- A212A, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584844
- alyson.norman@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Alyson Norman
Associate Professor of Psychology
School of Psychology (Faculty of Health)
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation
- Mental health
- Social care
- Before-and-after studies
- Content analysis
- Correlation study
- Mixed-methods
- Qualitative research
- Randomised controlled trials
- Systematic reviews
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
Associate Professor in Psychology
Qualifications
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Plymouth University (October 2011-August 2012)
PhD, University of the West of England, Bristol (October 2005 – November 2009): “Increasing access to intervention for disfigurement through the development and evaluation of computer based interventions” funded by the charity organisation Changing Faces.
Diploma in Counselling (Merit Awarded June 2007), Institute of Natural Healing (October 2005 – June 2007).
MSc (Distinction Awarded January 2006) Psychological Research Methods, University of Exeter (October 2004 – September 2005): Specialist areas include neuropsychological assessment, psychometrics, advanced statistics and neuroimaging techniques. Project: “Depression in ABI Patients: The Role of Rumination” in Overgeneral Autobiographical Memory”.
BSc (1st class Honours Awarded July 2003) Psychology, University of Southampton (October 2000 – July 2003). Project: The influence of facial disfigurements of face processing; Dissertation: The relationship between social cognition and bullying.
Professional membership
British Psychological Society
Affiliate member of the British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers (BABICM)
Institute for Natural Healing
Roles on external bodies
British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers, Research sub-group
Trustee Headway Somerset
Deputy Chair Anchor Point
Key publications
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Brain injury
Staff serving as external examiners
University of Essex Clinical Associate Psychologist Apprenticeship
Research
Research
Research interests
I am an Internationally recognised academic researcher in the fields of brain injury, visible difference and long-term health
Brain Injury
Norman, A., Curro, V., Holloway, M., Percuklievska, N., Ferrario H. (2022). Experiences of individuals with acquired brain injuries and their families interacting with community services: A systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2043465
Holloway, M., & Norman, A. (2022). Just a Little Bit of History Repeating: The recurring and fatal consequences of lacking professional knowledge of acquired brain injury. Journal of adult Protection, in press.
Norman, A. (2020). Life and suicide following brain injury: A personal and professional account. Routledge: Abingdon, UK.
Adshead, C., Norman, A., & Holloway, M. (2019). The inter-relationship between acquired brain injury, substance use and homelessness; the impact of adverse childhood experiences: an interpretative phenomenological analysis study. Disability & Rehabilitation, in press.
Odumuyiwa, T., Kennedy, M., Norman, A., Holloway M., Suffield F., Forrest, H., & Dicks, H. (2019). Improving access to social care services following Acquired Brain Injury: A needs analysis. Journal of Long Term Care, 2019, 164-179.
Knight, E., Norman, A., & Simpson, G. (2020). Living with suicidality following traumatic brain injury: a qualitative study. Brain Injury, 38(8), 1010-1019.
Norman, A., Holloway, M., Odumuyiwa, T., Kennedy, M., Forrest, H., Suffield, F., & Dicks, H. (2020). Accepting what we do not know: A need to improve professional understanding of brain injury in the UK. Health and Social Care in the Community, 04 Oct, 1-13.
Moore, S., Wotus, R., Norman, A., Holloway, M., & Dean, J. (2019). Behind the cloak of competence: Brain injury and mental capacity legislation. Journal of Adult Protection, 21(4), 201-218. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-02-2019-0007. Townshend, J., & Norman, A. (2018). The Secondary Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Family and Friends. The Family Journal 26, 77-85
Knight, E., & Norman, A. (2017). A qualitative assessment of the effectiveness of the Hospital Liaison Officer service. Report to Headway UK. Plymouth University: Plymouth, UK.
Turner, J., Orman, M., & Norman, A. (2017). Factors Affecting the Success of Long-term ABI Rehabilitation: A report to Headway UK. Plymouth University: Plymouth.
Norman, A. (2016). A preventable death? A family’s perspective on an adult safeguarding review regarding an adult with traumatic brain injury", The Journal of Adult Protection, Vol. 18 Issue: 6, pp.341-352, doi: 10.1108/JAP-08-2016-0017Bessell, A.L., Watkins, E.R., & Williams, H.W. (2008). Depressive rumination reduces specificity of autobiographical memory recall in Acquired Brain Injury. Journal of the Neuropsychological Society, 14, 63-70.
Visible Difference
Norman, A., Jackson, S., Ferrario, H., Percuklievska, N., McBride, P. (2021). Towards a greater understanding of the psychosocial impact of the symptoms of pituitary conditions. British Journal of Community Nursing, 26(5), May 2021.
