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Brief individual psychological intervention for people with probable personality disorder: a multicentre, researcher-masked, randomised, controlled superiority trial in England
No full textBackground
Long-term psychological treatments are recommended for people with personality disorder. Brief interventions are increasingly delivered but are of uncertain benefit. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief individual psychological intervention for people with probable personality disorder over a 12-month period.
Methods
The Structured Psychological Support (SPS) study was a multicentre, researcher-masked, randomised controlled superiority trial, conducted in seven mental health Trusts in England: Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Participants were aged 18 years or older and had probable personality disorder identified by meeting a threshold of 4 or more on the Standardised Assessment of Personality Abbreviated Scale. We excluded those who: did not consent; had a co-existing psychotic disorder; or were already receiving psychological treatment. We assessed whether participants met criteria for borderline personality disorder using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis II Personality Disorders and whether they had co-existing complex post-traumatic stress disorder using the International Trauma Questionnaire. We randomly assigned participants to up to ten sessions of SPS plus treatment-as-usual or enhanced treatment-as-usual (allocation ratio 1·15:1), using an independent remote system. Researchers assessing outcomes were masked to group allocation. SPS comprises up to ten individual sessions of personalised psychological support, which includes psychoeducation and psychological skills derived from evidence-based treatments (dialectical behaviour therapy and mentalisation-based treatment). Sessions were usually delivered on a fortnightly basis by staff with previous experience of working with people with personality disorder. The primary outcome was social functioning at 12 months measured using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). Data were analysed using multilevel mixed effects general linear regression on an intention-to-treat basis. We used multiple imputation to address missing outcomes. We undertook a parallel health economic evaluation, which included cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses. People with lived experience were involved in the design of the research and in the writing process. The trial was prospectively registered (ISRCTN13918289) and is now complete.
Findings
Between Feb 7, 2023, and Jan 31, 2024, 569 potential participants were referred for study inclusion, 34 were deemed ineligible, 56 declined to participate, and 127 were not approached. 352 potential participants provided consent, of whom 16 were deemed ineligible or withdrew. 336 participants were randomly assigned to either SPS (n=180) or treatment-as-usual (n=156). 251 (75%) participants were female, 75 (22%) were male, and ten (3%) were non-binary or other. The mean age was 34·8 years (SD 13·2; range 18–68) and 281 (84%) participants were White. 152 (84%) participants in the SPS group and 132 (85%) in the control group completed the 12-month follow-up. There was no difference between groups for the primary outcome of WSAS score (standardised coefficient 0·12 [95% CI –2·14 to 2·38]; p=0·92). The probability that SPS is cost-effective was 0·34–0·39. There were 36 serious adverse events affecting 17 participants in the SPS group and 16 in the treatment-as-usual group. None were judged to be related to study procedures. Two study participants died during the 12-month follow period, both in the SPS group.
Interpretation
We found no difference in social functioning over the course of 1 year among people offered a brief psychological intervention, and no evidence of cost-effectiveness. These data highlight the importance of improving access to longer-term evidence-based psychological treatment programmes for people with personality disorder
Sustainability and climate change education in teacher education: a survey report
No full textPrepared by the Sustainability and Climate Change Working Group of the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET)
Determinants of minimum wage dynamics: a comparative econometric analysis of Japan and South Korea
Full text linkThe goal of this study is to identify and compare the determinants of national minimum wage (NMW) dynamics in Japan and South Korea over a two-decade period (2004–2023). Several methodologies for constructing a macroeconomic panel dataset, encompassing diverse indicators, are utilized to estimate regression and correlation-based econometric models. The quantitative findings are corroborated by qualitative results from other studies, enhancing the assessment of the minimum wage’s elasticity concerning several aspects, including inflation and productivity. The results demonstrate that the primary determinants of adjustments to NMW in both economies are consumer price index (inflation) and gross domestic product per capita, whereas unemployment and income inequality factors are less statistically significant. Moreover, empirical analysis illustrates that the Japanese economy reacts with greater moderation to adjustments in determinants than the South Korean economy, which experiences a stronger inflation pass-through effect. This difference is potentially due to institutional constraints and regional variations that influence the elasticity of NMW adjustments in relation to macroeconomic variables. In conclusion, this study illustrates how the minimum wage policies in Japan and South Korea are strongly influenced not only by inflation and productivity trends but also by differences in institutional structures, which affect the magnitude and speed of adjustment to NMW. The authors succeeded in closing a major research gap of effective cross-country analysis and evaluation of the minimum wage dynamics, demonstrating that local economic zones should implement their own wage and cost adjusting system, adopt indexation of inflation, and support small enterprises
Experiences of receiving a bystander intervention during a suicide attempt on the railways
No full textBackground: Promoting bystander interventions is a core strategy to prevent suicides in public places, but little is known about how people with lived experience perceive this intervention.
