Christine Dancey studied undergraduate psychology between 1980 and 1983 at Goldsmiths College London. Christine worked as a part-time tutor at Goldsmiths before studying for her PhD (1986–1990). In 1990 she took up a lectureship at UEL, teaching general psychology and research methods. Christine is a chartered health psychologist and chartered scientist.

Professor Christine Dancey and her chronic illness research team are working with sufferers and health professionals to elucidate the myriad of psychosocial factors, and the relationships between them, which are involved in chronic illness, especially those in which the cause of the illness is unclear. A major focus of the team’s research is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which eighteen years ago, when Professor Dancey’s research in chronic illness began, was largely unknown, even among health professionals.

In 1991, Professor Dancey co-founded the IBS Network, a national charity which provides information and support to people who suffer from this condition. This initiative, together with her four books and numerous publications in the area, have helped raise the profile of invisible chronic illness in general, and IBS in particular, allowing access to information and advice for thousands of people who previously tended to suffer in silence. Her studies have clarified the role of stress, stigma, attitudes, illness-related knowledge, gender and other psychosocial variables in chronic illness. By collaborative research and wide dissemination, the team hopes to help people with chronic illness to understand their illness, allowing them ultimately to take control of their condition, thereby improving their quality of life. Recently, Christine and her team have studied cognitive factors and memory problems in Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBD), CFS, IBS, Epilepsy and Ménières Disease.

• Health psychology:
  • Psychosocial and neuropsychological factors involved in invisible chronic illness

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

1. Attree, E.A., Pope, A., & Dancey, C.P. (2009). An assessment of prospective memory retrieval in chronic fatigue syndrome using a virtual-reality assessment environment: an initial study. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 12(4), 379–385. doi:10.1089/cpb.2009.0002
2. Dancey, C.P., Attree, E.A., Stuart, G., Wilson, C., & Sonnet, A. (2009). Words fail me: the verbal IQ deficit in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 15(6), 852–857. doi:10.1002/ibd.20837
3. Dancey, C.P., Stenner, P., Attree, E.A., Coogan, J., Kovács, Á., & Bàrdos, G. (2009). Irritable bowel syndrome Hungary: How do patients view their illness? Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal, 3(3), 487–498. doi:10.1556/CEMED.3.2009.3.10
4. Goudsmit, E.M., Ho-Yen, D.O., & Dancey, C.P. (2009). Learning to cope with chronic illness: Efficacy of a multidimensional treatment for people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Patient Education and Counselling, 77, 231–236. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2009.05.015
5. Goudsmit, E.M., Shepherd, C., Dancey, C.P., & Howes, S. (2009). ME: Chronic fatigue syndrome or a distinct clinical entity? Health Psychology Update, 18(1), 26–33.
6. Dancey, C.P., & Friend, J. (2008). Symptoms, impairment and illness intrusiveness — their relationship with depression in women with CFS/ME. Psychology & Health, 1–17.
7. Gerson, C.D., Gerson, M.-J., Awad, R.A., Chowdhury, A., Dancey, C., Poitras, P., et al. (2008). Irritable bowel syndrome: an international study of symptoms in eight countries. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 20, 659–667. doi:10.1097/MEG.0b013e3282f53a24

Non-peer-reviewed Journal Articles

1. Dancey, C.P., Attree, E.A., Smith, S., & James, T. (2010). Factors contributing to depression in Ménière’s Disease. SPIN, 73, 14–15.
2. Dancey, C.P., & Attree, E.A. (2008). Research findings: forget all your cares and woes. Gut Reaction, 69, 9.

Invited Talks

1. Dancey, C.P. (2009). The psychosocial and neurological aspects of chronic illness, Invited talk at a Conference series at NHS Trust. West Ealing Hospital.

Conference Papers

1. Dancey, C.P., Attree, E.A., Painter, J., & McLean, G. (2010). Real benefits of a Second Life: development of a virtual conference centre and evaluation of academic tutorials within SL. Paper presented at the PLAT conference, University of East London.
2. Mulvey, M.R., Dancey, C.P., & McLean, G. (2010). Enhancing employability: a serious game for improving the career skills of psychology undergraduates. Paper presented at the PLAT conference, University of East London.

Poster Sessions

1. Arroll, M., Dancey, C.P., & Attree, E.A. (2010, 2 September). Daily worries in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Poster session presented at the 24th European Health Psychology Society conference, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Grants

1. 2004–2005 ESRC: The effects of perseverative negative thinking on cognitive performance. £32,000. Dancey, Attree and Stuart.
2. 2004–2005: Double-blind placebo control study investigating physiological and psychological benefits of nutritional supplement in people with IBS. £30,000. Wyreside Products Ltd. Dancey and Attree.

