![Olivia Hughes BA, MSc, PhD, CPsychol, AFBPsS](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/6572?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
I'm a chartered psychologist (CPsychol) and researcher in the field of psychodermatology. My work has focused on the psychological impact of childhood skin conditions on families. I'm currently working on a project funded by DEBRA UK, led by Professor Andrew Thompson and Dr Faith Martin, developing a self-help toolkit to support the wellbeing of parents of children with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). To read more about the project, see our researchers' blog on the DEBRA UK website.
For more information about my research, please see the 'Research' and 'Publications' tabs.
Publication
2025
- Williams, K. et al. 2025. Risk of suicide and suicidality in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis: results from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR). Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 50(4), pp. 804-811. (10.1093/ced/llae449)
- Hill, C., Vasiliou, V. S., Sirois, F. M., Hughes, O. and Thompson, A. R. 2025. A meta-analysis of self-compassion and attachment in adults. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice (10.1111/papt.12590)
- Day, M., Heapy, C., Norman, P., Emerson, L., Murphy, R., Hughes, O. and Thompson, A. R. 2025. Impact of childhood psoriasis on children and parents during transition to adolescence: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. British Journal of Health Psychology 30(1), article number: e12763. (10.1111/bjhp.12763)
2024
- Hughes, O., Shelton, K. H., Penny, H. and Thompson, A. R. 2024. ‘Living in the present’ Mindfulness for parents of children with skin conditions: A single group case series. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (10.1017/S1352465824000341)
- Hughes, O., Shelton, K. H. and Thompson, A. 2024. Healthcare professionals’ views on psychological support for children and families affected by skin conditions in the UK: a qualitative study. Skin Health and Disease 4(4), article number: e376. (10.1002/ski2.376)
- Williams, K. et al. 2024. PS04 Suicide risk in patients with psoriasis: results from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR). British Journal of Dermatology 191(S.1), pp. i177-i177. (10.1093/bjd/ljae090.375)
- Hughes, O. and Thompson, A. R. 2024. Dealing with flares in skin conditions: how can we meet patient need?. British Journal of Dermatology 191(1), pp. 9-10., article number: ljae084. (10.1093/bjd/ljae084)
2023
- Arents, B. W. M., van Zuuren, E. J., Hughes, O., Fedorowicz, Z. and Flohr, C. 2023. The future is now: the Global Atopic Dermatitis Atlas (GADA). British Journal of Dermatology 189(6), pp. 761-763., article number: ljad286. (10.1093/bjd/ljad286)
- McGrath, B. M. and Hughes, O. 2023. The dermatology patient journey from initial consultation to diagnosis [Commentary]. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 37(S7), pp. 25-26. (10.1111/jdv.18987)
- Hughes, O. and Bewley, A. 2023. Is it really ever 'just acne'? Considering the psychodermatology of acne. British Journal of Dermatology 189(1), pp. i11-i16. (10.1093/bjd/ljad251)
- Hughes, O. 2023. Mindfulness-based online support for children and families affected by skin conditions. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Guckian, J., Hughes, O., Nikookam, Y., Nair, R., Brown, J., Bewley, A. and Latheef, F. 2023. Dermatologist perspectives on topical steroid withdrawal: distrust, disinformation and distance?. British Journal of Dermatology (10.1093/bjd/ljad113.355)
- Hughes, O., Shelton, K. H., Penny, H. and Thompson, A. R. 2023. Living with physical health conditions: a systematic review of mindfulness-based interventions for children, adolescents, and their parents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 48(4), pp. 396-413. (10.1093/jpepsy/jsad003)
- Hughes, O., Shelton, K. H., Penny, H. and Thompson, A. R. 2023. Parent and child experience of skin conditions: relevance for the provision of mindfulness-based interventions. British Journal of Dermatology 188(4), pp. 514-523. (10.1093/bjd/ljac129)
- Watkins, H., Hughes, O., Jones, L., Tate, L., Khela, M. M. and Hurrell, C. 2023. The use of inpatient goal planning in a regional burns centre: a thematic analysis of staff and patient experiences. Burns 49(1), pp. 100-109. (10.1016/j.burns.2022.02.013)
2022
- Hughes, O., Hutchings, P. B. and Phelps, C. 2022. Stigma, social appearance anxiety and coping in men and women living with skin conditions: a mixed methods analysis. Skin Health and Disease 2(4), article number: e73. (10.1002/ski2.73)
