The Brain Charity

Persistent pain

This study is a part of an Advanced Physiotherapy Masters at University College London. Through interviews, it aims to explore the following:

• The decision-making process of people with persistent pain (non-cancer related) who attend A&E for a pain flare up.
• Their experiences of the hospital services and the outcomes of the treatments offered
• Their recommendations for service enhancement

Participants will need to attend one online interview lasting about 30 to 45 minutes.

Inclusion criteria:

• Are over 18 years of age
• Have attended A&E in the UK to seek treatment for an episode of a flare up of persistent pain (non-cancer related) in the last 5 years
• Have been living with persistent pain for more than 3 months
• Can communicate in English and are able to provide written and verbal consent.

Spouses of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Are you the spouse or long-term partner of someone with a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Are you also raising dependent children at home? A postgraduate researcher at London South Bank University is looking to speak with partners about their experiences of balancing family life, parenting and caring responsibilities after a loved one’s brain injury.

Taking part involves one confidential interview lasting around 60–90 minutes, either online via Microsoft Teams or in person in the Ilford/Redbridge area. Participation is entirely voluntary, and you can withdraw your data up to 31 August 2026.

This important study aims to give a voice to the often-overlooked experiences of partners affected by traumatic brain injury and help improve support for families. If you’re interested in taking part or would like to find out more, please get in touch with the researcher below.

Young women with ADHD

This dissertation project, focuses on the experiences of young women with ADHD. As a young woman diagnosed with ADHD herself, the researcher is particularly interested in exploring the occupation of flirting, considering its form, function, and meaning for this group. Within occupational therapy, ‘occupation’ refers to meaningful and purposeful activities that individuals need, want, or are expected to do.

This project will examine how social expectations, stereotypes, norms, and interpersonal experiences may shape this occupation. It aims to amplify the voices of young women with ADHD and contribute to a greater understanding of a currently underexplored topic.

Inclusion criteria: Women aged 18-25 with ADHD.

The study will involve interviews, questionnaires, diaries, requiring a commitment of about two hours. Interviews will be held in person in Brighton or virtually via Zoom.

Mothers of teenagers diagnosed with ADHD

This research aims to gain a better understanding of how mothers who have or had teenagers diagnosed with ADHD experience parental burnout.

Participants will be asked to take part in an online one-to-one interview lasting approximately 60 minutes.

It is anticipated that the findings will help clinical psychologists and other health professionals provide more targeted support for mothers with children diagnosed with ADHD.

Eligibility criteria: mothers who have/had a teenager (aged 13-19) diagnosed with ADHD (self – reported) and identify with the definition of parental burnout which is as overwhelming exhaustion tied to parenting, emotional distancing from children, and persistent feelings of ineffectiveness (Mikolajczak et al., 2019).

This study is important because there is a lack of research exploring mothers’ experience of parental distress when parenting a child with a neurodivergent condition.

Participants will receive £20 shopping voucher for their time.

To take part, please email the main contact below.

Aphasia

A team of independent researchers is looking to understand how people with aphasia after stroke process and understand speech.

Aphasia can make it harder to understand or use words. This isn’t about intelligence — it’s about how the brain processes speech, which is actually very complex.

The researchers have already learned more about how the brain supports speech understanding. Now, they want to explore whether gentle brain stimulation can help improve this, making listening easier and clearer.

You may be able to take part if you:

Have aphasia after a stroke
Are able to walk independently
Can speak, but sometimes find that words come out with mixed-up sounds

You would:

Take part in some language and thinking assessments (online or in person)
Attend two sessions at University College London for the brain stimulation part of the study.

All expenses will be paid (including travel and hotels if necessary).

Time commitment is around 6 hours in total. This will be spread across sessions in a way that works for you.

You’ll also receive a shopping voucher as a thank you for your time.

If you’d like to find out more or take part, please email the research team or express your interest here: https://redcap.idhs.ucl.ac.uk/surveys/?s=8J9RMCY333WRPD8L

Cerebral palsy

This study aims to explore the experiences of adults with cerebral palsy regarding pain assessment, communication, and recognition during hospital admissions.

It seeks to understand how pain is identified and managed from the patient perspective, particularly where communication difficulties or misinterpretation of symptoms may impact care. By addressing this gap in evidence, the findings will inform improvements in hospital pain assessment practices and contribute to more inclusive, person-centred care.

Inclusion criteria: Aged 18 years or older, confirmed diagnosis of cerebral palsy, experience of admission to an adult hospital (UK), willing and able to discuss experiences of pain and hospital care.