Jackson, S., Norman, A., McBride, P., & Whittingham, P. (2020). Implications for practice: Why signposting patients to the Pituitary Foundation matters. British Journal of General Practice, 70(693), 184
Wogden, F., Norman, A., & Dibben, J. (2019). Treatment choices in adolescents with Cleft Lip and/or palate: the importance of shared decision-making. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 56(9), 1220-1229.
Underwood, A., Norman, A., & Jackson, S. (2019). Pituitary conditions: Importance of geography and the Pituitary Foundation in patient support. British Journal of Community Nursing, September 2, 24(9): 436-443.
- Forrest H, Norman A & Jackson S (2018) The Pituitary Foundation Patient Satisfaction Survey Reports 2008 and 2017: A comparison. Pituitary Life, 38: 9-11
Forrest, H., Norman, A., & Jackson, S. (2017). Results from the 2016 Pituitary Foundation Survey. Pituitary Life, 3, 12-13.
Underwood, A., Norman, A., & Jackson, S. (2017). Members experiences of the Pituitary Foundation. Pituitary Life, 2, 6-10.
Hacker, A., Jackson, S., Gosling, S., Norman, A., & Crown, A. (2017). Understanding hypoadrenal patients’ experience and knowledge of, and attitudes to, adrenal crises and their prevention: A report to the Addison’s Society. Brighten & Sussex Medical School & Plymouth University: Brighton, UK.
Norman, A., Persson, M., Stock, N., Rumsey, N., Waylen, A., Sandy, J., Edwards, Z., Hammond, V., Partridge L., Ness, A. 2014. The effectiveness of psychosocial intervention for individuals with cleft lip and/or palate and their parents: A systematic review. Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Journal, in press. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1597/13-276
Norman A., Perry, R., Ness, A.R., Prime, S.S., Cole-Hawkins,H., Thomas, S. 2014. Synthetic Retinoid Interventions and Outcomes in People with Cancer or Potentially Malignant Disorders of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Oral Surgery. DOI:10.1111/ors.12134 08 Dec 2014
Semple, C., Parahoo, K., Norman, A., McCaughan, E., Humphris, G., Mills, M. (2013). Psychosocial interventions of patients with head and neck cancer (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art.No.: CD009441. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009441.pub2
Bessell, A., Sell, D., Roulstone, S., Albery, L., Persson, M., Verheoven, A. et al. (2013). Speech and language therapy intervention for children with cleft palate: A systematic review. Craniofacial Cleft-Palate Journal, 50(1): e1-e17.
Bessell, A., Dures, E., Semple, C., & Jackson, S. (2012). The need to address appearance-related distress across clinical conditions: How can healthcare teams support patients? British Journal of Nursing, 21 (19). pp. 1138-1143.
Bessell, A. (2012). Online intervention. In N. Rumsey & D. Harcourt (eds). Oxford handbook of the psychology of Appearance. Chapter 39. Oxford University press.
Bessell, A., Brough, V., Clarke, A., Harcourt D., Moss T., & Rumsey, N. (2012). Evaluation of the effectiveness of Face IT, a computer-based psychosocial intervention for disfigurement-related distress. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 2, 1-13.
Bessell, A., Glenny, AM., Furness, S., Clarkson, J., Oliver, R., Conway DI et al. (2011). Intervention for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 9.
Sandy, J., Kilpatrick, N., Persson, M., Bessell, A., Waylen, A., Ness A., & Ireland, A. (2011).Why are multi-centre clinical observational studies still so difficult to run? British Dental Journal, 211(2), 59-61.
Bessell, A. (2011). Facing up to visible difference: The design and evaluation of a new computer-based psychosocial intervention. Body Image Dissertation Abstracts and Summaries, 8(3), 1-3.
Bessell, A., Hooper, L., Shaw, W.C., Reilly, S., Reid, J., & Glenny, Anne-Marie. (2011). Feeding interventions for growth and development in infants with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and palate. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 3 . Art. No.: CD003315. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003315.pub2.
Bessell, A., Clarke, A., Harcourt, D., Moss, T.P., & Rumsey, N. (2010). Incorporating user perspectives in the design of an online intervention tool for people with visible differences: Face IT. Behavioural and Cognitive psychotherapy, 38, 577-596.
Bessell, A., Harcourt, D., & Moss, T.P. (2008). Evaluation of the Acceptability and Usability of a Computer-based Psychosocial Intervention. UWE Psychology Postgraduate Papers, Vol 5, 49-55.
