A big thank you to our Members for supporting the OPSYRIS 2020 Virtual Meeting – from your enthusiastic response to the idea, through spreading the word about the event among colleagues, to attending the webinar. Our disappointment with cancelling the annual face-to-face conference was rewarded manifold by what turned out to be the biggest meeting in OPSYRIS history, bringing together speakers and attendees from all over the world.
For those of you who missed part of the webinar, were not able to join us at all, or would just like to re-watch their favourite talks – we have some great news! The recording from the meeting is now available to watch here: https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/rec/share/SVvo06YB71EDiI7CMqoLgpv4D8edv1WB68XrzlqhuL0EIAbod7igIdJpl2cyREDk.gfY7cPorqZYBruVY?startTime=1600415968000 Presented talks certainly sparked a lot of interest, reflected in an impressive number of questions for our speakers. If you were disappointed that not all could be answered on the day or felt that the busy chat was tricky to follow, many of the details will be added to the website.
Sadly OPSYRIS chair Terry and the existing team at Glasgow, Bogna and Satu, who have served their roles so well will be passing on their positions. However, we can look forward to Nele and the Oxford team taking on their new roles. In his last regular newsletter for OPSYRIS Terry left the message below:
Message from OPSYRIS Chair
Hi everyone.
This is the last OPSYRIS Newsletter from the Glasgow team. Although its only a few weeks since our conference, we already have loads to share with you – see below.
On a personal note, I want to thank everyone who has helped build up the OPSYRIS membership and generally raise the profile of the psychological issues in stroke. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I think the OPSYRIS family can be proud of what we have achieved so far. You will see from the Stroke Association report that we are entering challenging times for stroke and for research. Let’s continue to look out for each other and if OPSYRIS can help in anyway let us know.
My final words have to be a massive thank you to our secretary and treasurer Bogna and Satu, without their input our meetings, newsletters, prizes would not have happened.
I am off to sit in a dark room and recover from the stress of running a live zoom meeting – Nele and team Oxford, its over to you!
While sadly we will have to wait another year for the OPSYRIS meeting in Norwich, we can look ahead to the upcoming virtual meeting which should be coming very soon on Friday the 18th of September.
The next OPSYRIS meeting shall be held virtually on Friday 18 September
Many things will of course be different. Apart from being online and physically distant, the meeting will be shorter than those in the past, for half a day 9:30-12:30 (BST). Given the shorter time and online nature of the meeting, presentations shall be in a different format, those of 3-5 minute online videos. On the plus side participation will be free, see the Eventbrite site to register for the event. Also no travel needs to be arranged and it may make sharing of work presented easier. We hope to share video submissions from an online hub with details on this site soon.
The date for abstract submission is passed, but we have already received interesting submissions. Indeed, we are delighted to announce two exciting keynotes from our Australian colleagues, on topics highly relevant to current circumstances. Dr. Dana Wong ,Clinical Neuropsychologist and Senior Lecturer at La Trobe University shall present Remote Assessment and Intervention Delivery in Psychological Stroke Care while Dr. Rene Stolwyk, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Senior Lecturer, Monash University hopes to present Embracing Technology in Cognitive Rehabilitation Post-Stroke: Using Telehealth and Smartphones.
The primary focus will be on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stroke care and research, and overcoming associated challenges. On this theme we will particularly look at remote patient assessments and interventions, resources for people living with stroke, staff training and support of staff well-being. However, we do not want to overlook the valuable contributions of recently completed and ongoing projects in other areas and look forward to a wide range of relevant topics covered.
It is with regret, but with safety in mind, that the meeting at the Universty of East Anglia, Norwich, originally planned for 18th September, will not be running this year.
Norfolk, with its historic buildings, canal lined streets in the idyllic Norfolk, is the host city of the OPSYRIS 2021 meeting
However, we are delighted that the host, Dr Stephanie Rossit, welcomes us to Norwich for Autumn next year. As always, we look forward to a variety of oral and poster presentation. While it might be a year away, it might be good time to consider what work you would like to submit. It is also time to consider candidates for our rising star award.
The University of East Anglia, with its distinctdistinctive zigurat buildings and spacious grounds, where the OPSYRIS 2021 meeting shall be held
Remember that thankfully there will still be a meeting, allbeit a virtual one, planned for this year, and it is coming soon. The virtual meeting should take place on the 18th of September. Look forward to seeing many of you then.
