Staff Members

Dr Paul Tiffin, MD BMedSci(Hons) MBBS MRCPsych

Personal web page

(email at p.a.tiffin@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

Paul graduated from Newcastle-upon-Tyne University with a degree in medicine in 1997, having also completed a research-based intercalated degree in medical science in the area of psychopharmacology. Between 1998 and 2001 he completed basic specialist training in psychiatry, based in the Northern Deanery. Higher specialist training in Child and Adolescent Training was also completed in the Northern Deanery with clinical posts held in Developmental Psychiatry, Forensic Adolescent Psychiatry, Adolescent Psychiatry and community Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Paul was the scheme’s Academic Specialist Registrar and Honorary Lecturer from 2002 until 2005 when a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training was granted in 2005. In 2008 Paul was awarded a Medical Doctorate (MD) for his work developing and validating the Family Perceptions Scale (FPS) which evaluates subjective functioning in adolescent families. Paul has been granted a number of awards including the Laughlin and Margaret Davenport Prizes.

Paul Tiffin is currently a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Durham University and is supported in this post by a HEFCE fellowship. His research interests include severe mental illness, family assessment, risk evaluation in adolescence and the application of statistical and psychometric modelling approaches. This latter area includes the use of Item Response Theory (IRT) in order to understand psychometric data. 

Paul is also an Honorary Consultant in the Psychiatry of Adolescence at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust. His current clinical work is linked to the Forensic Adolescent Mental Health Team for Teesside and is concerned with managing young people with offending behaviour affected by mental health problems. In the past Paul has also helped develop and evaluate Early Intervention in Psychosis Services for young people.

In his spare time Paul enjoys hill walking, skiing and running.

Selected Publications

Books: sections

• Tiffin, P. A. & Nadkarni, J. (2010). Evaluating Violence Risk in Young People. In The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology. Campbell, E. & Brown, J. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 166-176.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Richardson, G. (2006). The use of structured instruments in the assessment of violence risk. In Children who commit Acts of Serious Interpersonal Violence - Messages for Practice. Hagell, A. & Jeyarajah-Dent, R. Jessica Kingsley. 205-210.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Le Couteur, A. (2005). Developmental disorders. In Seminars in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Gowers, S. London: Gaskell. 124-144.
• Tiffin, P. A. (2005). Model answers: MRCPsych Part II Examination Critical Review Paper Autumn 1999. In Critical Reviews in Psychiatry. Brown, T. & Wilkinson, G. London: Gaskell. 33-36.

Conference papers

• Welsh, P. & Tiffin, P. A. (2012), How do adolescents experience an at-risk mental state for psychosis?, 6 (Suppl 1): International Conference on Early Psychosis. San Francisco, Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 49.
• Welsh, P. & Tiffin, P. A. (2010), Follow-up of the "At Risk Mental State" (FARMS) Study, 4 (Suppl 1): International Conference on Early Psychosis. Amsterdam, John Wiley, 116.