Bessell, A., & Moss, T.P. (2007). Psychosocial interventions for visible differences: A systematic review. Body Image, 4, 227-238.
Long Term Health
Srivastava, K., Norman, A., & Mortimer, S. (2022). A qualitative exploration of the Media’s Influence on UK Women’s views of Breastfeeding. British Journal of Midwifery, in press.
Bacon AM, White L, Norman A. Coping with fibromyalgia during the COVID-19 pandemic: adjustment and wellbeing. Psychology & Health. 2021 Dec 1:1-6.
Baptie, G., Januário, E. M., & Norman, A. (2021). Empowered or Powerless? Contributing factors for Women’s appraisal of traumatic and non-traumatic childbirth. British Journal of Midwifery, 29(12), 674-682. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2021.29.12.674
Alsanaani, T., Norman, A., Whalley, B. (2021). Knowledge and attitudes among healthcare workers and patients with total knee ad hip replacement towards the use of brief psychological techniques: A qualitative study in the UK and Saudi hospitals. The Italian Journal for Inter4disciplinary Health a d Social Development, Feb 2021.
Baptie, G., Andrade, J., Bacon, A., & Norman, A. (2021). Virtually renovating the Trauma Film Paradigm: Comparing Virtual Reality with on-screen presentation of an analogue trauma. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
Baptie, G., Andrade, J., Bacon, A., & Norman, A. (2020). Trauma after childbirth: The mediating effects of perceived support. British Journal of Midwifery, 28(10), 724-730.
Keevash, J., Norman, A., & Mortimer, S. (2018). What influences women to continue or stop breastfeeding: A thematic analysis. British Journal of Midwifery, October, doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2018.26.10.
Norman, A., Mortimer, S., Keevash, J., Forrest, H., Percuklievska, N., Zoutenbier, N., Antonevijevic, A., Cronin, A., & Harris, H. (2018). Factors influencing breastfeeding behaviour and its impact on attachment and mental health in mothers and children: A report to Plymouth City Council. Plymouth University: Plymouth, UK.
Exley, D., Norman, A., Hyland, M. 2014. Adverse Childhood Experience & Asthma Onset: A Systematic Review. European respiratory review: an official journal of the European Respiratory Society 24(136):299-305 Jun 2015
Research groups
- Applied Psychology
- Research in the School of Psychology
- VOYAGE: Promotion of wellbeing
- VOYAGE: Technology and ageing
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
The Perceived Effectiveness of Brief Psychological Techniques for Acute Postoperative Pain, Dr Tahani Alsanaani
‘Help the family, help the soldier’ - Families’ experiences of adjustment to service-attributable limb loss, Dr Heidi Muir
Birth Trauma: A mixed-methods investigation, Dr Grace Baptie
Grants & contracts
NIHR, Research for Social Care fund. Head Together Project, hosted University of Essex
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsPersonal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
Norman, A., Moore S., Wotus R., Holloway M., & Dean, J. (2019). Supported decision making: A BABICM research project. BABICM annual conference, Birmingham.
Norman, A. (2019). Substance abuse, mental health and brain injury: A safeguarding review. Headway East Sussex annual conference.
Norman, A. (2019). Mental capacity and TBI: safeguarding lessons. Enable Law CPD event, Plymouth.
Norman, A. (2018). Safeguarding vulnerable adults: meeting the needs of adults with TBI. University College Jersey, October 2018.
Norman, A. (2018). Safeguarding vulnerable adults: meeting the needs of adults with TBI. Headway Somerset Annual conference, October 2018.
Norman, A. (2017). Acquired Brain Injury and substance misuse. Oliver Zangwill Centre for rehabilitation alcohol and substance use conference, November 2017.
Norman, A. (2017). Acquired Brain Injury and Access to Services: A tale of safeguarding. Headway Somerset Conference, September 2017.
Norman, A. (2017). The importance of Mental Capacity Assessment in caring for adults with Acquired Brain Injury. Adult Policy Scrutiny Committee, September 2017.
Norman, A., Odumuyiwa, T., Kennedy, M., Forrest H., Holloway, M., & Dicks, H. (2017). Accessing long care services for adults with acquired brain injury. South West Brain Injury Forum, September 2017.
Norman, A. (2017). What happens when things go wrong: suicide following Traumatic Brain Injury. Keynote at Headway UK conference July 2017.
Norman, A. (2017). Long-term effects of Acquired Brain Injury. Family & carers conference Headway Somerset, July 2017.
Other academic activities
Trustee for Headway Somerset