Elspeth Bradley

Elspeth Bradley as psychotherapist, psychiatrist, teacher and researcher has worked with people with intellectual disabilities over the past 30 years in Canada and in the United Kingdom.

She completed her Psychology degree at Queens University Belfast, UK; Doctorate studies in neurobiology and behaviour at University College London, UK and Stazione Zoologica, Naples, Italy; Medical degree at University College Hospital Medical School, London, UK; General psychiatry training and senior registrar training in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Maudsley and Bethlem Royal Hospitals and Institute of Psychiatry; Intellectual disabilities psychiatry training at St Georges Hospital Medical School (SGHMS), London, UK; Psychotherapy academic training at the Institute for the Advancement of Self Psychology, Toronto, Canada.

Academic appointments have included Research Assistant, Department of Anatomy, University College London, and Senior Lecturer SGHMS, London University; Associate Professor at McMaster University and at the University of Toronto, Canada.

Clinical appointments have included National Health Service (NHS) Consultant Psychiatrist in Mental Handicap, Normansfield Hospital and Richmond and Twickenham Learning Disability Community Teams; Consultant Sybil Elgar School (for autism); NHS Consultant Lead in Learning Disabilities, Cornwall Partnership Trust, UK; Director Dual Diagnosis Program Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital, Ontario; Consultant, Community Area Resource Team (Dual Diagnosis), Hamilton, Ontario; Consultant Dual Diagnosis Program, Centre Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto; Consultant Psychiatrist Intellectual Disabilities, Children and Adult Mental Health Teams Surrey Place Centre.

Her clinical work, teaching and research have been nurtured by an enduring curiosity about the impact of developmental and other life circumstances on behaviour, self experience and self expression. Ongoing clinical work is focused on the lived experience of people with intellectual disabilities particularly as this pertains to mental health concerns.

Research Synopsis

Selected Publications

CLINICAL TEACHING AND GUIDELINES
• Bradley, E. Caldwell, P & Underwood, L (2014). Autism Spectrum Disorders. Chapter 16 in: Handbook of Psychopathology in Intellectual Disability; Research, Practice & Policy. Eds: Tsakanikos, E. & McCarthy, J. Springer. NY. 237-263.
• Sullivan, W. F., Berg, J. M., Bradley, E., Cheetham, T., Denton, R., Heng, J., Hennen, B., Joyce, D., Kelly, M., Korossy, M., Lunsky, Y., McMillan, S. (2011). Primary care of adults with developmental disabilities: Canadian consensus guidelines. Canadian Family Physician. May(57): 541-553.
• Bradley, E.A. & Hollins, S. (2010). Assessment of patients with intellectual disabilities. In Goldbloom, D. Psychiatric Clinical Skills, Revised 1st edition. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
• Deb, S, Kwok, H, Bertelli, M, Salvador-Carulla, L, Bradley, E, Torr, J, Barnhill, J., (2010). International guide to prescribing psychotropic medication for the management of problem behaviours in adults with intellectual disabilities. World Psychiatry Oct.8(3):181-6
• Bradley, E.A. & Lofchy, J. (2005). Assessment of psychiatric and/or behavioural disturbance in persons with learning disability in the A&E department. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 11: 45-57.

PSYCHOTHERAPY
• Bradley, E. & Hollins, S. (2013). Books Beyond Words: Using pictures to communicate. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 19(1), 24-32.
• Bradley, E., & Caldwell, P. (2013). Mental health and autism: Promoting Autism FaVourable Environments (PAVE). Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 19(1), 8-23.
• Bradley, E., Sinclair, L., & Greenbaum, R. (2012). Trauma and adolescents with intellectual disabilities: interprofessional clinical and service perspectives. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 5:33-46

RESEARCH
• Burke, L & Bradley, E (2013) Diversity in Ontario’s Youth and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Medical and Health Issues. Autism Advisor, 70, October, 1-3.
• Bradley, E.,Lunsky, Y., Palucka, A. & Homitidis, S. 2011. Recognition of intellectual disabilities and autism in psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities. Vol 5 (6): 4-18.
• Bradley, E., & Cheetham, T. (2010). The use of psychotropic medication for the management of problem behaviours in adults with intellectual disabilities living in Canada. Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities. 4(3): 12-26.

NIAGARA POPULATION BASED STUDY OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN TEENAGERS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND AUTISM (FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND, CANADA:

• Bradley, E., Ames, C & Bolton, P. (2011). Psychiatric conditions and behavioural problems in adolescents with intellectual disabilities: correlates with autism. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(2): 102-109.
• Bryson, S.E., Bradley, E.A., Thompson, A. & Wainwright, A. (2008). Prevalence of Autism among Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 53(7): 449-459.
• Bradley, E. & Bolton, P. (2006). Episodic psychiatric disorders in teenagers with learning disabilities with and without autism. British Journal of Psychiatry, 189: 361-6.
• Bradley, E. A. & Isaacs, B. J. (2006). Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in teenagers with intellectual disabilities, with and without autism. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 51(9): 598-606.
• Bradley, E.A., Summers, J. Wood. H. & Bryson, S. (2004). Comparing rates of psychiatric and behaviour disorder in adolescents and young adults with severe intellectual disability with and without autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34; 2: 151-161.
• Bradley, E.A., Thompson, A. & Bryson, S. (2002). Mental retardation in teenagers: Prevalence data from the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 47; 7: 427-434.

OTHER RESEARCH

• Lunsky, Y. & Bradley, E. A. (2001). Developmental disability training in Canadian psychiatry residency programs. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 46; 63-67.
• Bradley, E.A. & Udwin, O. (1989). Williams syndrome in adulthood – a case study focussing on psychological and psychiatric aspects. Journal of Mental Deficiency Research, 33: 175-184.
• Bradley, E.A. (1988). Preparing Medical Undergraduates for their increasing role with patients who also have a mental handicap – a retrospective study. Medical Teacher, 10: 283-288.
• Bradley, E.A. (1984). Olfactory acuity to a pheromonal substance and psychotic illness. Biological Psychiatry, 19: 6, 899-905.
• Bradley, E.A. & Messenger, J.B. (1977). Brightness preference in Octopus as a function of the background brightness. Marine Behaviour and Psychology, 4: 243-251.
• Bradley, E.A. & Young, J.Z. (1975). Comparison of visual and tactile learning in Octopus after lesions to one of the two memory systems. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 1: 185-295.
• Bradley, E.A. (1975). The relationship between conduction velocity and nerve fibre diameter in three species of cephalopod. “The Life of Mammals”, J.Z. Young, Oxford: Clarendon Press, p.147.
• Bradley, E.A. & J.Z. Young. (1975). Are there circadian rhythms in learning by Octopus? Behavioural Biology, 13: 40, 527-531.
• Bradley, E.A. (1974). Some observations of Octopus Joubini reared in an island aquarium. Journal of Zoology, London, 173: 355-368.