Prof Rory O'Connor

Rory is a registered health psychologist who is broadly interested in self-regulation processes and health outcomes. 

He is President-Elect of the International Academy for Suicide Research, UK National Representive of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, and a member of the American Association of Suicidology.  He was the joint symposium president of the 12th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour (ESSSB12) held in Glasgow, 27-30th August 2008.  He also serves on the Scientific Review Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention serves on the editorial board of Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Psychology and Health, the Open Access Journal Suicidology Online and the Irish Journal of Psychology. He is the immediate past Chair of the British Psychological Society Scotland (BPS-Scotland) and the BPS Scottish Office Management Group and is a committee member of DHP-Scotland. He is a member of the BPS Division of Health Psychology (and an accredited Stage 2 health psychology supervisor) and the European Health Psychology Society.  He also sits on the Chief Scientist Office's Health Services and Population Research Grants Committee, the Scottish Government Self-Harm Working Group and the National Suicide Prevention Review Group.  Rory has also recently been appointed a member of Guideline Development Group for the NICE self-harm guidelines (longer term manangement).

Recent Grants

Rory has secured external research funding (grants and studentships) totalling circa £4.0 million since 1999 as Principal Investigator.

Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government.  A volitional help sheet (VHS) to reduce hospital treated self-harm: A randomised controlled trial.  2012-2015.  £224K (O’Connor PI with Chris Armitage, Sheffield; Roger Smyth, Royal infirmary of Edinburgh; Annette Beautrais, Auckland; David McDaid, London School of Economics).

Chief Scientist Office.  A brief pre-trial intervention pilot study of a postcard intervention to reduce repetition of hospital treated self-harm. Dr Susan Rasmussen (University of Strathclyde) is the Principal Investigator. Rory O'Connor is a CI. £48,524 (2010-2011).

Dr Susan Rasmussen (University of Strathclyde) is the Prinicpal Investigator and Rory O'Connor is the Co-Investigator

European Commission Framework 7.  Optimised suicide prevention programmes and their implementation in Europe (OSPI).  (with Margaret Maxwell, Principal Investigator, DASS and 13 other European partners from 10 European countries).  2008-2012. 

Northern Ireland Government.  Lifestyle and Coping Survey in Northern Ireland (with Susan Rasmussen, Strathclyde, Keith Hawton, Oxford & Mark Conachy, Belfast).  2008-2009.

Scottish Government, Health Department.  Well? What do you think? The fourth national Scottish survey of public attitudes to mental health, mental well-being, and mental health problems.  (with Ipsos MORI). £CIC (2008-2009)

GL Assessment.  Development and Evaluation of the Paediatric Anxiety and Depression Inventory (with Suzy O'Connor, Teri Carney, Emma House, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Eamonn Ferguson, Nottingham).  £99K (2008-2010).

Chief Scientist Office, Health Department.  The role of psychological factors in predicting short-term outcome following suicidal behaviour.  (with M. Williams (Oxford), G. Masterton (Edinburgh) and R. Smyth (Edinburgh)). £224k (2007-2010)

Scottish Executive, Health Department.  Well? What do you think? The third national Scottish survey of public attitudes to mental health, mental well-being, and mental health problems.  (with Ipsos MORI). £CIC (2006-2007)

NHS Scotland, West of Scotland Research Consortium.  Understanding parasuicide from the suicidal person’s perspective and a test of a psychological model (with Bradley, NHS, Rasmussen, Stirling).  £24,992 (2006)

Choose Life/Stirling Council.  A survey of young people's experiences, beliefs and well-being in Stirling.  £7,676 (2006-2007).

NHS Forth Valley.  Banning smoking in public places: the impact on smoking, physical activity and diet (with D. Dixon, R. O’Carroll, V. Swanson, Stirling).   £5,000 (2006)

Economic & Social Research Council.  Grant. Predictors of Suicidality: Towards an Integrated Motivational Model (with G. Masterton, S. MacHale, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.  £46,230.  (2005-2006).

