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Knowledge and religious education: a metalogue
No full textThis article explores differing scholarly views on the relationship between knowledge and Religious Education (RE) within a British context. Using a metalogue methodology – a structured, reflective dialogue – the perspectives of three scholars are presented facilitated by a fourth scholar. The method preserves individual voices while fostering interactive debate. The discussion includes – disagreements on the nature and definition of knowledge and concerns over limited pedagogical vocabulary. There was a shared dislike of rote learning and the ’transmission’ model of education, advocating instead for intellectual engagement, virtue ethics, and existential inquiry. The metalogue revealed differing views on whether RE uniquely holds responsibility for teaching ethical and existential themes, or if this should be interdisciplinary. Concerns about teacher education, lack of conceptual clarity, and the erosion of academic RE spaces in the UK were raised, thereby impacting ideological and pedagogical development. Despite disagreements, the scholars valued the metalogue as a respectful and productive format for dialogue, and agreed it could be used as model for classroom debate. Further implications include more focussed discussion and agreement on policy direction for RE goals, pedagogical innovation focused on scholarly curiosity and better teacher education that supports deeper educational purpose beyond knowledge delivery
When psychosis hits home: investigating growth experiences of family members
No full textSection A
This systematic review aimed to explore the aspects of personal growth in family members who have relatives who have experienced psychosis. A systematic search of four databases was conducted. Only papers which were qualitative and consisted of participants who were family members were included. The quality of the included literature was assessed using The CASP Tool. Fifteen studies were included, which took place in Canada, Hong Kong, Iran, Israel, the USA, Australia, Sweden, the UK and Ireland. Studies occurred between the years of 1996 and 2024. Six broad themes were identified: Identity Reinvention, Emotional and Family Resilience, Relational Growth, Coping Skills Development, Acceptance and Letting Go, Post-Traumatic Growth and Meaning. Overall, this review revealed key aspects for personal growth in family members of those with psychosis. The review has implications for clinical practice as these aspects may help to inform professionals on supporting families. Further implications and limitations are discussed in the main text.
Section B
Families play a central role in supporting individuals experiencing psychosis, yet research has predominantly focused on the burdens they face rather than their potential for growth. This study aimed to develop a model of self-perceived growth among family members of individuals with psychosis, identifying factors that support or hinder this process. Using a grounded theory approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 family members from diverse backgrounds. Data were analysed through constant comparison, leading to the development of a dynamic model of growth. The model highlights five core components: (1) the process of personal and family transformation, (2) the role of support networks, (3) the duality of struggle and strength, (4) facilitators of growth, and (5) barriers to growth. Personal growth unfolds through three overlapping phases: Emotional Turmoil and Role Shift, Navigating Challenges and Seeking Stability, and Meaning-Making and Transformation. Support from peer groups, professionals, and communities plays a critical role in fostering resilience, while barriers such as stigma, emotional exhaustion, and financial strain often impede growth. Findings suggest that caregiving is a non-linear journey marked by both hardship and empowerment. While some family members experienced stronger relationships and a deepened sense of purpose, others encountered conflict and distress. This study underscores the need for mental health services to support families not only in managing caregiving challenges but also in recognising and fostering opportunities for growth. Future research may incorporate the experiences of siblings and those who may not perceive growth through caregivin
A systematic literature review of troublesome mathematics concepts within STEM disciplines
No full textA systematic approach, governed by the PICO framework, was undertaken to locate and analyse empirical research examining the perceptions and performance of students when learning troublesome mathematics concepts within STEM disciplines. A search was conducted across multiple databases following the design of search clauses and well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Publications were screened for inclusion by screening and appraising results obtained from databases and keywords refined through a scoping study. The results present an overview of mathematics concepts identified as troublesome and evaluate new pedagogical interventions designed to address these in comparison to conventional methods of teaching. We conclude from our findings that future studies would benefit from more clear documentation of the evaluation of any practice-based interventions adopted and relevant comparison to parallel controls or traditional methods of teaching. Additionally, troublesome concepts need to be analysed in more depth from the lens of being potential threshold concepts to encourage the development of targeted interventions to enhance students’ conceptual understandin
Multisensory processing, affect and multimodal manipulation: Investigating travel documentaries
No full textThis paper explores the subject’s embodied relationship with the media environment by looking at the aspects of multisensory processing and affect within the field of empirical multimodal research. More specifically, a sample analysis from a case study is offered to highlight how affect, engaged with through the multisensorial experience of a travel documentary viewer, plays a role in facilitating the successful deployment of manipulative discourse. The key concepts of manipulation and epistemic vigilance are discussed before providing a review of findings from the neurosciences and their relevance to the study of affect in empirical multimodal research. A sample analysis is then offered to exemplify the line of enquiry adopted, with the suggestion that, in travel documentaries, successful manipulative discourse relies not only on “limiting the processes of contextual selection” (Maillat and Oswald, 2009: 361), but also on limiting the emotional response of the viewer, predominantly through the music mode. Possible venues for future research are discussed in the conclusion
Sonic autoethnography as counternarrative: Resisting the white male gaze in addiction narratives through "Sobriety"
No full textWARNING: Sensitive topics
In my research, I treat personal stories as important data. I believe art is a valid way to produce knowledge. My new song, "Sobriety," is a clear example of this method. It comes from my autobiographical poem, "Oh, and One Sugar Please" (written in February 2024). This project uses personal storytelling through sound to challenge common ideas about addiction.
