About
Rachel is a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry within the Section of Neurotrauma and Neurodegeneration, Psychiatry Theme.
Rachel has published over 30 papers, book chapters and book reviews within the field of major mental illness; particularly schizophrenia, affective disorders and suicide. Clinically Rachel has worked for over 17 years in psychiatry, 10 of which within the field of Early Intervention in Psychosis and Youth Mental Health.
She is active in undergraduate medicine teaching, including Year 4 Psychiatry, Graduate Entry Course and the intercalated BMedSc in Psychological Medicine.
Qualifications
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PhD University of Birmingham 2011
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MPhil University of Birmingham 2001
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Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists 1999
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MBBS University of London 1993
Biography
Rachel qualified with MBBS at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in 1993, and after house jobs and two years of general medicine in London moved to Birmingham to begin a career in Psychiatry. In the closing days of the asylum era, exposure to severe mental illness piqued a longstanding interest in understanding these disorders, comorbidities and predictors of poor and fatal outcomes. Gaining Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1999, Rachel was also awarded the Cloake Medal in Research.
Beginning as a Consultant psychiatrist in 2006, Rachel developed and lead the South Birmingham Early Intervention Service, and latterly served as Head of Profession for the Youth Service.
Teaching
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Undergraduate Psychiatry
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GEC Expert
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BMedSc Psychological Medicine: Neurobiology of Mental illness and Psychiatry and The Arts module co-ordinator
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SP1 Social, Cultural and Ethnic Aspects of Mental Disorder
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SP1 Biological Basis of Madness
Postgraduate supervision
Rachel regularly supervises BMedSc students and is an examiner for Masters students.
Rachel would be interested in supervising MPhil and Doctoral research students in the areas of early psychosis and schizophrenia, suicide, self-harm, mood disorders and dimensions of psychosis.
Research
Psychosis:
Rachel’s primary research interests and background encompass the investigation of schizophrenia and psychosis, with particular emphasis on the importance of “co-morbidities” and outcomes, for example the relevance of depression, anxiety, ptsd, suicidal thinking and deliberate self-harm. In addition how understanding and appraisal of illness affects both these and other outcomes.
Mood Disorders:
Rachel is a member of the senior research team with the Bipolar Disorders Research Network (BDRN), a group of researchers and research participants in the UK involved in investigating the underlying causes of bipolar disorder.
Suicide and Deliberate Self Harm:
Recent data show an overall reduction in suicide, and a fall in certain groups, yet those with a history of self-harm remain at high risk of completed suicide. Rates of deliberate self-harm are increasing in young people. We have little knowledge of the facilitators or proximal risk factors, natural history and escalation of risk after self harm. In collaboration, this ambitious project aims to study the longitudinal relationships between self harm and suicide using both a prospective cohort and retrospective psychological autopsy design, with particular interest in young people and minority groups.
Follow this link for ITV Fixers: A Documentary about Schizophrenia
Other activities
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Consultant Psychiatrist Early Intervention Service
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Previous Assistant Clinical Director Youth Service, BSMHFT
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ST4-6 Trainer in Psychiatry
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ARCP Panel Member
Publications
Upthegrove, R., Atulomah, O., Brunet, K. and Chawla, R. (2012), Cultural and social influences of negative illness appraisals in first-episode psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2012.00389.
Brunet, K., Birchwood, M., Upthegrove, R., Michail, M. and Ross, K. (2012), A prospective study of PTSD following recovery from first-episode psychosis: The threat from persecutors, voices, and patient hood. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.2012.02037.x
Upthegrove R, Jones L, Oyebode F: ed Tom Brown and John Eagles (2011) Teaching Psychiatry to Undergraduates Royal College Publication, London
Upthegrove R, Birchwood M , Ross K. Brunett R. McCollum R, Jones L (2010) The evolution of depression and suicidality in first episode psychosis; Acta Psych Scandinavica 122:3, 211-218.
Upthegrove R, (2009) The Importance of Depression in Schizophrenia and Early Psychosis: practical implications for assessment and treatment. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment; 15: 372 - 379.
Patel K, Upthegrove R. (2009) Self-harm in first-episode psychosis. Psychiatric Bulletin, 2009;33(3):104-7.
Burley K, Upthegrove R, Birchwood M, Patterson P, Skeate A. (2009) ‘Schizophrenia postdrome’: a study of low-level psychotic experience after remission of first-episode schizophrenia. Early Intervention in Psychiatry 3(4):296-9.
Birchwood, M., Iqbal, Z., and Upthegrove, R. (2005) Psychological pathways to depression in schizophrenia Studies in acute psychosis, post-psychotic depression and auditory hallucinations. Eur .Arch. Psychiatry and Clin.Neurosci. 255, 202-212.