Research and Teaching
I worked for several years in the department of psychology at Royal Holloway University, while completing my PhD under the supervision of Prof. Michael Eysenck. During my PhD I gained a wide range of experience in conducting cutting-edge psychology research, including advanced statistical methods in the analysis of questionnaire data, cognitive reaction-time experiments and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) research. My work during this time also helped form the cornerstone of a novel theoretical account of anxiety and cognitive performance which has been well-received and highly-cited (Eysenck, Derakshan, Santos & Calvo, 2007).
I stayed at Royal Holloway for a post-doctoral research position (working with Prof. Tamar Pincus), and finally as a lecturer. I lectured on ‘Research Methods’, ‘Adult Problems’ (e.g. mood and anxiety disorders, sexual disorders) and the ‘Criminal and Forensic Psychology’ course, for which I was the course coordinator, and also devised the structure and content.
I also supervised final-year research projects and dissertations, and was a personal advisor and tutor for a substantial number of students. The feedback I received from students on my teaching was always overwhelmingly positive, and in 2009 I was honoured with an ‘Apple for the teacher’ Laurels award for outstanding achievement in teaching by the Royal Holloway Students’ Union.
Since 2011 I have worked for the London CBT training Centre (http://www.central-london-cbt.com/london-cbt-training-centre/) as a lecturer and supervisor for the post graduate diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy (http://www.central-london-cbt.com/courses/post-graduate-diploma-in-cognitive-behavioural-therapy-iapt-high-intensity), providing specialist training and supervision to mental health providers that are training to become CBT therapists.
I try to keep up with some research and academic writing and publish anxiety related material when possible.
My current list of published papers and book chapters is below:
2016 – Santos, R. Anna: A case study of Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia. In S. Corrie, M. Townend, & A. Cockx (Eds.), Assessment and Case Formulation in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (pp.93-108). London: Sage Publications.
2016 – Rusu, A.C., Santos, R., & Pincus, T. Pain-related distress and clinical depression in chronic pain: A comparison between two measures. Scandinavian Journal of Pain, 12, 62-67.
2012 – Pincus,T., Santos, R., & Vogel, S. The attitudes and beliefs of clinicians treating back pain: do they affect patient’s outcome?; In M. I. Hasenbring, A. C. Rusu, & D. C. Turk (Eds.), From Acute to Chronic Back Pain: Risk Factors, Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications (pp.405-415). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2008 – Pincus, T., Rusu, A., & Santos, R. Responsiveness and construct validity of the Depression, Anxiety and Positive Outlook Scale (DAPOS). Clinical Journal of Pain,24 (5): 431-7.
2008 – Pincus, T., Santos, R., Breen, A., Burton, A.K., & Underwood, M. A review and proposal for a core set of factors for prospective cohorts in low back pain: A consensus statement. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 59,14-24.
2007 – Pincus, T., Santos, R., & Morley, S. Depressed cognitions in chronic pain patients are focused on health: Evidence from a sentence completion task. Pain, 13, 84-92.
2007 – Eysenck M. W., Derakshan N., Santos R., & Calvo M. Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory. Emotion, 7(2), 336-353.
2007 – Pincus T., Foster N., Vogel S., Santos R., Breen A., & Underwood M. Attitudes to back pain amongst musculoskeletal practitioners: A comparison of professional groups and practice settings using the ABS-mp. Manual Therapy, 12, 167-175.
2006 – Pincus T., Vogel S., Burton A. K., Santos R., & Field A. P. Fear-avoidance and prognosis in back pain: A systematic review and synthesis of current evidence. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 54(12), 3999-4010.
2006 – Pincus T., Vogel S., Santos R., Breen A., Foster N., & Underwood M. The Attitudes to Back Pain Scale in musculoskeletal practitioners (ABS – mp); The development and testing of a new questionnaire. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 22(4), 378-386.
2006 – Eysenck M. W., Payne S. & Santos R. Anxiety and depression: past, present, and future events. Cognition and Emotion, 20(2), 274-294.
2000 – Baptista, A., Pereira, A., Carvalho, M., Lory, F. & Santos, R. Aprender a lidar com as dificuldades emocionais (Learning how to cope with emotional problems). O Centro de Aconselhamento para Estudantes. Revista de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Dossier de Psicologia, 4/5, 227-237.