The Main Idea: Changing the System from Within
The writer Audre Lorde was critical of using the "master's tools" to change a broken system. My work tries to do this carefully.
The System ("The Master's House"): The usual story about addiction. It is often told by white men or doctors. This story usually misses the deeper understanding of trauma, shame, and survival that many women, especially Black women, experience.
My Methods ("The Master's Tools") is using modern platforms and technology. Such as Suno AI to help create the music. I used the Floetry style (poetry with music). But I kept full control. I was the writer, poet, singer, and director. This is my ADN™ method in action. It means I use my life experience to guide the AI and create something true to myself and other Black British women.
My Song as Data and a Tool for Change
"Sobriety" is more than a song. It is a collection of data from my life. It works through my "4 R's" framework:
Resisting
Fighting the shame and silence around Black women and alcohol use.
Rejecting cold, clinical language about addiction. I use raw, emotional words instead.
Reclaiming
Taking back the story of addiction from a patriarchal system.
Taking back my story, my voice, and my body as the expert on my own life.
Reframing
Changing the story from one of shame to one of strength.
The last line, "TEA PLEASE, I AM IN SOBRIETY," shows recovery as a positive, powerful choice.
Retaining
This song is a modern archive.
It keeps a story that is often erased. It makes sure a Black woman's journey through trauma and sobriety is recorded and can be found by others.
Conclusion: Putting the Black Woman's Voice First
By placing my own voice and story at the centre of this work, I challenge the unfairness in addiction research. "Sobriety" makes the Black woman the main authority on her own life. This sonic self-story makes the invisible visible. It is a call for better, more diverse support. It shows that we are the archive, we are the data, and we are thedesigners o
The use of ibogaine in the treatment of substance use disorders: integrating psychoactive experience as part of the recovery journey
No full textIbogaine is a psychoactive alkaloid found in the West African plant Tabernanthe iboga. Although controversial, evidence suggests that ibogaine may be effective in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD), specifically opioid use disorder (OUD). This body of research examines the use of ibogaine and its psychoactive effects. By exploring the therapeutic potential of ibogaine, the study seeks to understand its role in treating SUD, its potential for psychological transformation, and its function in the long-term recovery journey. The body of research comprises multiple studies, including a Literature Review, a Small-Scale Research Project, an Applied Research Project, a Report on Professional Practice and a Reflective Account.
The Literature Review (LR) analyses existing research on ibogaine’s pharmacological properties, its cultural significance and the psychological factors that contribute to its reputed effectiveness. Although the exact pharmacological mechanism for ibogaine is still speculative, the literature highlights its role as an NMDA antagonist in the treatment of SUD. The cultural aspects associated with using ibogaine prompt questions about the participants' worldviews as experienced in the traditional and Western contexts. From a psychological perspective, the classification of the ibogaine experience as oneirophrenic seems inadequate as it only describes the first phase of the ibogaine experience, overlooking the remaining two phases. This prompted an investigation into whether the ibogaine state of consciousness reveals similarities consistent with holotropic states of consciousness.
The Small-Scale Research Project (SSRP) explores the phenomenology of the ibogaine-induced state of consciousness. Previous research focused on the stream-of-consciousness of the ibogaine journey. The project complemented this foundation by focusing on structural aspects of the ibogaine state of consciousness, mapping participant experiences by using the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory, a tool that has been used to explore holotropic states of consciousness. The results suggest that the visual experience is focused on the personal narrative, and that the visual experience cultivates self-awareness. The results also indicate that self-awareness during the ibogaine journey is not cultivated as a result of internal dialogue, but rather that the visual experience and the experience of an altered state in terms of altered body image, time, perception and meaning is what fosters self-awareness. Considering that the visual experience is focused on the personal narrative, further research into the self-concept seemed logical.
Building on the implications from the SSRP, the Applied Research Project (ARP) explores whether ibogaine impacts the narrative self. It considers research suggesting that psychedelics can have a transformative effect on the self-concept of the participant. The self-concept, which includes the narrative self, creates meaning by providing order, consistency and unity to experiences. There is currently no research available on whether ibogaine transforms the narrative self and, if so, how. Using a framework developed from existing research on the narrative self and a mixed methodology approach, the results suggested that ibogaine can adaptively transform aspects of the narrative self. Following this finding, the ARP also considers suggestions for how transformed aspects of the narrative self can inform a framework for psychological integration protocols specific to ibogaine.