Chief Scientist Office, Health Department.  Negative affectivity, social inhibition, prospective thinking and role and goal investment in cardiac disease: prognostic implications (with R. O’Carroll). £46,800 (2004-2007).

Glasgow Healthy Cities Partnership/Scottish Executive.  Co-ordinative work for Choose Life Suicide Prevention Strategy. £30,000. (2004-05) (with K Skellington Orr, MVA).

Joseph Rowntree Foundation.  Young people’s experiences of transition: A prospective comparative study of ethnic minority and white young people. (with C. Cassidy, University of St Andrews) £78,869.  2002-2005

Department for Transport (UK Government).  The role of skills, attitudes and perceived behavioural control in the pedestrian decision-making of adolescents aged 11-15 years (with J. Thomson, A. Tolmie, & H Foot, University of Strathclyde) £272,000. 2002-2004.

Nuffield Foundation.  Suicidal behaviour as a cry of pain: activating the ‘helplessness script’.  £5,060. 2001-02.

Scottish Executive - Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance. A longitudinal Investigation of the Experiences and Expectations of Racism and Discrimination in Young People of Majority and Minority Cultures. £209,608. 1999-2004.(with C. Howe, A. Tolmie & D. Warden, University of Strathclyde).

Current PhD students (principal or joint supervisor)
Olivia Kirtley (School funded).  A psychophysiological exploration of self-injurious behaviour
Jaclyn Miller (ESRC funded).  Problem-solving and self-harm
Jennifer McLaughlin (ESRC funded).  Domestic abuse and suicide risk.

Current Stage 2 Health Psychology Trainees
Laura Bedford
Lindsay MacDonald

Recently completed PhD students (principal or joint supervisor)
Mairi Harper (Carnegie Trust funded). Outcomes and coping following parental bereavement
Rebecca Morrison (ESRC/MRC funded).  Attentional bias, hopelessness and suicidality
Christy Fergusson (Self funded).  Self-regulation, future thinking and multiple sclerosis.
Lynn Williams (CSO funded).  Type D, future thinking and cardiac disease.
Lorna Gray (ESRC funded: self-regulation and parasuicide)
Julie Bennett (ESRC funded: self-harm and sexuality)
Susan Rasmussen (ESRC funded: hopelessness/suicidality, autobiographical memory and perfectionism)
Kirsty Flatley (AERC funded: alcohol and social cognition models)

Rory O'Connor leads the Suicidal Behaviour Research Group at Stirling, the leading suicide and self-harm research group in Scotland (to receive our news and updates, you can follow us on Twitter by double clicking here).  The overarching aim of the research conducted within the group is to apply theoretical models derived from different areas of psychology (i.e., health, clinical, cognitive and social) as well as from the social sciences more broadly to enhance our understanding of self-harm and suicide.  Rory is also particularly interested in the application of self-regulatory models (e.g., Leventhal, Carver & Scheier) across a range of physical (e.g., cardiac disease, multiple sclerosis) and mental health problems.

I have recently proposed the Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model (IMV) of Suicidal Behaviour.  A Figure summarising the model is available here.  Email me if you would like further details.

46AL Clinical and Health Psychology

46HE Understanding Suicidal Behaviour

MSc in Health Psychology

Honours project supervision

Books
O'Connor, R.C., Platt., S. & Gordon, J. (2011).  (Eds.) International Handbook of Suicide Prevention: Research, Policy and Practice. (p.677) Double-click to purchase the book via amazon.co.uk

Hawton, K., & O'Connor, R.C. (Eds.).  Routledge Major Works on Suicide.  Forthcoming

O'Connor, R.C. & Sheehy, N.P. (2000). Understanding Suicidal Behaviour. BPS Blackwell: Leicester.ISBN 1 85433 290 2. Double-click to order the book via Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com or BPS Blackwell publishers. The book is also available in Polish, to order a Polish copy, please click here

Journal Articles

In Press

O'Connor, R.C., O'Carroll, R.E., Ryan, C., & Smyth, R. (in press).  Self-Regulation of Unattainable Goals in Suicide Attempters: A Two Year Prospective Study.  Journal of Affective Disorders. pdf

Hawton, K., Saunders, K., & O'Connor, R.C. (in press). Self-harm and Suicide in Adolescents. The Lancet.

