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Biography
Dr Eirini Kontou is a clinical academic clinical psychologist who holds appointments at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and at the University of Nottingham. She is currently a part-time Senior Research Fellow based at the School of Medicine. She has recently been awarded the NIHR Development Skills & Enhancement award to develop her expertise in developing and evaluating complex interventions in clinical trials.
Dr Kontou achieved her BA (hons) in Psychology from the American College of Greece. She obtained her MSc in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Nottingham and then she received a training research bursary from the Stroke Association to undertake her PhD on the impact of communication problems on post-stroke depression. She qualified in clinical psychology in September 2012 from the University of Sheffield (DClinPsy) and she returned back to the university to work as a part-time researcher. As a qualified clinical psychologist, she has worked in health psychology and stroke rehabilitation. She has successfully completed a prestigious Stroke Association Postdoctoral Fellowship to develop an intervention that offers educational, psychological and social support for people after TIA and minor stroke. Eirini is interested in the development, delivery and evaluation of psychological interventions in the context of rehabilitation and physical health.
Expertise Summary
Depression and communication problems after stroke, psychological adjustment interventions for people with multiple sclerosis and other long-term physical health problems, assessing fitness to drive in neurological conditions.
Dr Kontou's has a long-standing interest in stroke rehabilitation and in psychosocial difficulties following physical health conditions.
Teaching Summary
Teaching on the MSc Rehabilitation Psychology and Health Psychology courses.
Research Summary
Optimising Psychoeducation for Transient Ischaemic Attack and Minor Stroke Management (OPTIMISM). 2015-2018. Kontou E. (CI) et al. Funded by a Stroke Association Postdoctoral Fellowship.… read more
Recent Publications
WALKER, M.F., BIRCHALL, S., COBLEY, C., CONDON, L., FISHER, R., FLETCHER-SMITH, J., GOLDING-DAY, M.R., GREENSMITH, C., KONTOU, E., MATIAS, O., SPRIGG, N., THOMAS, S.A. and WHITEHEAD, P.J., 2020. Biopsychosocial Intervention for Stroke Carers (BISC): Results of a Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial and Nested Qualitative Interview Study. Clinical Rehabilitation. 34(10), 1268-1281 KNAPP P, DUNN-ROBERTS A, SAHIB N, COOK L, ASTIN F, KONTOU E and THOMAS SA, 2020. Frequency of anxiety after stroke: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society. 15(3), 244-255 CONDON, L., BENFORD, P., KONTOU, E., THOMAS, S. and WALKER, M., 2019. The use of carer perspectives and expert consensus to define key components of a biopsychosocial support intervention for stroke carers. Topics in stroke rehabilitation. 26(6), 440-447