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

1. Dancey, C.P., Attree, E.A., & Brown, K.F. (2006). Nucleotide supplementation: a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial of IntestAidIB in people with irritable bowel syndrome [ISRCTN67764449]. Nutrition Journal. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-5-16
2. Gerson, M.-J., Gerson, C.D., Awad, R.A., Dancey, C.P., Poitras, P., Porcelli, P., et al. (2006). An international study of irritable bowel syndrome: family relationships and mind-body attributions. Social Sciences & Medicine, 62, 2838–2847. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.019
3. Coogan, J., Dancey, C.P., & Attree, E.A. (2005). UELPlus: a useful support tool for psychology undergraduates — a Q methodological study. Psychology Learning & Teaching, 5, 61–66.
4. Gerson, C., Gerson, M.J., Awad, R., Chowdhury, A., Dancey, C., Poitras, P., et al. (2004). A global survey of irritable bowel syndrome: a mind-body perspective. Gastroenterology, 126(4), A88-A89 Suppl 2.
5. Attree, E.A., Dancey, C.P., Keeling, D., & Wilson, C. (2003). Cognitive function in people with chronic illness: inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Applied Neuropsychology.
6. Dancey, C.P., Hutton-Young, S., Moyes, S., & Devins, G. (2002). The relationship among perceived stigma, illness intrusiveness and quality of life in men and women with irritable bowel syndrome IBS. Psychology, Health & Medicine. doi:10.1080/1354850021000015203
7. Vitkovitch, M., Bishop, S., Dancey, C.P., & Richards, A. (2002). Stroop interference and negative priming in MS. Neuropsychologia, 40, 1570–1576. doi:10.1016/S0028-3932(02)00022-2
8. Stenner, P., Dancey, C.P., & Watts, S. (2000). The understanding of their illness amongst people with irritable bowel syndrome: a Q methodological study. Social Science & Medicine, 51(3), 439–452. doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00475-X
9. Dancey, C.P., Fox, R.J., & Devins, G.M. (1999). The measurement of IBS-related misconceptions in people with irritable bowel syndrome. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 47(3), 269–276. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(99)00039-2
10. Dancey, C.P., & Fox, R.J. (1998). Irritable bowel syndrome — a neglected area? Health Psychology Update, 33, 19–22.
11. Dancey, C.P., Taghavi, M., & Fox, R. (1998). The relationship between hassles and symptoms of irritable bowel: a time-series approach. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 44(5), 537–545. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(97)00255-9
12. Letson, S., & Dancey, C.P. (1996). Nurses’ perceptions of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and sufferers of IBS. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 23, 969–974. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.1996.10416.x
13. Thomson, S., & Dancey, C.P. (1996). Symptoms of irritable bowel in school children: prevalence and psychosocial effects. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 10(6), 281–285. doi:10.1016/S0891-5245(96)90054-1

Non-peer-reviewed Journal Articles

1. Painter, J., & Dancey, C.P. (2001). Statistical significance: the use of effect sizes in psychology. Psychology Teaching Review.
2. Dancey, C.P., & Stenner, R. (2000). IBS — One voice or many? Gut Reaction, 37, 4–5.
3. Dancey, C.P., May, C.P., & Winterflood, S. (1998). The benefits of counselling and self help in easing IBS. Gut Reaction, 31, 4–5.
4. Dancey, C.P. (1997). Self-help groups: the remedy that lies within our own reach. Gut Reaction; The Journal of the IBS Network, 24(January), 10–11.
5. Dancey, C.P., & Steeden, M. (1997). Misdiagnosing women: a case of mistaken identity of gender stereotyping. Endolink, 3, 13.
6. Dancey, C.P. (1996). What do patients really want? Medical Interface, 3, 24–25.

Books

1. Dancey, C.P., & Reidy, J.G. (2007). Statistics without maths for psychologists (4th ed.): Prentice Hall.
2. Dancey, C.P., & Rutter, C. (2004). Take control — insights into irritable bowel syndrome. TFM Publishing.
3. Dancey, C.P., & Backhouse, S. (1997). IBS A complete guide to relief from irritable bowel syndrome.