Williams, L., O’Connor, R.C., Grubb, N., & O’Carroll, R. (in press). Type D personality and three-month psychosocial outcomes among patients post-myocardial infarction.  Journal of Psychosomatic Research. pdf

O’Connor, R.C., Rasmussen, S., & Hawton, K. (in press).  Distinguishing Adolescents Who Think About Self-harm From Those Who Engage in Self-harm.  British Journal of Psychiatry. pdf

Hawton, K., & O’Connor, R.C. (in press).  Self-harm in adolescents: implications for future mental health?  The Lancet.  

Rasmussen, S., Elliott, M., & O’Connor, R.C. (in press).  Psychological distress and perfectionism in recent suicide attempters: The role of behavioural inhibition and activation.  Personality and Individual Differences.

O’Connor R.C.  (in press).  The Integrated Motivational–Volitional Model of Suicidal Behaviour.  Crisis–Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. pdf

Harper. M., O’Connor, R.C., & O’Carroll, R.E. (in press).  Increased Mortality in Parents Bereaved in the First Year of Their Child’s Life.  BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

Van der Feltz-Cornelis, C.M., Sarchiapone, M., Postuvan, V., Volker, D., Roskar, Tancic Grum, A.,Carli, V., McDaid, D., O'Connor, R., Maxwell, M., Ibelshauser, A., Van Audenhove, C., Scheerder, G., Sisask, M., Gusmão, R., Hegerl, U. (in press).  Best practice elements of multilevel suicide prevention strategies. Review of systematic reviews. Crisis-Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention.

Stark, C., Riordan, V., & O’Connor, R. (in press).  A conceptual model of suicide in rural areas.  Rural and Remote Health pdf 

Smallwood, J., & O'Connor, R.C. (in press).  Prisoners of the past: Evidence for a retrospective bias to mind wandering during mild dysphoria.  Cognition and Emotion.  

Harper M, O’Connor RC, Dickson A & O’Carroll RE (in press) Bereaved Mothers Continuing Bonds and Ambivalence to their own Mortality after the Death of Their Child – An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.  Psychology, Health & Medicine. pdf

Williams, L., O'Connor, R.C., Grubb, N.R., & O'Carroll, R.E. (2011).  Type D personality and illness perceptions in post-myocardial infarction patients. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 70, 141-144. pdf

Williams, L., O'Connor, R.C., Grubb, N., & O'Carroll, R. (in press).  Type D personality predicts poor medication aherence in myocardial infarction.  Psychology and Health. pdf

O'Connor, R.C., Platt, S., & Gordon, J. (2011).  Introduction.  In R.C. O'Connor, S. Platt, & J. Gordon (Eds.).  International Handbook of Suicide Prevention: Research, Policy & Practice (pp.1-6).  Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell
 
O'Connor, R.C. (2011).  Towards and Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of Suicidal Behaviour.  In R.C. O'Connor, S. Platt, & J. Gordon (Eds.). International Handbook of Suicide Prevention: Research, Policy & Practice (pp.181-198). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell
 
O'Connor, R.C., Rasmussen, S., & Beautrais, A. (2011).  Recognition of suicide risk, crisis helplines and psychosocial interventions: A selective review.  In R.C. O'Connor, S. Platt, & J. Gordon (Eds.). International Handbook of Suicide Prevention: Research, Policy & Practice (pp. 435-456). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell
 
O'Connor, R.C., Platt, S., & Gordon, J. (2011). Achievements and Challenges in Suicidology: Conclusions and Future Directions. In R.C. O'Connor, S. Platt, & J. Gordon (Eds.). International Handbook of Suicide Prevention: Research, Policy & Practice (pp.625-642). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell

2010

O'Connor, S., Carney, T., House, E., Ferguson, E. & O'Connor, R. (2010).  Paediatric Index of Emotional Distress (PI-ED).  Available from GL Assessment. 

