Professor Adrian Wells

I have a personal chair at the University of Manchester, School of Psychological sciences and I am a chartered clinical psychologist and consultant in Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust. My research has focused on developing a better understanding and treatment of the causes of anxiety disorders and depression based on the concepts of cognitive psychology. My approach is grounded in the belief that good theory of causes and testing of theory should be an initial basis on which more effective treatment is developed. This approach has taken more than 30 years of my academic and clinical career and initially led to key developments in cognitive behaviour-therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders, and subsequently to the development of an alternative approach of metacognitive therapy, proving to be highly effective across a range of disorders. In addition to my University roles my other roles include leading the ADePT research unit, acting as Chief Investigator on the NIHR funded PATHWAY programme, and directorship of the Metacognitive Therapy Institute.