Book Chapters

1. Coogan, J., Dancey, C.P., Attree, E.A., Burton, E., & Cahill, S. (2007). A study into teachers’ views on mathematics in the UK using a Q methodological approach. In Marina-Stefania Giannakaki (Ed.), The teacher and the teaching profession: current research and international issues: Atiner.
2. Dancey, C.P., & Steeden, M. (1997). Misdiagnosing endometriosis as IBS. In C.P. Dancey & S. Backhouse (Eds.), IBS: a complete guide to relief from irritable bowel syndrome.
3. Dancey, C.P., Fox, R., & Rutter, C. (1997). IBS in children and teenagers. In C.P. Dancey & S. Backhouse (Eds.), IBS: a complete guide to relief from irritable bowel syndrome.

Invited Talks

1. Dancey, C.P., & Attree, E.A. (2007). Does nucleotide supplementation help people with IBS?, First meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board to Wyreside.
2. Dancey, C.P., & Attree, E.A. (2006). Nucleotide supplementation: does it help people with IBS? Royal London College Hospital.

Conference Papers

1. Dancey, C.P., & Painter, J. (2005). Teaching and supporting large groups of very diverse students at level 1. Further statistics and research methodology teaching. Paper presented at the Higher Education Academy Psychology Network, London.
2. Dancey, C.P., & Attree, E.A. (2005). Treating people with IBS: a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial of IntestAidIB in people with irritable bowel syndrome. Paper presented at the camexpo exhibition, Excel, London.
3. Dancey, C.P., Attree, E.A., & Brown, K.F. (2005). The use of an RNA dietary nucleotide supplement in the alleviation of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Paper presented at the Health & Nutrition conference, Excel, London.
4. Kovacs, A., Dancey, C., & Attree, E. (2005). IBS and left-handedness. Paper presented at the “Bowel Diseases” symposium, 47th General Meeting of the Hungarian Gastroenterology Society, Balatonaliga, Hungary.
5. Coogan, J., Attree, E.A., & Dancey, C.P. (2004). UELPlus: a useful support tool for psychology undergraduates — a Q methodological study. Paper presented at the PLAT conference, York.
6. Gerson, C., Gerson, M., Awad, R., Chowdhury, A., Dancey, C.P., Poitras, P., et al. (2004). Psychosocial issues in IBS. Paper presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.

• Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Member of the Division of Health Psychology, BPS
• Member of the Division of Teachers and Researchers in Psychology, BPS
• Member of the Division of Social Psychology, BPS
• Member of Psychology of Women and Social Psychology subsections, BPS
• Member of European Health Psychology Society
• Fellow of Higher Education Academy
• Member of British & Eastern European Psychology Group
• Member of Functional Bowel Disorders Group

1. Attree, E.A., Dancey, C.P., Keeling, D., & Wilson, C. (2003). Cognitive function in people with chronic illness: Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

   Recent research has shown that people with chronic illnesses often experience cognitive deficits, such deficits may be specific to a particular type of illness, reflecting the disease process itself, or they may be deficits that are common across a number of chronic illnesses. Our study investigated whether people with an organic disease (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) show cognitive dysfunction relative to the control group and people with a functional illness (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and if so, to elucidate the mechanisms by which such dysfunction occurs. A quasi-experimental design using three groups of participants provided scores on IQ, memory, and cognitive flexibility. Differences in absolute scores were slight. However, a noticeable interaction effect was found between group and IQ: The illness groups showed a deficit in verbal IQ relative to both their own performance IQ and to that of the control group’s verbal IQ. This verbal deficit cannot be explained by depression, cognitive load, or medication.

2. Stenner, P.H.D., Dancey, C.P., & Watts, S. (2000). The understanding of their illness amongst people with irritable bowel syndrome: a Q methodological study. Social Science & Medicine. 51 (3) 439–452.

   Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) refers to a collection of gastrointestinal symptoms which affect up to 22% of the Western population. Although the disorder costs the British National Health Service and employers vast sums of money in terms of repeated physician visits, medications, and loss of productivity, the cause or causes of IBS are still unknown, and there is no cure which is lastingly effective. Since IBS is not life-threatening, and the symptoms can be hidden from others, many consider it a trivial disorder. For an individual with IBS, however, the uncertainty regarding cause, diagnosis and treatment may lead to anxiety and constant searching for causes, or to hopelessness and resignation. The present study aims to help clarify these problems by discovering how those who suffer from IBS understand the nature and causality of their own illness. Through use of Q methodology with a sample of 60 people with IBS, a taxonomy of 7 clear and distinct accounts is identified and described. These data (based on Q factor analysis) are described in qualitative detail and discussed in relation to the problem of improving communication with doctors, and untangling issues of responsibility for illness.

• Further Abstracts