O'Connor, S., Carney, T., House, E., Ferguson, E., Caldwell, F., & O'Connor, R.C. (2010).  Revision of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to produce the Paediatric Index of Emotional Distress (PI-ED).  Patient Reported Outcomes, 43, 2-4 pdf

Ferguson, E., Williams, L., O’Connor, R.C., Howard, S., Hughes, B.M., Johnston, D.W., Allan, J.L., O’Connor, D.B., Lewis, C.A, Grealy, M., & O’Carroll, R.E. (2010).  A Taxometric Analysis of Type-D Personality.  Psychosomatic Medicine, 71, 981-986.  pdf

O'Connor, R.C. (2010).  Psychological Perspectives on Suicidal Behavior.  In U Kumar & M.K. Mandal (Eds.).  Suicidal Behavior:  Assessment & Diagnosis (p 3-19).  Sage.  

O'Connor, R.C., Rasmussen, S., & Hawton, K. (2010).  Predicting depression, anxiety and self-harm in adolescents: The role of perfectionism and acute life stress. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48, 52-59. pdf

Rasmussen, S., Fraser, L., Gotz, M., MacHale, S., Mackie, R., Masterton, G., McConachie, S., & O'Connor, R.C. (2010).  Elaborating the Cry of Pain model of suicidality: Testing a psychological model in a sample of first-time and repeat self-harm patients.  British Journal of Clinical Psychology,49, 15-30. pdf

2009

O'Connor, R.C., Dixon, D., & Rasmussen, S. (2009). The Structure and Temporal Stability of the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale. Psychological Assessment, 21, 437-443. pdf

Davidson, S., Sewell, K., Tse, D., & O'Connor, R. (2009).  Well? What Do You Think? (2008): The Fourth National Scottish Survey of Public Attitudes to Mental Wellbeing and Mental Health Problems. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.  pdf

O'Connor, R.C., Rasmussen, S., & Hawton, K. (2009).  Predicting deliberate self-harm in adolescents: a six month prospective study.  Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 39, 364-375 pdf

Williams, L., O'Connor, R.C., & O'Carroll, R.E. (2009). Type D Personality and Cardiac Output in Response to Stress.  Psychology and Health, 24, 489-500. pdf

Smallwood, J., Nind, L. & O'Connor, R.C. (2009). When is your head at?   An exploration of the factors associated with the temporal focus of the wandering mind.  Consciousness and Cognition, 18, 118-125. pdf

O'Connor, R.C., Fraser, L., Whyte, M.C., MacHale, & Masterton, G. (2009).  Self-regulation of unattainable goals in suicide attempters: the relationship between goal disengagement, goal reengagement and suicidal ideation.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 164-169.  pdf

O'Connor, R.C., Rasmussen, S., Miles, J., & Hawton, K. (2009).  Self-harm in adolescents: self-report survey in schools in Scotland.  British Journal of Psychiatry, 194, 68-72 pdf

Potter, L.M., Grealy, M.A., & O'Connor, R.C. (2009).  Healthy Ageing, Perceived Motor-Efficacy, and Performance on Cognitively Demanding Action Tasks.  British Journal of Psychology, 100, 49-70. pdf

2008

Morrison, R., & O'Connor, R.C. (in press).  The role of rumination, attentional biases and stress in psychological distress.  British Journal of Psychology, 99, 191-209.  pdf