Journal papers: academic

• Tiffin, P. A. & Steel, R. (Accepted). 'Personalised Evidence’ for Personalised Healthcare: integration of a Clinical Librarian into Mental Health Services; a feasibility study. The Psychiatrist
• Welsh, P. & Tiffin, P. A. (Accepted). Attitudes of patients and clinicians in relation to the at risk state for psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry
• Doyle, O. M., Tsaneva-Atansaova, K., Harte, J., Tiffin, P. A., Tino, P. & Diaz-Zuccarini, V. (Accepted). Bridging Paradigms: Hybrid Mechanistic-Discriminative Predictive Models. IEEE transactions on Biomedical Engineering
• Mushtaq, I., Ayub, M., Mushtaq, S., Adnan Hafeez, M., Helal, N., Irfan, M., Hassan, B., Tiffin, P. A. & Naeem, F. (Accepted). Domestic Violence, Mental Illness and Suicidal Ideation- A study from Lahore, Pakistan. Journal of Mental Health
• Welsh, P., Cartwright-Hatton, S., Wells, A., Snow, L. & Tiffin, P. A. (Accepted). Metacognitive beliefs in adolescents with an At-Risk Mental State for psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry
• Daniel, M. R., Weir, S. & Tiffin, P. A. (2013). A novel clinical risk assessment system for use in CAMHS. The British Journal of Forensic Practice
• Welsh, P. & Tiffin, P. A. (2013). The 'At-Risk Mental State' for psychosis in adolescents: Clinical presentation, transition and remission. Child Psychiatry and Human Development
• McCrone, P., Singh, S., Knapp, M., Smith, J., Clark, M., Shiers, D. & Tiffin, P. A. (2013). The economic impact of Early Intervention in psychosis services for children and adolescents. Early Intervention in Psychiatry
• Tiffin, P. A. (2012). Adolescent families: a clinical tool. BACP Children and Young People 24-27.
• Welsh, P. & Tiffin, P. A. (2012). Experience of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinicians working within an At-Risk Mental State for psychosis service: a qualitative study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry 6(2): 207-211.
• Welsh, P. & Tiffin, P. A. (2012). Observations of a small sample of adolescents experiencing an At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) for psychosis. Schizophrenia Bulletin 38(2): 215-218.
• Dodgson, G., Ross, L., Tiffin, P. A., Mitford, E. & Brabban, A. (2012). Outcomes Post-Discharge from an Early Intervention in Psychosis service; a comparison to treatment as usual. Journal of Early Intervention in Psychiatry 6(4): 465-468.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Rolling, K. (2012). Structure of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents: An ordinal factor analysis of clinician ratings of a sample of young people referred to community mental health services. Psychiatry Research 197(1-2): 154-162.
• Nadkarni, J., Blakelock, D., Jha, A., Tiffin, P. A. & Sullivan, F. (2012). The Clinical Profile of Young People Accessing a Low Secure Adolescent Unit. The British Journal of Forensic Practice 14(3): 217-226.
• Tiffin, P. A., Dowell, J. S. & McLachlan, J. C. (2012). Widening access to UK medical education for under-represented socioeconomic groups: Modelling the impact of the UKCAT in the 2009 cohort. British Medical Journal (344): e1805.
• Welsh, P., Mediavilla, J. L. & Tiffin, P. A. (2011). Attitudes and Knowledge of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinicians in Relation to the Psychosis Risk Syndrome. Early Intervention in Psychiatry 5(4): 355-359.
• Tiffin, P. A., Kaplan, C. & Place, M. (2011). Development of the family perceptions scale: a novel instrument for evaluating subjective functioning in the families of adolescents. Journal of Adolescence 34(3): 593-597.
• Tiffin, P. A., Finn, G. M. & McLachlan, J. C. (2011). Evaluating professionalism in medical undergraduates using selected response questions: findings from an item response modelling study. BMC Medical Education 11: 43.
• Tiffin, P. A., Arnott, B., Moore, H. J. & Summerbell, C. D. (2011). Modelling the relationship between obesity and mental health in children and adolescents: findings from the Health Survey for England 2007. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 5: 31.
• McCrone, P. & Tiffin, P. A. (2010). Modelling the Economic Impact of EI for Children and Adolescents. Early Intervention in Psychiatry 4(Supplement 1): 68.
• Del Real, A., Brabban, A. & Tiffin, P. A. (2010). Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Early Intervention in Psychosis Services: a Survey of Care-Coordinator's Experiences. Journal of Early Intervention in Psychiatry (4): 93-96.
• Padgett, F. E., Miltsiou, E. & Tiffin, P. A. (2010). The Co-occurrence of Non-Affective Psychosis and the Pervasive Developmental Disorders: A Systematic Review. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 13(4): 187-198.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Gasparyan, A. (2009). Attitudes and Practice in Relation to First Episode Psychosis: a Survey of Child and Adult Psychiatrists. Psychiatric Bulletin 33(7): 247-251.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Hudson, S. (2007). An early intervention in psychosis service for adolescents. Journal of Early Intervention in Psychiatry 1(2): 212-218.
• Tiffin, P. & Morrison, M. (2007). An Early Intervention in Psychosis Service for Adolescents; the Application of Psychotherapeutic Principles. The Journal of Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy 21(4): 267-283.
• Tiffin, P. A., Shah, P. & Le Couteur, A. (2007). Diagnosing pervasive developmental disorders in a forensic adolescent mental health setting. British Journal of Forensic Practice 9(3): 31-40.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Glover, G. (2007). From commitment to reality: early intervention in psychosis services in England. Journal of Early Intervention in Psychiatry 1(1): 104-107.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Garg, G. D. (2007). Managing First-Episode Psychosis: A Case-Based Discussion. Foundation Years Journal 1(5): 207-210.
• Tiffin, P. A., Pearce, M. S., Kaplan, C., Fundudis, T. & Parker, L. (2007). Recollections of parental style and perceptions of current family functioning at age 50. Journal of Family Therapy 29(2): 169-182.
• Tiffin, P. A., Pearce, M. S., Kaplan, C., Fundudis, T. & Parker, L. (2007). The Impact of Socio-economic Status and Mobility on Perceived Family Functioning. Journal of the Family and Economic Issues 28(4): 653-667.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Cooper, S. (2006). Firesetting in young people. Forensic Update (87): 43-48.
• Tiffin, P. A. (2006). Managing Psychotic Illness in Young People: A Practical Overview. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 12(4): 173-186.
• Cooper, S. & Tiffin, P. A. (2006). Psychological assessment and treatment of adolescent offenders with psychopathic personality traits. Educational and Child Psychology 23(2): 62-74.
• Tiffin, P. A., Pearce, M. S. & Parker, L. (2005). Social mobility over the lifecourse and self reported mental health at age 50: prospective cohort study. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 59(10): 870-872.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Kaplan, C. (2004). Dangerous children - assessment and management of risk. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 9(2): 56-64.
• Tiffin, P. A. & Perini, A. F. (2001). The use of antiepileptic drugs in learning disabled people with epilepsy: an audit of adult in-patients in a treatment and continuing care service. Seizure 10(7): 500-504.
• Tiffin, P. A., Ashton, H., Marsh, R. & Kamali, F. (1995). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses to caffeine in poor and normal sleepers. Psychopharmacology 121(4): 494-502.