After the highly successful 2018 OPSYRIS meeting in Glasgow, the next host was the highly prestigious University of Oxford. The meeting took place in Saint Anne’s College on Friday the 4th of October.
Saint Anne’s College, Oxford was the location for the 2019 OPSYRIS meeting
A highlights of the meeting was the talk from keynote speaker Professor Sarah Pendlebury from the host University renowned for her work on clinical neuroscience, geratology and stroke prevention.
Kenote speaker, Oxford University’s Sarah Pendlebury, discusses the risk of dementia after stroke
As with previous OPSYRIS meetings, talks covered a broad range of topics. These included cognitive screening, spacial memory after stroke, prioritising actions for post stroke survivors, screening for visual perception deficits, brain network degeneration, support for carers of stroke survivors, psychoeducation, post-stroke insomnia, reading impairments, rehabilitation and befriending for people with aphasia, ocupational therapy and several others.
One of several interesting “quick-fire” talks whose brevity allow for a wide range of topics to be covered
As with oral presentations, posters covered a wide range of topics. These included rehabilitation tools and strategies for discharged stroke victims, aceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for psychological distress after stroke, feasibility and pilot testing, depression in caregivers, returning to work after stroke, spatial neglect, the effect of brain training on blood flow, associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and cognitive function among others. Several researchers from the host university contributed as well as those from Imperial College and King’s College, Glasgow, Cardiff, Lancaster, Manchester, Nottingham, Aga Khan (Pakistan) and East Anglia Universities.
Poster presentations provided an equally impressive range of topics
On what is becoming a highlight of OPSYRIS meetings, the rising star prize was this time nominated by OPSYRIS members. It was awarded to Dr Niamh Merriman from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). She has made important contributions on interventions improving the outcomes of patients with post stroke cognitive impairment.
Rising star Dr. Niamh Merriman receives her award fom Dr. Satu Baylan
Another feature making a welcome return from last year was the “how to…” sessions. This year they focussed on Patient, Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) and prioritisation of Cochrane reviews. Following feedback from last years meeting, we also added sessions on implemented innovation in clinical service.
How to session on prioritising research giving valuable advice to researchers
After the meeting, OPSYRIS members looked forward to the next meeting due to be held at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Until then, many of the speakers have thankfully shared their work and can be found on the shared drive for the Oxford 2019 OPSYRIS meeting.
On Friday 5th of October 2018, OPSYRIS hosted their anual UK meeting in the historic and scenic University of Glasgow.
The University of Glasgow hosted the 2018 OPSYRIS annual meeting
There were a wide range of topics presented. These included depression treatment, post stroke anxiety, using home based tools for assessment and setting up a specialist stroke psychology clinic.
Presentations, oral and poster, covered a wide range of research topics
Speakers came from every corner of the country including those from the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, East Anglia, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Nottingham and several from the host city.
One of several useful talks during the meeting
Among those presenting were keynote speaker Dr. Shirley Thomas from the University of Nottingham discussing the BEADS trial looking at behavioural activation for post-stroke depression. The rising star award this year was won by Dr. Yvonne Chun at the University of Edinburgh who has contributed valuable work on anxiety after stroke.
Rising Star Dr. Yvonne Chun and keynote speaker Professor Shirley Thomas show awards at Glasgow OPSYRIS conference for psychological research into stroke
A welcome addition was a “how to” section with experts giving advice on getting published, gaining grant funding and combining research with a clinical post. To this end invited speaker Dr Alan Carson, Associate Editor of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry presented on getting published.
“How to…” sessions provided valuable information for researchers and practioners including getting funding, setting up a clinic and combining research and clinical work
The meeting was praised for creating a friendly and open environment for presenting work, asking questions, discussions and networking that participants found enjoyable, inspiring, informative and applicable to their practice and research.
Participants of the OPSYRIS meet up in “The Friendly City” of Glasgow
However, it was the first OPSYRIS meeting arranged by the current team and much valuable feedback was taken post event and used for future events. There was much aniticipation for the next UK event at Oxford in 2019.
OPSYRIS Chair Dr. Terry Quinn closes the meeting in Glasgow 2018 as participants look forward to the following meeting in Oxford 2019