O'Connor, R.C., Fraser, L., Whyte, M.C., MacHale, S., & Masterton, G. (2008).  A comparison of specific positive future expectancies and global hopelessness as predictors of suicidal ideation in a prospective study of repeat self-harmers.  Journal of Affective Disorders, 110, 207-214. pdf

Rasmussen, S.A., O'Connor, R.C., & Brodie, D.  (2008). Investigating the Role of Perfectionism and Autobiographical Memory in a Sample of Parasuicide Patients: An Exploratory Study.  CRISIS, 29, 64-72 pdf

Morrison, R., & O'Connor, R.C.  (2008).  A systematic review of the relationship between rumination and suicidality.  Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 38, 523-538.pdf

O'Connor, R.C., & Noyce, R. (2008).  Personality and cognitive processes: Self-criticism and different types of rumination as predictors of suicidal ideation.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46, 392-401. pdf

Williams, L., O'Connor, R.C., Howard, S., Hughes, B.M., Johnston, D.W., Hay, J.L., O'Connor, D.B., Lewis, C.A., Ferguson, E., Sheehy, N., Grealy, M.A. & O'Carroll, R.E. (2008). Type D Personality Mechanisms of Effect: The Role of Health-Related Behaviour and Social Support. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 64, 63-69. pdf

Sheehy, N.P., & O’Connor, R.C. (2008).  Suicidal behaviour and cognitive style.  In S. Palmer (Ed.).  Suicide Reduction and Prevention: Strategies and Interventions. pp.69-83. Brunner-Routledge: East Sussex.  Double-click to order book by Amazon.co.uk

2007

O'Connor, R.C.  (2007).  The relations between perfectionism and suicidality:  A systematic review.  Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 37, 698-714. pdf

O'Connor, R.C., & Forgan, G. (2007).  Suicidal thinking and perfectionism: The role of goal adjustment and behavioral inhibition/activation systems (BIS/BAS).   Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive Behavior Therapy,25, 321-341 (Special issue on perfectionism). pdf

Braunholtz, S., Davidson, S., Myant, K., & O'Connor, R. (2007).  Well? What do you think? (2006):  The third national Scottish survey of public attitudes to mental health, mental wellbeing and mental health problems.  Edinburgh: Scottish Government.  pp. 180.  pdf

O'Connor, D.B. , O'Connor, R.C., Marshall, R. (2007).  Perfectionism and Psychological Distress: Evidence of the mediating effects of rumination.  European Journal of Personality, 21, 429-452. pdf

Smallwood, J.M., O’Connor, R.C., Sudberry, M.V.& Obonsawin, M.   (2007).  Mind wandering and Dysphoria. Cognition and Emotion, 21, 816-842. pdf

O'Connor, R.C., Whyte, M.C., Fraser, L., Masterton, G., Miles, J., & MacHale, S. (2007).  Predicting short-term Outcome in Well-being Following Suicidal Behaviour: The Conjoint Effects of Social Perfectionism and Positive Future Thinking.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 1543-1555. pdf

O’Connor, R.C., & Cassidy, C.  (2007).  Predicting hopelessness: The interaction between optimism/pessimism and specific future expectancies.  Cognition and Emotion, 21, 596-613. pdf

2006

O'Connor, R.C., Armitage, C.J., & Gray, L.  (2006).  The role of clinical and social cognitive variables in parasuicide.  British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45, 465-481. pdf

Cassidy, C., O'Connor, R.C., & Dorrer, N. (2006).  Young people’s experiences of transition: A prospective comparative study of minority ethnic and white young people.  York: JRF. pdf or double-click to order via Amazon.co.uk

Tolmie, A., Thomson, J., O’Connor, R.C., Foot, H. et al. (2006) The role of skills, attitudes and perceived behavioural control in the pedestrian decision-making of adolescents aged 11-15 years.  London: HSMO.  Double-click to order via Amazon.co.uk

2005

Cassidy, C., O'Connor, R.C., Howe, C.J. & Warden, D. (2005). Perceived discrimination among ethnic minority young people: the role of psychological variables.  Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 35, 1246-1265. pdf

