all children and adolescents presenting with psychotic symptoms in Northern Ireland over a five year period. Investigator Ciaran Mulholland. Start date August 2006; duration one year.
ESRC: £42,000 for study entitled “Cognitive inhibition during threat in PTSD: Effects of dissociation and anxiety.” Investigators Martin J. Dorahy, Noel Sheehy, Ciaran Mulholland. Start date July 2006; duration one year.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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R4904SES: Children & Young People's Mental Health in Northern Ireland
Bunting, L. (PI), Davidson, G. (CoI), Grant, A. (CoI), McCartan, C. (CoI), Mulholland, C. (CoI) & Schubotz, D. (CoI)
21/03/2019 → …
Project: Research
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R1118CPH: Northern Ireland Troubles and Pension Benefits
Cruise, S. (PI) & Mulholland, C. (CoI)
01/11/2019 → 31/08/2020
Project: Research
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Case study 1: the Omagh Bomb, the mental health response, and the lessons learned
Mulholland, C. & Duffy, M., 01 Feb 2024, Major incidents, pandemics and mental health: the psychosocial aspects of health emergencies, incidents, disasters and disease outbreaks. Williams, R., Kemp, V., Porter, K., Healing, T. & Drury, J. (eds.). Cambridge University Press, p. 252-256Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure) -
Developing and testing a community based, online vs. face-to-face peer led intervention to improve mental well-being in Cambodian adults with physical disabilities
Best, P., Maddock, A., Ean, N., Montgomery, L., Armour, C., Mulholland, C. & Blair, C., 27 Aug 2024, In: Frontiers in Digital Health. 6, 16 p., 1372062.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile19 Downloads (Pure) -
Parental physical activity, parental mental health, children’s physical activity and children’s mental health
Davidson, G., Bunting, L., McCartan, C., Grant, A., McBride, O., Mulholland, C., Nolan, E., Schubotz, D., Cameron, J. & Shevlin, M., 19 Jun 2024, In: Frontiers in psychiatry. 15, 10 p., 1405783.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure) -
Prevalence and risk factors of parental mental health problems: a cross-sectional study
Grant, A., McCartan, C., Davidson, G., Bunting, L., Cameron, J., McBride, O., Mulholland, C., Murphy, J., Nolan, E., Schubotz, D. & Shevlin, M., 12 Jun 2024, (Early online date) In: International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile22 Downloads (Pure) -
Review of Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme (TPDPS)
Duffy, M., Mulholland, C. & Hull, A., 18 Apr 2024, Northern Ireland Office. 4 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Activities
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The Global Irish Network Webinar
Dautel, J. (Organiser), Mulholland, C. (Invited speaker), Duffy, M. (Invited speaker) & Campbell, A. (Participant)
04 Feb 2021Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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The likely effects of Covid-19 on mental health in Northern Ireland; reflections on lessons from the Troubles
Duffy, M. (Contributor), Mulholland, C. (Contributor) & Campbell, A. (Chair)
11 Sept 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Department of Health publication (Journal)
Duffy, M. (Peer reviewer) & Mulholland, C. (Peer reviewer)
31 Jul 2020Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
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Preparing for Practice. A Handbook for Final Year Allied Health Professionals. Psychological Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Duffy, M. (Contributor) & Mulholland, C. (Contributor)
22 May 2020Activity: Consultancy types › Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation
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Preparing for Practice. A Handbook for Final Year Social Work Students. Psychological Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Duffy, M. (Contributor) & Mulholland, C. (Contributor)
18 May 2020Activity: Consultancy types › Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation
Press/Media
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Expert comment provided Financial Times article: Mistrust dogs the UK's plan for a history of the Troubles
16/05/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Expert commentary provided to Irish News full page article: Trauma network for victims of the Troubles helps over 9,000 people in first year
13/05/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Contributor to a Film: A Life on the Farm, Oscar Harding 2023
15/05/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Ulster Television Documentary: Last Orders. Explores the devastating impact alcohol has on society and individuals. Local charity ASCERT has shared the UTV documentary Up Close:Last Orders which aired this spring and ASCERT were delighted to be part of. This hard hitting & timely documentary explores the impact alcohol has on society and with over 350 deaths last year in Northern Ireland caused by alcohol this film shines a spotlight on what has become a societal issue that can no longer be ignored.
31/05/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Belfast Telegraph: QUB trauma experts share advice on helping Ukrainian refugees May 17 2022
17/05/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment