Jackie Briskman

I have spent over 25 years as a researcher and trial coordinator on projects investigating psychopathology in children, adolescents and young adults, and interventions for conduct disorders. I joined the Tavistock & Portman in July 2021 to work on the Personalised Programmes for Children (PPC) study, an RCT comparing treatments for children with severe behaviour problems whose parents had not found group-focused approaches helpful.

I began my research career at the Medical Research Council, investigating the extended phenotype of autism. I continued this work at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, also working on twin studies and outcomes for children in inpatient care across the UK. I conducted a follow-up study of co-morbidities in young adults with autism.

My interests moved to parenting interventions when I became part of Professor Stephen Scott’s research group at the Institute of Psychiatry where I worked on a project investigating attachment relationships in fostered children. This group expanded into “The Parenting Academy” where I worked across several projects establishing an evidence base for a wide variety of group and individual approaches.

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to apply my experience to the PPC study at the Tavistock & Portman, which offers novel alternative treatments to families for whom current approaches have not been helpful.