O’Connor, D.B., Ferguson, E. & O’Connor, R.C.  (2005).  Intentions to use hormonal male contraception: The role of message framing, attitudes and stress appraisals.  British Journal of Psychology, 351-369. pdf

Rasmussen, S., & O’Connor, R.C. (2005).  Factors influencing anticipated decisions about sunscreen use.  Journal of Health Psychology. 10, 585-595. pdf

Morrison, R. & O’Connor, R.C. (2005).  Predicting psychological distress in college students: The role of rumination and stress. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61, 447-460. pdf

Smallwood, J., O'Connor, R.C., & Heim, D. (2005).  Rumination, dysphoria and subjective experience.  Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 24, 355-367.  pdf

Skellington Orr, K., & O’Connor, R.C. (2005). Co-ordinative work for Choose Life Suicide Prevention Strategy.  Glasgow Healthy Cities Partnership: Glasgow.  pp. 60.

2004

O’Connor, D.B. & O’Connor, R.C. (2004).  Perceived changes in food intake in response to stress: the role of conscientiousness.  Stress and Health, 20, 279-291. pdf

O'Connor, R.C., O'Connor, D.B, O'Connor, S.M., Smallwood, J & Miles, J. (2004).  Hopelessness, stress and perfectionism: the moderating effects of future thinking. Cognition and Emotion, 18, 1099-1120.  pdf

Smallwood, J., O’Connor, R.C., Sudberry, M.V., Haskell, C., & Ballantyne, C. (2004).  The consequences of encoding information on the maintenance of internally generated images and thoughts: The role of meaning complexes.  Consciousness and Cognition, 13, 789-820. pdf

Smallwood, J., Davies, J.B., Heim, D., Finnigan, F., Sudberry, M., O’Connor, R.C., & Obonsawin, M. (2004).   Subjective experience and the attentional lapse: Task engagement and disengagement during sustained attention.  Consciousness and Cognition, 13, 657-690.  pdf

O'Connor, R. C., & Armitage, C. J. (2004). Theory of planned behaviour and parasuicide: An exploratory study.   In C. J. Armitage & J. Christian (Eds.), Planned behavior: The relationship between human thought and action pp. 13-25. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. Double-click to order book via Amazon.co.uk

O'Connor R.C. (2004).  Self-Harm: Public Information Leaflet   Leicester:  British Psychological Society.

Cassidy, C., O’Connor, R.C., Howe, C. & Warden, D. (2004).  Perceived discrimination and psychological distress: the role of personal and ethnic self-esteem.  Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 329-339. pdf

Heim, D., Howe, C., O’Connor, R.C., Cassidy, C., Warden, D., & Cunningham, L. (2004).  A longitudinal investigation of the experiences of racism and discrimination by young people in Glasgow.  Final Report.  pp. 158.

2003

Hunter, E.C. & O'Connor, R.C. (2003). Hopelessness and future thinking in parasuicide: the role of perfectionism. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 42, 355-365. pdf

O'Connor, R.C. & Leenaars, A.A. (2003). A thematic comparison of suicide notes drawn from Northern Ireland and the United States. Current Psychology, 22, 339-347. pdf

O'Connor, R.C. (2003).  Suicidal Behaviour as a Cry of Pain: Test of a Psychological Model. Archives of Suicide Research, 7, 297-308. pdf  

O'Connor, R.C. & O'Connor, D.B. (2003). Predicting hopelessness and psychological distress: The role of perfectionism and coping. Journal of Counseling Psychology,50, 362-372. pdf

O'Connor, R.C. & Armitage, C.J. (2003). Theory of Planned Behaviour and Parasuicide: An Exploratory Study. Current Psychology, 22, 247-256 (Special Issue on Theory of Planned Behaviour).