Other publications: research

• Welsh, P., Dormer, T. & Tiffin, P. A. (2013). Re: Recognition and management of psychosis and schizophrenia in children and young people: summary of NICE guidance (letter to the editor). BMJ Publishing Group. British Medical Journal 346.
• Tiffin, P. A. (2010). Commentary on 'The Patient Health Questionnaire 2-item is a rapid, sensitive and specific screening tool for identifying adolescents with major depression'. Evidence-Based Mental Health
• Cheng, W. & Tiffin, P. A. (2010). The Mental Health Needs of the UK's Chinese Children (letter). Royal College of Psychiatrists. International Psychiatry 7(1).
• Tiffin, P. A. & Kaplan, C. (2001). Dangerous children- their assessment and management: a case. DOH Consultation Document

Show all publications

Research Groups

Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, School of

• Mental Health Research Centre

Centre for Integrated Health Care Research

• General Departmental Research

School of Applied Social Sciences

• Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse

Grants Awarded

• 2013: Youth Mental Health Problems & Primary Care: Improving the Clinical Outcomes in Young People through Early Effective Engagement: COYoTE3 Clinical Research Group. From - Mental Health Research Network (MHRN). Role - Lead applicant (£5,000.00 over 18 months)
• 2012: Learning in the Model Space. From - EPSRC. Role - Co-applicant (£1.3M)
• 2011: "Body and Mind project" piloting Behavioural Activation for obesity and depression in young people. From - HIEC (£25,000.00)
• 2011: BA Feasibility study. From - Wolfson Research Institute Small Grants Fund Award. Role - Lead applicant (£2,500.00)
• 2011: Physical Activity and Wellbeing in Schools Trial. From - ESRC. Role - Co-applicant (£773,234.00 net)
• 2011: Springboard. From - TEWV (£12,000.00)
• 2011: UKCAT. Role - PI/Lead applicant (£9,950.00 + dissemination costs)
• 2010: UKCAT. Role - PI/Lead applicant (£9,250.00 + dissemination costs)
• 2009: Knowledge Transfer Partnership Grant (includes contributions from Technology Strategy Board, ESRC, FACE co. and TEWV Foundation NHS Trust. Role - Lead applicant and academic supervisor (£132,000.00)
• 2009: Utilising Delphi process to create the SHARP tool. From - One North East Studentship. Role - Author of proposal and academic supervisor to nominated student (£18,000.00)
• 2008: CAPSS UK Survey of childhood onset psychosis. From - Wolfson Research Institute Small Grants Fund Award. Role - Lead applicant. (£4,200.00
• 2008: Clinical Fellowship with TEWV for Dr Agata del Real - 6 month. From - Fundacion Alicia Koplowitz. Role - Sponsor (21,000 Euros)
• 2008: Durham University Doctoral Fellowship for Patrick Welsh. From - Durham University. Role - author of project proposal and supervisor. (£50,000 over 3 years)
• 2008: Durham University Doctoral Fellowship for Patrick Welsh. From - Durham University. Role - author of project proposal and supervisor. (£50,000 over 3 years)
• 2008: Physical Activity and Wellbeing Project. From - Wolfson Research Institute Small Grants Fund Award. Role - Co-applicant (£4,4600.00)
• 2008: Senior Clinical Lectureship at Durham University. From - HEFCE. Role - Nominated candidate/applicant (£250,000 over 3 years)

Media Contacts

Available for media contact about:

• Medical and health research topics: Adolescent Mental Health
• Aggression: Adolescent Mental Health

Supervises

• Miss Charlotte Kitchen