- Hughes, O., Prescott, L. and Arents, B. W. 2022. Patient engagement with the BJD: encouraging the patient voice and readership. British Journal of Dermatology 187(6), pp. 835-836. (10.1111/bjd.21812)
- Hughes, O. and Hunter, R. 2022. Understanding the experiences of anger in the onset and progression of psoriasis: a thematic analysis. Skin Health and Disease 2(4), article number: e111. (10.1002/ski2.111)
- Hewitt, R. M. et al. 2022. A mixed methods systematic review of digital interventions to support the psychological health and well-being of people living with dermatological conditions. Frontiers in Medicine (10.3389/fmed.2022.1024879)
- Hughes, O. 2022. The need for psychological support in routine dermatological care across the UK. British Journal of Dermatology 187(5), pp. 778-779. (10.1111/bjd.21720)
- Hughes, O. and Hunter, R. 2022. The importance of exploring the role of anger in people with psoriasis [Research Letter]. JMIR Dermatology 5(1), article number: e33920. (10.2196/33920)
Articles
- Williams, K. et al. 2025. Risk of suicide and suicidality in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis: results from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR). Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 50(4), pp. 804-811. (10.1093/ced/llae449)
- Hill, C., Vasiliou, V. S., Sirois, F. M., Hughes, O. and Thompson, A. R. 2025. A meta-analysis of self-compassion and attachment in adults. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice (10.1111/papt.12590)
- Day, M., Heapy, C., Norman, P., Emerson, L., Murphy, R., Hughes, O. and Thompson, A. R. 2025. Impact of childhood psoriasis on children and parents during transition to adolescence: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. British Journal of Health Psychology 30(1), article number: e12763. (10.1111/bjhp.12763)
- Hughes, O., Shelton, K. H., Penny, H. and Thompson, A. R. 2024. ‘Living in the present’ Mindfulness for parents of children with skin conditions: A single group case series. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (10.1017/S1352465824000341)
- Hughes, O., Shelton, K. H. and Thompson, A. 2024. Healthcare professionals’ views on psychological support for children and families affected by skin conditions in the UK: a qualitative study. Skin Health and Disease 4(4), article number: e376. (10.1002/ski2.376)
- Williams, K. et al. 2024. PS04 Suicide risk in patients with psoriasis: results from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR). British Journal of Dermatology 191(S.1), pp. i177-i177. (10.1093/bjd/ljae090.375)
- Hughes, O. and Thompson, A. R. 2024. Dealing with flares in skin conditions: how can we meet patient need?. British Journal of Dermatology 191(1), pp. 9-10., article number: ljae084. (10.1093/bjd/ljae084)
- Arents, B. W. M., van Zuuren, E. J., Hughes, O., Fedorowicz, Z. and Flohr, C. 2023. The future is now: the Global Atopic Dermatitis Atlas (GADA). British Journal of Dermatology 189(6), pp. 761-763., article number: ljad286. (10.1093/bjd/ljad286)
- McGrath, B. M. and Hughes, O. 2023. The dermatology patient journey from initial consultation to diagnosis [Commentary]. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 37(S7), pp. 25-26. (10.1111/jdv.18987)
- Hughes, O. and Bewley, A. 2023. Is it really ever 'just acne'? Considering the psychodermatology of acne. British Journal of Dermatology 189(1), pp. i11-i16. (10.1093/bjd/ljad251)
- Guckian, J., Hughes, O., Nikookam, Y., Nair, R., Brown, J., Bewley, A. and Latheef, F. 2023. Dermatologist perspectives on topical steroid withdrawal: distrust, disinformation and distance?. British Journal of Dermatology (10.1093/bjd/ljad113.355)
- Hughes, O., Shelton, K. H., Penny, H. and Thompson, A. R. 2023. Living with physical health conditions: a systematic review of mindfulness-based interventions for children, adolescents, and their parents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 48(4), pp. 396-413. (10.1093/jpepsy/jsad003)
- Hughes, O., Shelton, K. H., Penny, H. and Thompson, A. R. 2023. Parent and child experience of skin conditions: relevance for the provision of mindfulness-based interventions. British Journal of Dermatology 188(4), pp. 514-523. (10.1093/bjd/ljac129)
- Watkins, H., Hughes, O., Jones, L., Tate, L., Khela, M. M. and Hurrell, C. 2023. The use of inpatient goal planning in a regional burns centre: a thematic analysis of staff and patient experiences. Burns 49(1), pp. 100-109. (10.1016/j.burns.2022.02.013)
- Hughes, O., Hutchings, P. B. and Phelps, C. 2022. Stigma, social appearance anxiety and coping in men and women living with skin conditions: a mixed methods analysis. Skin Health and Disease 2(4), article number: e73. (10.1002/ski2.73)
