The Academic Institute at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS) has published the second issue of its Research Bulletin for 2025, showcasing the wide range of research activities, collaborations and achievements across the organisation.
This issue includes updates on Ireland’s first-ever National Mental Health Strategy for Research, research publications and presentations from SPMHS staff, and a spotlight on the role of nurses in mental health research.
You can see some highlights from the latest Research Bulletin below.
Working together to shape the future of mental health research
The publication of Irelands first ever National Mental Health Strategy has provided a framework to strengthen mental health research in Ireland. Under 'Pillar 4: Collaboration", the strategy calls for the development of an all-island, interdisciplinary mental health research network. This network is intended to integrate researchers from research institutions, voluntary and community organisations, mental health service providers, and the many other stakeholders who play a pivotal role in mental health research.
Over the last few months, the Academic Institute has been involved in discussions about the development of this network and we will keep you updated on its progress and the role that it might have for St Patrick's Mental Health Services' (SPMHS) staff interested in pursuing research.
Celebrating research success
Congratulations to Dr Ita Fitzgerald, Senior Pharmacist at SPMHS, on completing her PhD. Her research focuses on improving how antipsychotic-induced weight gain is managed among people with psychosis. This important work is featured in the Article of the Issue section of the bulletin.
Research publications and funding opportunities
SPMHS researchers have contributed to significant publications in mental health, including:
- From Idealist to Realist - Designing and Implementing Shared Decision-Making Interventions in the Choice of Antipsychotic Prescription in People Living with Psychosis (SHAPE): A Realist Review (Part 1). Schizophrenia Bulletin. Advance online publication, Available here.
- From Idealist to Realist - Designing and Implementing Shared Decision-Making Interventions in the Choice of Antipsychotic Prescription in People Living with Psychosis (SHAPE): A Realist Review (Part 2 - Designing SDM Interventions: Optimizing Design and Local Implementation) Schizophrenia Bulletin. Advance online publication. Available here.
- Predictors and Outcomes of Detention Under Psychiatric Holding Powers. Psychiatric Services. Available here.
- Comparative efficacy and safety of alternatives to sodium valproate in the management of bipolar affective disorder in people of childbearing age: a narrative review by the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy's Mental Health Special Interest Group. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, Available here.
- Prevalence of personality disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity in an Irish inpatient setting. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. Available here.
- Adverse childhood experiences and interpersonal functioning in adulthood: A systemic review. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. Available here.
- Associations of Group Size with Cohesion and Clinical Outcomes in Group Psychotherapy: A Systemic Review. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. Available here.
For a full list of recent publications, visit SPIRE.
Meanwhile, new funding opportunities are opening to support high-quality, collaborative research across Ireland. These include:
- The Research Ireland Infrastructure Programme 2025, opening this month, which will fund cutting-edge research infrastructure to support impactful projects nationwide.
- The Research Ireland New Foundations 2025 scheme, which launched on 5 June 2025. This call supports networking, dissemination, and exploratory research. Applications close at 4.00pm (Irish time) on 17 July 2025.
Article of the issue: Designing and Implementing Shared Decision-Making Interventions in the Choice of Antipsychotic Prescription in People Living with Psychosis (SHAPE)
Our featured article explores the impact of various factors on prescriber engagement in shared decision making within antipsychotic prescribing.
Read the full article on SPIRE here.
Researcher spotlight
Shane Kirwan, Nurse Practice Development Coordinator, who discusses his path into mental health research and his role in leading the nursing research agenda over several years.
Can you tell us about your research career to date?
My research career has been focused on mental health, with interests in specific areas such as digital health transformation, mental health services, nurse leadership and service user outcomes.
I have been involved in numerous projects aimed at understanding and improving mental health interventions, working closely with stakeholders to translate research findings into clinical practice. Over the years, I have published several papers in peer-reviewed journals.
I have an active relationship with the Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation (TCPHI) at Trinity College Dublin. I have collaborated with TCPHI on practice-based research projects and I act as go between for St Patrick's Mental Health Services (SPMHS) and TCPHI, who have a formal collaboration agreement. This agreement supports joint research initiatives, staff development, capacity-building in research and practice innovation in mental health nursing and care.
One of my notable projects is "Nurse Leadership in Implementing Digital Health Change in on lash Mental.
Health Service" which examines the role of nurses in introducing electronic health records (EHRs) at
SPMHS. This paper was the first of its kind in Ireland as the implementation of EHRs are still a new concept to Ireland. I also co-authored a study on transitioning a mental health facility into a COVID-19 isolation ward highlighting the shift to remote inpatient care during the pandemic.
A project that is close to my heart was the research study the Nurse Education Centre (NEC) worked on together as a team related to the Homecare service This paper evaluated the Homecare service at
SPMHS, a remote inpatient mental health care model implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an innovative approach that allowed service users to receive comprehensive inpatient-level care from their homes, utilising digital platforms like Microsoft Teams for daily multidisciplinary team (MDT) interactions, therapy sessions and 24/7 support. This study was a collaborative effort involving researchers from SPMHS and TCPHI, including Dr Gráinne Donohue and Dr Brian Keogh. The partnership underscores the importance of integrating clinical practice with academic research to enhance mental health services. The results from the study, which resulted in two peer review publications, demonstrates that remote inpatient care can be both effective and well-received by service users.
Additionally, I contributed to a reflective narrative titled "Finding my Hard Hat" offering insights from both service user and professional perspectives, This reflective piece chronicles former service user Gary Kiernan's journey through mental health difficulties, providing insights from his dual perspective as both a social worker and a service user.
Throughout my research career, I have actively contributed to the dissemination of findings through numerous conference presentations, posters and oral talks. These presentations have covered a range of topics including mental health interventions, service delivery improvements and patient outcomes, I have presented at national and international conferences where I have shared insights from my projects on digital transformation, mental health services, nurse leadership and service user outcomes.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I am engaged in a descriptive paper on our virtual reality pilot in SPMHS. This has been accepted by the British Journal of Healthcare Management and is pending publication. In addition to this, one of my ongoing initiatives involves a paper with our Clinical Skills Facilitator, Mary Corngan, looking at mental health nurses knowledge base of medical care interventions, This is also pending publication with the British Journal of Mental Health Nursing.
What do you see as a priority for mental health research over the next five years?
I believe that priorities should include developing scalable, accessible interventions, particularly digital and remote therapies and addressing disparities in mental healthcare. Additionally, integrating mental health services within broader healthcare systems and focusing on early intervention and prevention, especially in children, will be crucial to reduce the long-term impact of mental health difficulties.
Any tips for SPMHS staff wishing to engage in research projects?
Start by identifying clear, clinically relevant questions Building collaborations with academic and research
Institutions can provide valuable support and resources. Staff should seek training in research methods and ethics and consider participating in existing projects to gain experience. Engaging with patients and service users in the design process can also enhance the relevance and impact of your research. Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help in research. There are no stupid questions and there is plenty of resources to learn and start your research journey.
