Dr Melina Nicole Kyranides
Lecturer

Contact details
Address
- Street
-
The University of Edinburgh
School of Health in Social Science
Medical School (Doorway 6), Room 3.06A
Teviot Place - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 9AG
Background
Prior to joining the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology in Edinburgh, I held a Visiting Lecturer position at the University of Cyprus.
Previous to this appointment, I held a postdoctoral position for young researchers at the University of Cyprus. The project focused on examining the profile (physiologically, emotional and cognitive) diferences of children aged 5-7, with varying levels of callous unemotional traits and the effectiveness of different parent focused interventions for these children.
My research has been influenced by my applied clinical experience as well as from the following fields of research: Developmental Psychopathology, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, and Neuro-psychophysiology. Drawing from these lines of research, I employ a multidomain approach (collecting observational, quantitative, and neurophysiological data to examine both environmental and physiological influences) to identify the neurobiological mechanisms of behavioral problems and personality traits that can inform prevention and treatment efforts.
Qualifications
Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Cyprus
MA in Applied School Psychology at the Unicersity of Cyprus
BA in Psychology at the University of Cyprus
Postgraduate teaching
Course organiser for Conceptual and Theoretical Psychology for the MSc in Psychology of Mental Health (Conversion)
Course organiser for Developmental Wellbeing for the MSc in Mental Health in Children and Young People: Psychological Approaches (Online Learning)
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Research summary
My research emphasis lies on identifying children’s deviation from normative development from childhood to adulthood with a focus on externalizing problems and personality traits. My research has been influenced by my applied clinical experience as well as from the following fields of research: Developmental Psychopathology, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, and Neuro-psychophysiology. Drawing from these lines of research, I employ a multidomain approach (collecting observational, quantitative, and neurophysiological data to examine both environmental and physiological influences) to identify the neurobiological mechanisms of behavioral problems and personality traits that can inform prevention and treatment efforts.
Current research interests
Identifying biomarkers (heart rate, skin conductance, startle reflex, oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex), attentional (eye gaze duration) and behavioral differences in individuals with different psychopathology profiles and how these can be used in prevention programs.Past research interests
In the past I have explored the psychophysiological and attention differences in individuals that were identified during adolescence with elevated levels of externalizing problems namely, conduct problems and callous unemotional traits.-
Primary and secondary psychopathic traits: Investigating the role of attachment and experiences of shame
In:
The Journal of Psychology, pp. 1-19
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2023.2211322
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
The relationships between valued living, depression and anxiety: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression
In:
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, vol. 28, pp. 102-126
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.02.004
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Differences in emotional contagion, interpersonal relationships and social rewards in males and females: Examining the links with primary and secondary psychopathic traits
In:
Current psychology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04236-6
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Difficulties in facial emotion recognition: Taking psychopathic and alexithymic traits into account
(9 pages)
In:
BMC Psychology, vol. 10, pp. 1-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00946-x
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Physiological reactivity to fear moderates the relation between parenting distress with conduct and prosocial behaviors
(17 pages)
In:
Child Development, pp. 1-17
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13865
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Facial reactions to emotional films in young children with conduct problems and varying levels of callous-unemotional traits
(10 pages)
In:
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13701
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Extending the construct of psychopathy to childhood: Testing associations with heart rate, skin conductance, and startle reactivity
(13 pages)
In:
Journal of psychopathology and behavioral assessment, vol. 44, pp. 26-38
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-021-09946-4
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Understanding emotion regulation and humor styles in individuals with Callous-Unemotional traits and Alexithymic traits
In:
The Journal of Psychology, vol. 156, pp. 147-166
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2021.2017831
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Reading and reacting to faces, the effect of facial mimicry in improving facial emotion recognition in individuals with antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits
(14 pages)
In:
Current psychology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02749-0
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Primary and secondary psychopathic traits: The role of attachment and cognitive emotion regulation strategies
(8 pages)
In:
Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 182
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111106
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Physical, verbal and relational aggression: The role of anger management strategies
In:
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2021.1994495
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Relational aggression in romantic relationships: A study into gender differences, correlates and predictors
(11 pages)
In:
Journal of European Psychology students, vol. 12, pp. 16-26
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.528
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Adult attachment and psychopathic traits: Investigating the role of gender, maternal and paternal factors
In:
Current psychology, pp. 1-10
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01827-z
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Personality, learning styles and handedness: The use of the non-dominant hand in preclinical operative dentistry training
In:
European Journal of Dental Education
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12616
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
In the eyes of the beholder: Investigating the effect of visual probing on accuracy and gaze fixations when attending to facial expressions among primary and secondary callous-unemotional variants
In:
European child & adolescent psychiatry, vol. 29, pp. 1441-1451
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-019-01452-z
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Attachment and parental relationships and the association with psychopathic traits in young adults
In:
Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 151
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.07.009
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Psychophysiological activity and reactivity in children and adolescents with conduct problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis
In:
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 100, pp. 98-107
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.016
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Neurophysiological markers associated with heterogeneity in conduct problems, callous unemotional traits and anxiety: Comparing children to young adults
In:
Developmental Psychology, vol. 54, pp. 1634-1649
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000505
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Unique and interactive associations of callous-unemotional traits, impulsivity and narcissism with child and adolescent Conduct Disorder symptoms
In:
Journal of psychopathology and behavioral assessment, pp. 1-10
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-018-9655-9
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Callous-unemotional traits only versus the multidimensional psychopathy construct as predictors of various antisocial outcomes during early adolescence
In:
Journal of psychopathology and behavioral assessment, vol. 40, pp. 16-25
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-018-9659-5
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print)