Research
Since the Centre was founded, one of our key objectives has been to further the understanding of adolescent mental health and the benefits of psychoanalytic talking therapies. Our research team continues to build on the foundations of the Brent Centre, and the early work on adolescent breakdown by the Laufers and their colleagues. This research plays a role in supporting the Centre to develop training, publications, and to support any member of staff with these activities.
Research Projects
Our current research projects aim to address key clinical issues that will directly benefit young people in four key areas:
Adolescent Engagement in Therapy
This study explores therapeutic endings – how do young people end an open-ended treatment? It focuses on young people who started Adolescent Exploratory Therapy with the Brent Centre for Young People between 2003 – 2022. 712 cases met the inclusion criteria for the study, and reasons for ending were derived from therapists’ closing letters, and where possible cross checked with information provided by the young person. The various reasons for ending are now being categorised and analysed. We hope this study will inform the day-to-day clinical work of engaging young people in therapeutic work and ensure we can make services as relevant and accessible as possible.
Understanding Adolescent Suicidality
The Adolescent Experiences Study is now moving into the second year of data collection. This study is a mixed method, longitudinal study, combining clinical psychoanalytic research and grounded theory to create an in-depth understanding of adolescent suicidality, and related experiences such as self-harm. The study is half way through recruitment of participants, and we record our thanks to those young people taking part. Suicidality remains full of unknowns; it can be hard to risk assess and talk about, and we hope the sensitive design and work of this research will open up our understanding of the unique aspects of suicidality for young people.
Delinquency and Adolescence
This small-scale qualitative research study, conducted within the Youth Offending Service from 2008 to 2015 was funded and supported by the International Psychoanalytic Association. The report is currently being developed.
Adolescent Exploratory Therapy
The study focuses on the unique approach the Brent Centre has in working with young people, from the beginnings of our Centre to our current practice.
Publications
The founding psychoanalysts, Moe and Egle Laufer, and Brent Centre researchers more recently have written numerous publications regarding adolescent mental health. These include:
- Social Defences Against Anxiety: Explorations in a Paradigm
- Understanding Adolescent Suicidality
- Delinquency and Adolescence