Aims: To explore people’s experiences of receiving an intervention during a suicide attempt on the railways.
Methods: Interviews were conducted with 28 people with experience of receiving a bystander intervention during a suicide attempt on the railways. Interview data were triangulated with an online ethnography exploring posts made on forums and similar platforms openly discussing suicide.
Results: Using reflexive thematic analysis, five themes were generated: 1) “I’m a good actor… we all carry a mask”: Concealing feelings and intentions; 2) “It kind of draws your attention away but it doesn’t almost shine a spotlight”: Interventions should be gentle and not draw more attention; 3) “People that were getting in my way were just making me want to try harder”: Interventions can trigger difficult feelings in the moment; 4) “I did feel different, I felt better”: The power of small talk; and 5) “You feel like a human being and you feel like they actually care”: Wanting to feel cared for.
Conclusions: Findings suggested that some people actively avoid receiving an intervention by concealing how they are feeling in that moment. Interventions that are gentle and do not draw attention may be preferable, such as making small talk and simply gestures such as smiling or being near the individual. Conversely, more intrusive or aggressive interventions may be triggering and exacerbate suicidality
A training framework for local authorities as modern slavery first responders in England and Wales
Full text linkDevelopment and Consultation Process
This Training Framework represents the final output of a multi-stage research, consultation, and knowledge-exchange process designed to support local authorities in their role as Modern Slavery First Responders under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It builds directly on empirical research, practitioner engagement, and survivor-informed insights, ensuring that the framework is both evidence-based and grounded in operational realities.
In May 2025, we published The Development of a Preliminary Training Framework for Local Authorities as Modern Slavery First Responders in England and Wales, in partnership with the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG). The study, based on an online survey completed by 36 local authorities and semi-structured interviews with Modern Slavery Leads or Coordinators in 15 local authorities across England and Wales, also included an analysis of 48 modern slavery statements published by councils. It underscored the pivotal role of local authorities in identifying and supporting survivors through housing, social care, and safeguarding, while also highlighting gaps in awareness, inconsistent training provision, and barriers to multi-agency collaboration. At the same time, it identified examples of good practice that demonstrate what can be achieved with appropriate investment, partnership working, and leadership.
The framework was subsequently presented at an online Knowledge Exchange Workshop in June 2025, attended by approximately 30 participants representing local authorities and civil society organisations. Local authority attendees included officers from Dorset, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Kent, Derbyshire, Hertsmere, and Oxford, alongside colleagues from Barnardo’s and the Snowdrop Project. Participants were divided into two breakout rooms for focused discussion and exchange of views on the preliminary training framework.
The framework was later presented at the National Network Coordinators Forum (NNCF) in July 2025, where further valuable input was received from a similar audience.
Following the NNCF presentation, additional feedback was gathered through an online form and a series of one-to-one interviews to explore specific issues in greater depth. Importantly, lived experience experts were also engaged as part of the consultation process, and their perspectives were incorporated into revisions of the framework, particularly in relation to survivor-centred practice, trauma-informed engagement, and the risks associated with overly procedural or compliance-driven approaches to training.
All comments were systematically analysed and synthesised to inform revisions to the structure, content, and delivery model of the Modern Slavery Training Framework for Local Authorities. The final iteration of the framework was subsequently circulated among all the interviewees and consultation participants, several of whom indicated their intention to adopt or adapt the Training Framework within their own organisations.
We gratefully acknowledge that this framework was informed by examples of good practice and training approaches shared by local authorities, in particular Coventry City Council and Birmingham City Councils, whose multi-tiered training model serves as a valuable example of locally tailored training delivery. We are especially thankful to Hebe Lawson (Modern Slavery Lead at Coventry City Council) and Anna Iuga (Modern Slavery Coordinator at Birmingham City Council) for their part in developing this approach, which has been instrumental in informing our thinking and strengthening the training framework developed in this study. While the Coventry and Birmingham model reflects an effective, place-specific response, the framework developed here is designed to be applied and adapted nationally, providing a coherent structure that can be tailored to diverse local authority contexts across England and Wales.
