Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I completed my PhD in Neuropsychology (University of London) in 2005. Since then I have held the posts of Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in the department of Psychosis Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (formally the Institute of Psychiatry), King's College London where I currently hold a Visiting Professorship. I also hold an honorary post at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, USA. I have co-authored over 125 papers in peer reviewed international journals on the topics of schizophrenia and psychosis risk in young adults, auditory verbal hallucinations and the effects of cannabis on the brain. This work has been funded by NARSAD (Brain and Behavior Research Foundation ,USA), the Medical Research Council (UK), the Wellcome Trust (UK), Guy's and St. Thomas Charitable Trust (UK) and King's Health Partners (UK). My current work aims to develop and trial a real time fMRI neurofeedback system for cognitive training and clinical applications (British Academy and Rosetrees Trust).
Qualifications
BSc, MSc, Ph.D, FHEA
Research interests
The neurobiology of psychosis risk in young adults
By integrating different neurocognitive and neuroimaging techniques, and working closely with the SLaM clinical service (Outreach and Support in South London; OASIS), the aim of this research is to establish predictive factors conferring elevated risk for development of psychotic illness in young adults with a clinical risk for psychosis. In particular, I have been at the forefront of a multimodal neuroimaging programme that aims to characterise neuropathology associated with psychosis at anatomical, physiological and neurochemical levels.
Neurocognitive basis of auditory verbal hallucinations
During my doctoral and post-doctoral work, I used functional neuroimaging and cognitive psychological techniques to study clinical and non-clinical subjects prone to hallucinations. I am a founding member of the International Consortium of Hallucination Research (http://hallucinationconsortium.org/) and have written three book chapters on auditory hallucinations. Currently, I am using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to developing a real-time fMRI neurofeedback system to help treat patients with refractory auditory hallucinations. This work was covered extensively by international news organisations in 2018
The acute neurocognitive effects of cannabis
Using neuroimaging the aim of this work is to examine the effects of acute Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) administration (active compounds of the cannabis plant) on cognition and associated neurofunction. In 2009 our group's work was the subject of a television documentary programme (Horizon, British Broadcasting Corporation). I am currently involved in a study investigating the potential use of CBD as a treatment for young people with an clinical risk for psychosis funded by the Guy's and St Thomas Challenge Fund UK. It is hoped that this work will lead to more effective, specific and safer early interventions in young people with early signs and symptoms of psychosis. I am also interested in the effects of early onset cannabis use on brain development and cognitive function, particularly in young adults
Research projects
My research has been funded (as PI/Co-I) by the Swiss National Science Foundation, The Rosetrees Trust, The Wellcome Trust, The British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, the Medical Research Council, the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Guy's & St Thomas Challenge Fund and the National Association for Research into Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) - Independent and Young Investigator Awards
Media Engagement
BBC (TV) World News, February 2018
BBC (Radio) World Service, February 2018
BBC (TV) Horizon, May 2017
International Business Times, April 2016
BBC (TV) Horizon, February 2009
Professional affiliations
Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS)
International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA)
Links
External positions
Visiting Professor, King's College London
1 Apr 2015 → 1 Apr 2020
Network
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Expert Review of Dietary Components
Hepsomali, P., Costabile, A. & Allen, P.
1/06/22 → 1/10/22
Project: Consultancy
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Adverse clinical outcomes in people at clinical high-risk for psychosis related to altered interactions between hippocampal activity and glutamatergic function
Allen, P., Hird, E. J., Orlov, N., Modinos, G., Bossong, M., Antoniades, M., Sampson, C., Azis, M., Howes, O., Stone, J., Perez, J., Broome, M., Grace, A. A. & McGuire, P., 10 Nov 2022, In: Translational Psychiatry. 11, 1, p. 579Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile51 Downloads (Pure) -
Altered relationship between cortisol response to social stress and mediotemporal function during fear processing in people at clinical high risk for psychosis: a preliminary report
Davies, C., Appiah-Kusi, E., Wilson, R., Blest-Hopley, G., Bossong, M. G., Valmaggia, L., Brammer, M., Perez, J., Allen, P., Murray, R. M., McGuire, P. & Bhattacharyya, S., 1 Apr 2022, In: European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A Neurocognitive Account of Attentional Control Theory: How does trait anxiety affect the brain’s attentional networks?
Eysenck, M. W., Moser, J., Derakshan, N., Hepsomali, P. & Allen, P., 2022, In: Cognition & Emotion.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Cigarette smoking is associated with difficulties in the use of reappraisal for emotion regulation
Faulkner, P., Machon, S., Brown, C., Sandrini, M., Kamboj, S. & Allen, P., 24 Mar 2022, In: Drug and Alcohol Dependence.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Cigarette Smoking is Associated with Difficulties in the Use of Reappraisal for Emotion Regulation
Faulkner, P., Machon, S., Brown, C., Sandrini, M., Kamboj, S. & Allen, P., 1 May 2022, (PsyArXiv).Research output: Working paper › Preprint
Open AccessFile22 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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Paul Allen discusses research with CNBC
Paul Allen (Advisor)
18 Jan 2022Activity: Public engagement and outreach › Media Article or Participation
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Can fMRI neurofeedback be used to understand and treat psychosis?
Paul Allen (Advisor)
23 Sep 2021Activity: Public engagement and outreach › Public speaking engagements
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Can fMRI neurofeedback be used to understand and treat psychosis?
Paul Allen (Advisor)
23 Sep 2021Activity: Public engagement and outreach › Public speaking engagements
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Can fMRI neurofeedback be used to understand and treat psychosis?
Paul Allen (Advisor)
23 Sep 2021Activity: Public engagement and outreach › Public speaking engagements