O'Connor, D.B., Cobb, J. & O'Connor, R.C. (2003). Religiosity, stress and psychological distress: no evidence for an association among undergraduate students. Personality & Individual Differences, 34, 211 - 217. pdf

Smallwood, J.M., Obonsawin, M., Baracaia, S.F., Reid, H., O'Connor, R.C. & Heim, D. (2003). The relationship between rumination, dysphoria and self-referent thinking: some preliminary findings.  Imagination, Cognition & Personality, 22, 317 – 342.

2002

Furnham, A.F., Li-Ping Tang, T., Lester, D., O'Connor, R.C. & Montgomery, R. (2002). Estimates of ten multiple intelligences: Sex and National Differences and the perception of oneself and famous people. European Psychologist, 7, 245-255.

Sheehy, N.P. & O'Connor, R.C. (2002). Cognitive style and suicidal behaviour: implications for therapeutic intervention, research lacunae and priorities. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 30, 353-362. Special Issue on suicide. pdf

Bennett, J. & O'Connor, R.C. (2002). Self-harm among lesbians: the role of social support, outness, attack and internalised homophobia, Health Psychology Update, 11, 32-38.

2001

O'Connor, R.C. & Sheehy, N.P. (2001). State of the art: Suicidal behaviour. The Psychologist, 14, 20-24. pdf

O'Connor, D.B., O'Connor, R.C, White, B.L. & Bundred, P.E. (2001). Are occupational stress levels predictive of ambulatory blood pressure in British GPs? An exploratory study. Family Practice, 18, 92-94.

O'Connor, R.C. (2001). Parasuicide: cognitive vulnerability, future directed thinking and perfectionism. In O. Grad (Ed.). Suicide Risk and Protective Factors in the New Millennium. Cankarjev dom: Ljubljana.

Cassidy, C., O'Connor, R.C., Howe, C. & Warden, D. (2001). A longitudinal investigation of the experiences and expectations of racism and discrimination in young people of majority and minority cultures. Annual Report.

2000

O'Connor, R.C. & Sheehy, N.P. (2000). Understanding Suicidal Behaviour. BPS Blackwell: Leicester.ISBN 1 85433 290 2. Double-click to order the book via Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com or BPS Blackwell publishers. The book is also available in Polish, to order a Polish copy, please click here

O’Connor, R.C., Sheehy, N.P. & O’Connor, D.B. (2000). Fifty cases of general hospital parasuicide. British Journal of Health Psychology, 5, 83-95. pdf

O'Connor, D.B., O'Connor, R.C., White, B.L.& Bundred, P.E. (2000) The effect of job strain on British general practitioners' mental health. Journal of Mental Health, 9, 637-653. pdf

O'Connor, R.C. (2000). A psychological perspective on suicidal behaviour. Primary Nursing Care, 4, 18-20.

O'Connor, R.C., Connery, H. & Cheyne,W. (2000). Hopelessness: The role of depression, future directed thinking and cognitive vulnerability. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 5, 155-161. pdf

O'Connor, D.B., O'Connor, R.C., White, B.L. & Bundred, P.E. (2000). Job strain and ambulatory blood pressure in British general practitioners: A preliminary study. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 5, 241-250. pdf

1999

O’Connor, R.C., Sheehy, N.P. & O’Connor, D.B. (1999). The classification of completed suicide into sub-types. Journal of Mental Health, 8, 629-637. pdf

O'Connor, R.C. (1999). The Boundaries: Health psychology and suicidal behaviour. Health Psychology Update, 36, 4-7.

O'Connor, R.C., Sheehy, N.P. & O'Connor, D.B. (1999). A Thematic Suicide Note Analysis: some observations on depression and previous suicide attempt. CRISIS - Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 20, 106-114. pdf

1998

O'Connor, R. (1998).  Northern Ireland suicide and "The Troubles".  British Medical Journal, 316, 1850 (Letter).

1997

O’Connor, R.C. & Sheehy, N.P. (1997). Suicide and Gender. Mortality, 2, 239-254. pdf