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Azucena Guzman

Lecturer in Health & Ageing

  • School of Health in Social Science
  • Clinical Psychology

Contact details

Address

Street

Doorway 6, Medical Quad, Teviot Place

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH8 9AG

Biography

Background

I am a  HCPC Chartered Clinical Psychologist,  and have enjoyed working clinically with older adults since my training days. In 2006, I moved to England to study a Masters in Cognition, Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation at the Behavioural Brain Sciences, University of Birmingham. My research involved analysing the impact of music-based multitask training in stroke through fMRI, as well as other neuro rehab techniques such as TMS to treat depression. In addition, I investigated the impact of a dance-based Psychomotor Therapy intervention in healthy older adults, exploring the effect on mobility and cognition. In 2007, I moved to Newcastle University to study a PhD in behaviour change and Psychomotor Interventions in dementia, during this time I supported the Newcastle Challenging Behaviour team at  NHS Northumberland. From 2011-2015 I lived in London working as a Clinical Researcher in Dementia Care at North East London NHS Foundation Trust and as a Research Associate at University College London. During this position I trained care home staff and health professionals in person-centred care, review of antipsychotic medication, understanding behaviour that challenges and psychosocial interventions for the Well-being and Health for people with dementia project (WHELD), one of the largest and best powered randomised controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the benefits of person-centred staff training worldwide. I have enjoyed my life so far and enjoy sharing my clinical and academic experience with my students. 

Postgraduate teaching

I co-ordinate the Older Adults teaching module on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme and teach within the programme.

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Current PhD students supervised

DClinPsych Thesis:

  • Psychological Adjustment to a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (Trainee: Kerry Ross)
  • The relationship between exposure to trauma and distress in old age: the role of emotional regulation and quality of life (Trainee: Klaudia Suchorab)
  • The relationship between childhood traumatic events, cognitive schemas and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among older adults (>65 years): a mediation analysis (Trainee: Eleni Vasilopoulou)
  • An Exploration into the relationships between Mental Health Literacy, Coping Syltes and Psychological Well-being in Older Adults in a Rural Scottish Area (Trainee: Gwendolyn Cremers)
  • Psychological adjustment in people with Parkinson’s disease and caregivers: the role of coping, illness beliefs, illness severity and self-compassion (Trainee: Lorna Hodge)

Past PhD students supervised

DClinPsych Thesis:

  • The post-stroke Emotionalism Cognitions Questionnaire: a developmental study  (Trainee: Niamh McAleese)

MSc in Mental Health:

  • The needs and experiences of older homeless adulst to understand their mental health (Student: Nupura Byramudi Ramachandra)

MSc in Dementia:

  • Getting to Know Me- exploring the impact of using a personal profile tool on the attitudes of nurses providing care for people with dementia in a general hospital setting (Student: Ruth Mantle)

Research summary

  • Psychosocial Interventions in Dementia Care: Cognitive Rehabilitation, CBT, Person-Centred Therapy, Body oriented Psychological Therapies, EMDR
  • Psychological Interventions in Older Adults Mental Health 
  • Mental Health Interventions for professional staff and family caregivers.

Research activity

  • Psychosocial Interventions in Dementia Care
  • Developing Psychomotor Therapy in long-term care and evaluating impact on cognition, stress and distress in people with dementia.
  • Mental Health Interventions for professional staff and family caregivers

Knowledge exchange

Contributing to the development of the Alzheimer's Dementia Strategy in Mexico

Research activities

View all 2 activities on Research Explorer

View all 11 publications on Research Explorer

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