SPEAKERS

Nicola Doherty is a Consultant Lead Clinical Psychologist currently based in the Western Trust area of Northern Ireland where she leads the Paediatric Psychology Service.

Nicola is involved in various national and regional committees and working groups, mainly related to paediatrics, perinatal mental health, neonatal needs and infant health and wellbeing. Since qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2000, Nicola has had ongoing clinical and research interest in various areas, including, paediatric cardiology, diabetes, acquired brain injury, neurodevelopmental conditions, child development, perinatal and infant mental health. 

She was awarded a Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship in 2017 which allowed her to research best practice in Canada and the USA for medically fragile babies and in 2020 became a Visiting Professor at Ulster University. She is currently chair of the Paediatric Psychology Network SIG and communications lead for Division of Clinical Psychology (NI). 

Nicola’s presentation is based on a number of sources: - CHIP studies (references below) - Doherty N.N. & Utens, E. ‘A Family Affair’, Chapter in Congenital Heart Disease and Neurodevelopment, 1st edition. Edited by Christopher McCusker and Frank Casey - Elsevier 2016. - - Doherty,N.N. & McCusker, C.G. ‘The Congenital Heart Disease Intervention Programme & Interventions in Infancy’ Chapter in Congenital Heart Disease and Neurodevelopment, 1st edition. Edited by Christopher McCusker and Frank Casey - Elsevier 2016. - Gower, C., Higgins, A., Doherty, N. & McCormack, D. (2016) Understanding the experiences of fathers of children with congenital heart disease: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. J. Health Psychology 22:1-11 McCusker, C.G., Armstrong, M., Mullen, M., Doherty, N.N. & Casey, F. A. (2013) A sibling controlled, prospective, study of outcomes at home and school in children with severe congenital heart disease. Cardiology in the Young, 23, 507-516. - McCusker, C.G., Doherty, N.N., Molloy, B., Rooney, N., Mulholland, C., Sands, A., Craig, B., Stewart, M. & Casey, F. A. (2012) A randomized controlled trial of psychological interventions to promote adjustment in school entry children with congenital heart disease and their families. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 37(10), 1089-1103. - Casey, F. A., Stewart, M., McCusker, C.G., Morrison, M. L., Molloy, B. Doherty, N.N., Craig, B., Sands, A., Rooney, N., Mulholland, H. C (2010). Examination of the physical and psychosocial determinants of health behaviour in 4 – 5 year old children with congenital heart disease. Cardiology in the Young., 20, 532-537. - Doherty, N. N., McCusker, C.G., Molloy, B., Mulholland, H. C., Rooney, N., Craig, B., Sands, A., Stewart, M. & Casey, F. (2009). Predictors of psychological functioning in mothers and fathers of infants born with severe congenital heart disease. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 27(4), 390-400. - - McCusker, C.G., Doherty, N.N., Molloy, B., Rooney, N., Mulholland, C., Sands, A., Craig, B., Stewart, M. & Casey, F. A. (2009) A controlled trial of early interventions to promote maternal adjustment and development in infants with severe congenital heart disease. Child: Care, Health and Development, 36(1), 110-117. - Tierney, N., Doherty, N., Casey, F., Craig, B. & Sands, A. (2008) Impact of an infant massage programme on maternal mental health and attachment. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 26(3):256-271** - Research from the PRAMio (Parents professionals and mediators for infant outcome) group at QUB - ongoing - Work of Bruce Perry on trauma and importance of connectedness - Parent and children stories of lived experiences - Experiences gathered by Dr Doherty during her Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Fellowship of 2017 and work since.