Participants will be asked to discuss their experiences of pain, how it was communicated and assessed in hospital, and what could have improved their care. Basic demographic information will also be collected.

Participation will involve one online interview lasting approximately one hour.

Parents of children with cerebral palsy

This is a research project exploring the use of Kinesio taping interventions for children with cerebral palsy.

The aim of the study is to understand how Kinesio taping is currently being used as a therapeutic intervention and the impact this intervention has on children’s participation in daily activities and play when applied to their upper limb.

Inclusion Criteria: Parents of children with a diagnosis of CP with one or both upper limbs affected. Their child must have been under the age of 18 when the KT was applied. Parents must be able to speak English to participate in the interviews. Access to a phone or device with internet connection.

Exclusion Criteria: Participants will be excluded if they are unable to access Microsoft Teams to complete the interview either by phoning into teams or by connecting on the internet.

Time requirement is 30 – 60 minutes for an online interview via Microsoft Teams.

Informal caregivers of stroke survivors

This research project aims to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of informal carers of stroke survivors, particularly their emotional responses.

Carers sometimes report feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and/or isolated. The research hopes to explore and understand this in relation to caring for a stroke survivor.

The research seeks to raise awareness of the unique experiences of caregivers for stroke survivors and the impact this has on their lives, an area that has received limited research attention. By highlighting any emotional difficulties faced, the research aims to encourage more support for carers of a stroke survivor.

You can take part if you:

• are aged 18 or over
• care for or support someone who has had a stroke
• are not paid for your caring role

The research will take place online via MS Teams and takes 60-90 minutes.

Participants will receive a £20 Love2shop voucher after taking part as a thank you for their time.

If you’d like to find out more or take part, please email the research team at the address below.

Right hemisphere stroke or auditory processing disorder (APD)

This study will explore speech responses after stroke affecting the right side of the brain and compare this to stroke affecting the left side of the brain so that we can better understand the causes of difficulties and how treatments should differ.

You may be able to take part if you have had a stroke in the right side of the brain that did not affect walking and talking.

Anyone with symptoms or a diagnosis of auditory processing disorder after right side stroke may be eligible.

Participants will do language, speech listening and cognitive assessments – usually over zoom.

They will also do an experiment using EEG where we record brain activity is recorded, either at home or at University College London.

Time commitment is around 6 hours, but this will depend on the participant. Sessions can be split into smaller parts to suit you, with breaks as needed.

All expenses are paid (including travel and hotels if necessary) and a shopping voucher as a thank you for your time.

If you’d like to find out more or take part, please email the research team or express your interest here: https://redcap.idhs.ucl.ac.uk/surveys/?s=8J9RMCY333WRPD8L

ADHD

This research project aims to better understand the workplace experiences of adults with ADHD, particularly in relation to workplace stress, wellbeing and support needs.

By providing an opportunity for participants to share their experiences, the study seeks to contribute to a better understanding of how workplaces can offer more effective support, help manage stress at work, and promote more inclusive working environments.

To be eligible you must be a working adult aged 18 and over, UK based, who either has a formal ADHD diagnosis or self-identify as having ADHD.

Participants will take part in an online interview, lasting approximately one hour.

Please email to express your interest.

Acquired brain injury (ABI)

This research will focus on the positive ways people adapt to build or keep social connectedness. Tha aim is to understand how family members family members adapt socially after a family members ABI.

Requirements: must be 16 years and older; the family member’s ABI may have been sustained in their childhood or adulthood; Family member must have been discharged from hospital at least 6 months prior to the interview.

Participants will be asked to complete a 60-minute interview. There is a £10 thank you for participation.

Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/aWaM632KTy

Unpaid carers

Researchers at Lancaster University are seeking unpaid carers of people with neurological conditions to take part in a study exploring whether a self‑compassion app can support carers’ mental wellbeing.

Participants will be asked to use the app over a six‑week period, complete short wellbeing and compassion questionnaires before and after, and take part in a one‑hour interview (or email exchange if preferred) about their experiences.

The app includes 28 brief sessions designed to help users respond more kindly to their own distress. Taking part involves approximately 30–45 minutes for questionnaires, up to 4–5 hours of optional app content, and a one‑hour interview. Regular check‑ins will be provided throughout the study, and a distress protocol will be followed if needed.

Eligibility criteria. Inclusion: Able to use apps/emails, comfortable reading and speaking in English.

Exclusion: Caring for someone with a non-neurological condition (e.g. neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD/Autism), caring for someone under the age of 18, carers currently receiving psychological therapy, currently experiencing suicidal thoughts/self-harm/psychosis, or currently misusing drugs/alcohol.