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Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is the first NHS trust on the English mainland to provide community, mental health and acute hospital services. They provide mental health services to all age ranges and support people with a range of mental health problems whether they are mild, moderate or severe. Find out more about Somerset NHS Foundation Trust here.

Staff and service users are being recruited from Somerset for the Randomised Controlled Trial in WP4, and will be recruited for the Process Evaluation in WP5.

Meet the Research Team

Dr Ariadna Dobrescu (Principal Investigator)

Ariadna is a General Adult Psychiatrist working in Somerset Early Intervention in Psychosis. She is also a Cognitive Analytic Therapist, an Open Dialogue practitioner and has worked with Somerset Research team on different projects since 2017. She is passionate about psychological and social approaches to psychiatry that can transform patients’ lives. She became interested in the TACK study having seen the benefits of DIALOG+ in patients with first episode psychosis and the differences DIALOG+ can make in achieving a more fulfilling life. Outside work, she loves spending time with her family and friends, exploring the beauty of nature and the wisdom of books.

Sue Palmer (Clinical Research Assistant)

Sue came to research as cover for maternity for both R & D and Delivery work and has stayed for 3 ½ years. She now provides administration to the delivery team for the Mental Health, Community and Dendron studies. Outside her working life she enjoys walking her dog on and off her farm and cooking for friends. Sue's travel plans have been curtailed by Covid but will hopefully resume soon.

Anthony Hutton (Research Nurse)

Anthony works as a mental health nurse on a PICU, as well as a research nurse currently and have been an RMN since 2015. Before this Anthony worked in the construction industry and housing. His role as a research nurse involves working on various studies, including TACK 2, consenting, carrying out baseline questionnaires, following up these etc. Anthony is interested in languages and travelling, he would like to retire to France in the future.