- Hughes, O., Prescott, L. and Arents, B. W. 2022. Patient engagement with the BJD: encouraging the patient voice and readership. British Journal of Dermatology 187(6), pp. 835-836. (10.1111/bjd.21812)
- Hughes, O. and Hunter, R. 2022. Understanding the experiences of anger in the onset and progression of psoriasis: a thematic analysis. Skin Health and Disease 2(4), article number: e111. (10.1002/ski2.111)
- Hewitt, R. M. et al. 2022. A mixed methods systematic review of digital interventions to support the psychological health and well-being of people living with dermatological conditions. Frontiers in Medicine (10.3389/fmed.2022.1024879)
- Hughes, O. 2022. The need for psychological support in routine dermatological care across the UK. British Journal of Dermatology 187(5), pp. 778-779. (10.1111/bjd.21720)
- Hughes, O. and Hunter, R. 2022. The importance of exploring the role of anger in people with psoriasis [Research Letter]. JMIR Dermatology 5(1), article number: e33920. (10.2196/33920)
Thesis
- Hughes, O. 2023. Mindfulness-based online support for children and families affected by skin conditions. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Research
My research interests include visible difference and the psychological impact of living with a skin condition (e.g. psoriasis, eczema, acne, vitiligo, ichthyosis, epidermolysis bullosa etc.). I'm passionate about raising awareness of the need for psychological support in routine dermatological care across the UK, including investigating the use of mindfulness-based interventions for supporting the well-being of families affected by rare skin conditions.
I've had several empirical studies published, including my undergraduate dissertation: stigma, social appearance anxiety and coping in men and women with skin conditions, and my masters dissertation: the experiences of anger in the onset and progression of psoriasis.
I've also had all of my doctoral research published from my thesis, including: (1) a systematic review of mindfulness-based interventions for children, adolescents, and their parents, (2) a qualitative study investigating the parent and child experience of skin conditions: relevance for the provision of mindfulness-based interventions (author video here), (3) a qualitative study investigating healthcare professionals' views on psychosocial support for children and families affected by skin conditions in the UK, and (4) ‘Living in the Present’ mindfulness for parents of children with skin conditions: a single group case series.
I'm currently working on a project funded by DEBRA UK, led by Professor Andrew Thompson and Dr Faith Martin, developing a self-help toolkit to support the psychological wellbeing of parents of children with Epidermolysis Bullosa. More information about the project can be found on the DEBRA UK website, here. We also have recently written a researchers' blog about our work, which can be found here.
Biography
Honours and awards
Postgraduate Education
2020 - 2023: Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), School of Psychology, Cardiff University (Pass).
2019 - 2020: Master of Science (MSc) Clinical Psychology and Mental Health - Swansea University (Distinction).
Undergraduate Education
2016 - 2019: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Counselling Studies and Psychology - University of Wales Trinity Saint David (First Class Honours).
Awards
2019: British Psychological Society Best Undergraduate Dissertation.
2019: Swansea University Taught Masters Excellence Scholarship.
Professional memberships
Membership
- Chartered Member of The British Psychological Society (CPsychol), and Associate Fellow Membership (AFBPsS).
- Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) 'Teach Paws B' to 7-11 Year old Children: Qualified Teacher.
Academic positions
- January 2024 - Present: Research Associate - School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
- February - December 2020: Honorary Assistant Psychologist - Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea.
Speaking engagements
- October 2021: Co-delivered a workshop on the 'Psychological and Psychosocial Impact of Living with Ichthyosis' for the Ichthyosis Support Group.
Committees and reviewing
- August 2022 - Present: Patient Representative on the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics Intervention Register (BADBIR) Steering Committee
- October 2021 - Present: Patient Associate Editor for the British Journal of Dermatology
- January 2018 - Present: Trustee to Skin Care Cymru
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Skin Conditions
- Visible Difference
- Psychodermatology
- Mindfulness