Prof Amanda Williams

Professor of Clinical Health Psychology

Clinical, Edu & Hlth Psychology

Div of Psychology & Lang Sciences

Joined UCL: 1st Sep 2004

Research summary

Pain

- facial and behavioural expression of pain and emotion and influences on observer judgements of pain

- understanding of pain by people with pain, and how they make sense of explanations of pain provided in healthcare

- evaluation, including systematic review and meta-analysis, of cognitive and behavioural rehabilitation programmes for people with chronic pain

- pain in survivors of torture

Teaching summary

BSc Psychology

- models of pain and their application; adjustment to chronic disease

MB BS

- introduction to psychology; health behaviour and illness presentation; chronic illness, disability and cancer; pain.

MSc Health Psychology

- pain

DClinPsy

- core psychological issues in physical illness and disability

- pain

- systematic review and meta-analysis

Education

University of London: Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 1996
North East London Polytechnic: Other higher degree, Master of Science | 1985
University of Bristol: First Degree, Bachelor of Science | 1976

Biography

BSc in Psychology from Bristol University, followed by experience working in drug addiction, then physical disability; MSc in clinical psychology from North East London Polytechnic (now UEL) in 1985.

PhD in 1996 while working at St Thomas' Hospital in pain management; subsequently part-time senior lecturer at King's College medical school and part time clinical practice at St Thomas' Hospital.

2004 appointed to UCL as Reader in Clinical Health Psychology, currently working half-time, and appointed Professor in Clinical Health Psychology in 2020. I also work one half-day as a consultant clinical psychologist in the pain management centre of UCLH (previously at the National Hospital, Queen Square). I am section editor for psychology on the journal PAIN, and consult on research to the International Centre for Health and Human Rights (ICHHR).