It is important to emphasise that what we have developed is a training framework, not a prescriptive curriculum or statutory requirement. The framework sets out guiding principles, tiered training levels, and recommendations, but does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all or directive curriculum or course structure. It is designed to provide a flexible structure that can be adapted to the needs and contexts of individual local authorities. Responsibility for adopting, adapting, and implementing the framework rests with each authority, considering local governance structures, resources, and priorities. Adaptability is also required over time, as modern slavery is a fast-changing landscape. This reflects the need for flexibility across diverse governance structures, geographies, and resources. In practice, this means the framework should be used by local authorities to inform the design of their own training curricula, identifying which elements require national consistency and which should be tailored locally. For example:
- Nationally consistent elements: statutory duties under the Modern Slavery Act; survivor rights, including entitlements to support and protection; safeguarding protocols, with emphasis on child and adult protection duties; and National Referral Mechanism (NRM) processes.
- Locally tailored elements: regional referral pathways and links to nearby NGOs or specialist services; specific housing and welfare arrangements; structures for partnership working, such as safeguarding boards or community safety partnerships; and the profile of exploitation most prevalent in that area, such as labour, sexual, or criminal exploitation.
Embedding locally relevant case studies, survivor testimonies, and examples of cross-agency working across all levels will also be crucial in ensuring that training is meaningful, contextually grounded, and directly applicable to local realities.
At the same time, it must be recognised that without sufficient budgets, ring-fenced funding, and political support, implementation will remain uneven and challenging. Training alone cannot substitute for the infrastructure, resources, and multi-agency partnerships essential for a sustainable response. Nonetheless, this framework provides a foundation on which local authorities can build context-specific training modules and practices, supporting more consistent, survivor-centred, and accountable responses to modern slavery across England and Wales.
The framework therefore provides both a strategic grounding and a practical tool for local authorities. Building on the feedback gathered through practitioner consultation and lived-experience input, the following section outlines the Training Framework and the key considerations that guided its development
Exploring the physical attributes of elite épée fencing: a Delphi study of world-class coaches
No full textBACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify and rank the physical attributes deemed most important for elite performance in épée fencing, from the perspective of world-class coaches. While extensive biomechanical and physiological research exists in fencing, limited attention has been paid to the experiential insights of elite coaches.
METHODS: A modified Delphi method was employed to gather expert consensus from 26 international épée coaches with Olympic-level experience. In Round One, open-ended responses were thematically analysed to identify key physical attributes, which were consolidated into nine overarching themes. In Round Two, coaches ranked these attributes in order of importance. Stability of rankings was assessed using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W).
RESULTS: Twenty-nine distinct physical attributes were identified in Round One and grouped into nine themes. In Round Two, agility (mean rank = 2.9) and reaction time (3.3) emerged as consensus-high priorities, while strength (7.6) and power were consensus-low. Aerobic fitness (5.7) and flexibility showed polarised distributions, reflecting entrenched differences in coaching philosophies. Agreement among coaches was acceptable but limited (W = 0.26), indicating stable but divergent viewpoints rather than instability.
CONCLUSION: Elite coaches prioritised agility, reactivity, and speed in épée fencing, aligning with performance demands observed in biomechanical studies. However, the undervaluation of foundational qualities such as strength and aerobic fitness highlights a partial disconnect with sport science evidence. These findings underscore the need for enhanced coach education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a more balanced emphasis on physical preparation that supports both performance and injury prevention. The study also demonstrates the value of Delphi methodology in capturing diverse expert perspectives even when full consensus is not achieved
Effects of external verbal cueing on countermovement rebound jump performance
Full text linkThis study examined the effects of three external verbal cues on countermovement rebound jump (CMRJ) performance. Twenty-five recreational athletes completed nine jumps with distinct height, velocity, and combined cue focus. A general linear model analysis of variance was used to evaluate systematic bias between conditions (p < 0.05). The height and velocity cues significantly altered jump height and contact times in both jumps during the CMRJ, respectively (p ≤ 0.002). The combined cue significantly reduced contact time while increasing leg stiffness compared to the height cue (p ≤ 0.038). It also increased jump height compared to the velocity cue (p ≤ 0.005) in both jumps, resulting in the highest explosive power and reactive strength values among all conditions. Furthermore, the combined cue enhanced the positive ankle contribution compared to the height cue (p = 0.020) and increased positive hip and negative knee joint work compared to the velocity cue (p ≤ 0.040) in the second jump of the CMRJ. These findings advise practitioners to use the height cue to maximise jump height, the velocity cue to minimise contact times, and the combined cue to maximise explosive power and reactive strength
