J. Mark G. Williams
Encyclopedia
Mark Williams, D Phil, is a Professor of Clinical Psychology and Wellcome Principal Research Fellow at the University of Oxford
. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Experimental Psychology. He has held previous posts at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Medical Research Council Applied Psychology Unit (now Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit) in Cambridge
and the University of Wales Bangor, where he founded the Institute for Medical and Social Care Research and the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society
, the Academy of Medical Sciences
and the British Academy
. He was educated at Stockton Grammar School, Stockton-on-Tees and at the University of Oxford
.
His research is concerned with psychological models and treatment of depression and suicidal behaviour, particularly the application of experimental cognitive psychology to understanding the processes that increase risk of suicidal behaviour in depression. With colleagues John Teasdale (Cambridge) and Zindel Segal (Toronto) he developed Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
(MBCT; http://www.mbct.co.uk) for prevention of relapse and recurrence in depression, and two RCTs have now found that MBCT halves the recurrence rate in those who have suffered three or more previous episodes of major depression. His current research focuses on whether a similar approach can help prevent suicidal ideation and behaviour. His articles also focus on how autobiographical memory biases and deficits affect current and future vulnerability.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Experimental Psychology. He has held previous posts at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Medical Research Council Applied Psychology Unit (now Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit) in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and the University of Wales Bangor, where he founded the Institute for Medical and Social Care Research and the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
, the Academy of Medical Sciences
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
and the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
. He was educated at Stockton Grammar School, Stockton-on-Tees and at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
His research is concerned with psychological models and treatment of depression and suicidal behaviour, particularly the application of experimental cognitive psychology to understanding the processes that increase risk of suicidal behaviour in depression. With colleagues John Teasdale (Cambridge) and Zindel Segal (Toronto) he developed Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is psychological therapy which blends features of cognitive therapy with mindfulness techniques of Buddhism. MBCT involves accepting thoughts and feelings without judgement rather than trying to push them out of consciousness, with a goal of correcting...
(MBCT; http://www.mbct.co.uk) for prevention of relapse and recurrence in depression, and two RCTs have now found that MBCT halves the recurrence rate in those who have suffered three or more previous episodes of major depression. His current research focuses on whether a similar approach can help prevent suicidal ideation and behaviour. His articles also focus on how autobiographical memory biases and deficits affect current and future vulnerability.
Works
- Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World (Piatkus Books, 2011) Mark Williams and Danny Penman
- The Psychological Treatment of Depression, by J Mark G Williams. Routledge, 1984, 1992.
- The Mindful Way through Depression, by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal and Jon Kabat-ZinnJon Kabat-ZinnJon Kabat-Zinn is Professor of Medicine Emeritus and founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Kabat-Zinn was a student of Zen Master Seung Sahn and a founding member of...
(Guilford Press;2007) - Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: a new approach to preventing relapse, by Zindel V. SegalZindel V. SegalZindel V. Segal is a cognitive psychologist, a specialist on depression and one of the founders of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy . A professor of psychiatry at University of Toronto, Segal combines mindfulness with conventional cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches patients to observe...
, J. Mark G. Williams, John D. TeasdaleJohn D. TeasdaleJohn D. Teasdale was a leading researcher at Oxford University, and then in the Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge. He dedicated his focus to understanding the cognition behind depression. Teasdale was a pioneer in the cognitive therapy advancements in the United Kingdom. He was one of...
. Guilford Press, 2002. ISBN 1572307064. - Suicide and attempted suicide: understanding the cry of pain, by Mark Williams. Penguin Books 2001 ISBN 0141005610
- Cry of Pain: understanding suicide and self harm, by Mark Williams (Penguin, 1997, re-issued as Suicide and Attempted Suicide, 2001)
- Cognitive Therapy in Clinical Practice, by Jan Scott, J Mark G Williams and Aaron T Beck (Routledge, 1991) ISBN 0203359364
- The Psychology of Religious Knowing, Fraser N Watts and J Mark G Williams. Cambridge University Press 1988 ISBN 0521326109
- Cognitive Psychology and Emotional Disorders, by J Mark G Williams, Fraser WattsFraser WattsDavid Fraser Watts is an English-born Scottish cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman. He began his cricket career playing for Carlton Cricket Club in Edinburgh. He demonstrated significant potential early on and when aged 16 won a sports scholarship to Durham School where he completed the last...
, Colin MacLeodColin MacLeodColin Munro MacLeod was a Canadian-American geneticist.- Biography :Born in Port Hastings, Nova Scotia, Canada MacLeod entered McGill University at the age of 16 , and completed his medical studies by age 23.In his early years as a research scientist, MacLeod, together with Oswald Avery and...
& Andrew MathewsAndrew MathewsVice Admiral Andrew David Hugh Mathews CB is a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Controller of the Navy.-Naval career:Mathews served as Commander of HM Naval Base Devonport. Promoted to Rear Admiral, Mathews was appointed Director-General Nuclear and Controller of the Navy in 2006...
(Wiley, 1988, 1997)