Adrian Wells

Biography

Adrian Wells' research interests are in the areas of cognitive theory and therapy, emotional disorders and metacognitive therapy. He has contributed to an understanding of mechanisms underlying general vulnerability to disorder, and the development of new treatments for social anxiety disorder, generalised anxiety, trauma reactions, and obsessions. His book: Attention and Emotion: A Clinical Perspective (co-authored with G. Matthews) was awarded the 1998 British Psychological Society Book Award for significant contributions to psychology. His book: "Cognitive Therapy of Anxiety Disorders: A Practice Manual and Conceptual Guide" has become a benchmark therapists’ text. More recently his work has focused on understanding the cognitive mechanisms in disorder maintenance and change, which has given rise to a new form of therapy based on principles of metacognition. This work is described in his book "Emotional Disorders & Metacognition: Innovative Cognitive Therapy. Chichester, UK: Wiley. Adrian Wells is the originator of Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) which is undergoing evaluation in controlled trials.  MCT for Generalized Anxiety has recently been included in NHS NICE guidelines. Professor Wells is author of the treatment manual: Metacognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression (2009); New York, Guilford Press.

Qualifications

B.Sc (Hons) Aston University
Ph.D Aston University
M.Sc. Clinical Psychology. Leeds University
Diploma in Cognitive Therapy, University of Pennsylvania