Debbie Robson MSc, PhD

Debbie’s current role involves the development, implementation, and evaluation of tobacco dependence treatment initiatives for people with mental health conditions and/or use substances and training interventions for staff who work in these services.

Debbie joined the IoPPN in 2002 having previously worked as a community mental health nurse. Earlier research and teaching activities included evaluating medication management interventions for staff and service users, and improving the physical health and well-being of people with psychosis. Debbie completed her MSc and Ph.D. in Health Service and Population Research at King’s. Her Ph.D. thesis was a mixed methods study of the development and evaluation of a smoking cessation intervention for people with schizophrenia.

She developed a bespoke e-learning course on tobacco dependence treatment in mental health settings, in collaboration with South London and Maudsley (SLAM). The course has been completed by over 1000 staff and is currently being redesigned and updated in line with the current evidence base.

Debbie is a member of NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London and leads a program of research about evaluating tobacco dependence treatment pathways in local acute and mental health services.

She is also a member of SPECTRUM, a multi-university, multi-agency research consortium focused on the commercial determinants of health and health inequalities.