Influence of competitive match play on countermovement jump performance, lower-limb isometric strength, and self-reported subjective Measures 40 hours postmatch in professional soccer
No full textThis study investigated the impact of competitive match play on Countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, hamstrings and adductor isometric strength, and subjective self-reported measures 40h post-competitive match play in professional soccer players. Twen-ty-eight professional players completed baseline assessments during pre-season. Assess-ment 40h post-match was limited to players who played ≥ 60 minutes, with players grouped into two categories based on minutes played: 60–89 minutes or 90–110 minutes. Baseline measures for subjective self-reported measures were collected 24h before each match. Across both groups, significant reductions (p 0.05) in both conditions with trivial to small effects. Significant reductions (p 0.05) in the 60–89 minutes group, but significant decreases (p <.001) were observed for the domi-nant limb, non-dominant limb and total score in the 90–110 minutes condition. However, minutes played, and match demands were not significantly associated with reduction in adductor isometric strength (τᵇ = 0.18 - 0.22 and τᵇ = -0.15 - 0.11). Subjective measures revealed significant reductions in sleep quality (p < 0.05) and composite scores (p <.001), and significant increases in muscle soreness (p <.001) across both conditions. Mood was only significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the 90-110 minutes condition. No significant asso-ciations were found between minutes played, match demand, and self-reported subjec-tive scores (τᵇ = -0.07 - 0.05 and τᵇ = -0.09 – 0.00)
Conceptual but not perceptual encoding leads to age differences in priming
No full textThe specific conditions in which age differences in priming emerge remain to be clarified. Three experiments systematically investigated how cognitive processing requirements moderate age differences in priming. Experiment 1 manipulated perceptual/conceptual encoding prior to a continuous identification priming task, and Experiments 2A and 2B manipulated perceptual/conceptual encoding prior to identification (perceptual) and category verification (conceptual) priming tasks. Recognition was also captured to allow comparison of effects on explicit and implicit memory. A further aim was to provide the first direct comparison of online versus laboratory experiments concerned with priming in aging, necessary to understand the feasibility and robustness of online methods, which are increasing in popularity. Experiments 1 (35 young participants, M age=20.51; 35 older participants, M age=70.49) and 2A (48 young participants, M age=22.65; 48 older participants, M age=69.19) were conducted online, and Experiment 2B (48 young participants, M age=22.17; 48 older participants, M age=76.29) was conducted in the laboratory. In all experiments there was an age difference in perceptual identification priming favouring young adults when encoding was conceptual, but no age difference following perceptual encoding. There was no priming on the category verification task. Priming effects in Experiment 1 were mirrored in the recognition data – recognition was greater in young than older adults following conceptual encoding. There was a reliable age difference in recognition in Experiment 2B, but not Experiment 2A, and no interaction with processing. Findings suggests that age differences in priming emerge as a function of the manner in which stimuli are processed during encoding
Surface EMG driven gesture recognition using machine learning for robotic applications
No full textThis paper explores non-invasive use of surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals from a human arm for controlling various devices. In recent years, numerous studies have explored sEMG-based gesture recognition for prosthetic and robotic applications. Gesture sets are often limited to a small number of movements, restricting the range of control. Furthermore, the translation of offline classification results to real-time robotic control remains challenging due to latency, signal variability, and computational overhead. These limitations motivate further research into robust, adaptable, and computationally efficient sEMG-based control systems. An 8-sensor Myo Armband device is employed for sEMG signal acquisition. This study involves four participants—comprising an equal number of men and women with diverse ages and body conditions. Each participant performed nine different gestures, repeated 10 times, yielding a comprehensive training dataset. Various machine learning algorithms were applied to filter the raw signals, scale the data and classify the gestures using optimized parameters. During evaluation, the most effective filtering methods and classifiers (with subject-specific tuning) were selected for near-real-time gesture classification and robotic device control. The trained model predicts the performed gesture from the nine available classes and transmits the corresponding command to the robotic system. The chance or baseline accuracy of the system thus translates to 11.1% with the probability of randomly selecting one correct gesture out of nine. The evaluation phase demonstrated that Random Forest, Linear SVM, and Extra Trees were the top three classifiers. The classification model achieved an average accuracy of 92.8%. Despite the promising results, real-time classification for robotic control remains a challenge, necessitating further refinement of gesture segmentation and signal processing techniques