The Report on Professional Practice (RPP) examines a single-participant case study of someone who achieved recovery for 32 months from OUD following ibogaine treatment. The results highlight how religious trauma and associated guilt and shame were significant contributing factors in the participant developing OUD, along with exposure to substances and other substance users in multiple treatment facilities. Ibogaine treatment represented a turning point for the participant, who describes various physical, psychological, and transpersonal strategies used in recovery. From a psychological perspective, self-insight emerges as a potential mechanism of action for the effectiveness of ibogaine in this case. Ibogaine also increases mindfulness and self-compassion, which are all adaptive aspects of transforming the narrative self. Metacognition is also an important adaptive aspect of the participant's recovery journey. From a transpersonal perspective, the role of death themes and associated fear during the ibogaine journey and the symbology of ibogaine as a rite of passage medicine are adaptive aspects of the participant’s recovery journey.
Finally, the Reflective Account (RA) considers the experiential learning process when compared with an existing model of learning. This component also reflects on how this programme of study makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the psychological aspects of ibogaine as it relates to the ibogaine state of consciousness and how ibogaine adaptively transforms the narrative self. It also reflects on how the programme of study contributes to the development of professional practice by suggesting specific protocols for the psychological integration of the ibogaine experience.
The research conducted through the sequence of studies reported here contributes to understanding the effects of ibogaine on a person’s state of consciousness and their construction of self. A further contribution explores how the effects created by ibogaine may have an impact in the treatment of SUD
Children and young survivors of domestic abuse: A trauma informed approach for health care professionals
No full textKey Messages
• Coercive control-based domestic abuse is distinctly different from parental conflict and anyone noticing conflict between parents/ carers should use professional curiosity to consider if there is, in fact, coercive control-based domestic abuse being perpetrated by one party over the other.
• Where domestic abuse is occurring within a household, the children are not merely witnessing the abuse, but are active agents within their homes, taking on a variety of roles such as a protector, help-seeker or as a confident to either the victim parent or the abuser.
• Domestic abuse does not end when a relationship between the adults has ended. The abuse often continues for years post separation, through means such as economic abuse, abuse of the family court process, harassment and coercive control of the children.
• Perpetrators of abuse frequently use a DARVO strategy, meaning Deny, Attack and Reverse Victim and Offender. This is where a perpetrator presents himself as the victim and uses the systems around the family to seek sympathy and support, further isolating the genuine victim and the children
Cultural influence of local food heritage on sustainable development
No full textThis article explores relations between cultural heritage and cultural values for sustainable development in the Enugu region. It discusses the potential to advance a cultural approach to sustainable development of regions by examining the cultural food heritage and relating it to cultural values. Based on empirical research, the article employed a mixed-methods approach to examine the relationship between the identified major local food heritage and cultural values for sustainable regional planning and development. The study examined primary data from 380 community elders, traders, and relevant institutions—including the Ministry of Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Agriculture—through interviews, participant observation, and questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Pearson product–moment correlation. Findings identified eight local food heritages and six cultural values. The findings suggest that promoting and preserving local food heritage can be crucial in fostering sustainable cultural values and contributing to sustainable regional development. The local food had a statistically significant influence on cultural values. The Pearson correlation result (p-value = 0.000) shows a strong correlation between the local food heritage and cultural values for sustainable regional planning and development. However, the study also identified several challenges threatening the sustainability of local food heritage in the region, including high costs, small-scale farming, insecurity, climate change, and poor transportation. The study recommends the development and implementation of comprehensive policies and programs that prioritize the preservation and promotion of local food heritage while addressing the identified challenges
How should we talk to pregnant women about physical activity? A scoping review of physical activity during pregnancy communication by healthcare professionals in the UK.
No full textIntroductionResearch is needed to provide healthcare professionals (HCPs) with guidance on how to best communicate with pregnant women about physical activity (PA). This study aimed to answer: what is known about PA communication between HCPs and pregnant women in the UK?MethodsDesign: scoping review, adhering to established guidance (including the PRISMA-ScR). Research questions were informed by the Physical Activity Messaging Framework (PAMF). Relevant studies were identified by searching electronic databases and contacting key stakeholders. All studies were double screened. The data extracted included findings related to concepts within the PAMF. The results were presented in a descriptive numerical analysis and a narrative summary.ResultsTwenty-one studies were included. 81% were from England, and 71% involved solely qualitative methods. HCPs lack the knowledge and time required to provide PA advice, and stigma around weight prevents communication. Pregnant women feel that PA during pregnancy is dangerous and have low knowledge of the guidelines and benefits of PA. Many do not receive PA advice from HCPs, and where they do, it is minimal, contradictory, confusing, inconsistent, and negative. Tailored information and clear advice on what is safe, delivered using non-judgemental tones is desired. Pregnant women view HCPs as important messengers.ConclusionsHCPs should address the perception that PA is dangerous by communicating relevant information from PA guidelines and highlighting wide-ranging benefits of PA during pregnancy (including benefits to mental health). Communication should be non-judgmental, clear and consistent. HCPs should be supported and trained to provide PA advice as part of their role