Staff Profile

Research Interests

Autism Spectrum Conditions in Adults

The development of health measurement scales or outcome measures

Psychometric properties of outcome measures 

Mental health, trauma/ post traumatic stress disorder

Systematic reviews 

Intellectual and developmental disabilities 

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

BSc (Hons) Psychology  

MSc Psychology

PhD Health Research (ESRC Studentship), Lancaster University, 2010

Professional Activities 

Professional Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists

NIHR Three Schools Fellowship 2023-2024

NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (North East and North Cumbria) Fellowship 2022-2024

Current Work

Developing measures of trauma for adults with a learning disability.

The diagnosis of autism spectrum conditions across the life course.

Implementation Science approaches.

Previous Work

Systematic review of outcome measures used in interventions for anxiety in children with autism spectrum conditions

Development of a measure of anxiety for children with autism spectrum conditions

Development of a measure of trauma for adults with intellectual disabilities

Grants

Developing a measure of anxiety for children with autism spectrum conditions (Baily Thomas Fund; Co-applicant)

A systematic review of the effectiveness of alcohol brief interventions and interventions for well being in armed forces personnel transitioning to civilian life. (Forces in Mind Trust; Principal Investigator)

Co-supervisor of three successfully completed Doctorate in Clinical Psychology research studies on depression and development of measures of anxiety in adults with autism spectrum conditions.

• Articles

  • Wigham S, Welsh P, Ingham B, Wilson C, Fisher-Rogers A, Lees R, McConnell O, Nedyalkova A, Nicholson L. Post-autism diagnosis support for adults in the United Kingdom: positive and negative experiences and proposed solutions to address gaps in service provision. Autism in Adulthood 2024. In Press.
  • Wigham S, Melvin E, Lester J, Bourne J, Harris M, McKinnon I, Hackett S. Factors associated with the identification of mental health conditions among people with learning disabilities in primary care: A scoping review. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 2024, 52(1), 36-53.
  • Watts P, Zubala A, Iranpour A, Jayne K, Jandial S, Wigham S, Hackett S. Developing online group art psychotherapy for children with long-term health conditions. International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape 2024, ePub ahead of Print.
  • Crole-Rees C, Tomlin J, Kalebic N, Argent S, Berrington C, Chaplin E, Davies J, Hoskins M, James L, Jarrett M, John O, Jones L, Kothari R, Kretzschmar I, MacManus D, Martin M, McKinnon I, OConnor G, Phillips M, Poole R, Popovica I, Simpson A, Taylor P, Wigham S, Forrester A. An optimal trauma-informed pathway for PTSD, complex PTSD and other mental health and psychosocial impacts of trauma in prisons: an expert consensus statement. Psychology, Crime & Law 2024, 22.
  • Parr J, Wigham S, Farr W, Male I, Isard L, Lees R, Reddy V, Saunders G, Grahame V. A national research survey of childhood autism assessment services in the UK: Empirical evidence of diagnostic practice, challenges and improvement opportunities. BMJ Paediatrics Open 2024, 8(1), e002496.
  • Wigham S, Ingham B, Le Couteur A, Wilson C, Ensum I, Parr JR. Consensus Statements on optimal adult post-autism diagnosis support and services; Delphi process following a UK survey of autistic adults, relatives and clinicians. Autism 2023, 27(2), 344-355.
  • Wigham S, Bourne J, McKenzie K, Rowlands G, Petersen K, Hackett S. Improving access to primary care and annual health checks for people who have a learning disability. A multi-stakeholder qualitative study. BMJ Open 2022, 12(12), e065945.
  • McKenzie K, Wigham S, Bourne J, Rowlands G, Hackett S. Exploring the views of UK regional primary care practitioners on the use and role of screening tools for learning disabilities in their services. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 2022, 51(3), 419-428.
  • Wigham S. Commentary on ''Brief Report on Six Clinical Cases of trauma in families who have children and adults who have a learning disability and/or are autistic. Tizard Learning Disability Review 2022, 27(2), 78-81.
  • Wigham S, Ingham B, Le Couteur A, Wilson C, Ensum I, Parr JR. A survey of autistic adults, relatives and clinical teams in the United Kingdom: And Delphi process consensus statements on optimal autism diagnostic assessment for adults. Autism 2022, 26(8), 1959-1972.
  • Wigham S, Hatton C, Taylor JL. Short report and initial evaluation of the factor structure of the Lancaster and Northgate Trauma Scales (LANTS). Research in Developmental Disabilities 2021, 112, 103914.
  • Wigham S, McKinnon I, Reid K, Milton D, Lingam R, Rodgers J. Questionnaires used in Complex Trauma Intervention Evaluations and Consideration of their Utility for Autistic Adults with Mild Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review. Research in Developmental Disabilities 2021, 117, 104039.
  • Wigham S, McGovern R, Kaner E, Hackett SS. A Review of Recent Innovation in Psychosocial Interventions for reducing Violence and Aggression in Adults using a Horizon Scanning Approach. Aggression and Violent Behaviour 2021, 62, 101685.
  • Wigham S, Watts P, Zubala A, Jandial S, Bourne J, Hackett S. Using Arts-based Therapies to Improve Mental Health for Children and Young People with Physical Health Long-term Conditions. A Systematic Review of Effectiveness. Frontiers in Psychology 2020, 11, 1771.
  • Wigham S, Ingham B, LeCouteur A, Berney T, Ensum I, Parr JR. Development and initial utility of the Autism Clinical Interview for Adults: a new adult autism diagnostic measure. Autism in Adulthood 2020, 2(1), 42-47.
  • Rodgers J, Farquhar K, Mason D, Brice S, Wigham S, Ingham B, Freeston M, Parr J. Development and Initial Evaluation of the Anxiety Scale for Autism-Adults. Autism in Adulthood 2020, 2(1).
  • Rodgers J, Farquhar K, Mason D, Brice S, Wigham S, Ingham B, Freeston MF, Parr JR. Development and initial evaluation of the Anxiety Scale for Autism - Adults. Autism in Adulthood 2020, 2(1), 24-33.
  • Wigham S, Rodgers J, Berney T, Le Couteur A, Ingham B, Parr JR. Psychometric properties of questionnaires and diagnostic measures for autism spectrum disorders in adults: a systematic review. Autism: International Journal of Research and Practice 2019, 23(2), 287-305.
  • Cassidy SA, Bradley L, Bowen E, Wigham S, Rodgers J. Measurement properties of tools used to assess depression in adults with and without autism spectrum conditions: A systematic review. Autism Research 2018, 11(5), 738-754.
  • Bauer A, Newbury-Birch D, Robalino S, Ferguson J, Wigham S. Is prevention better than cure? A systematic review of the effectiveness of well-being interventions for military personnel adjusting to civilian life. PLoS One 2018, 13(5), e0190144.
  • Wigham S, Barton S, Parr JR, Rodgers J. A systematic review of the rates of depression in children and adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities 2017, 10(4), 267-287.
  • Wigham S, Bauer A, Robalino S, Ferguson J, Burke A, Newbury-Birch D. A systematic review of the effectiveness of alcohol brief interventions for the UK military personnel moving back to civilian life. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps 2017, 163(4), 242-250.
  • Rodgers J, Wigham S, McConachie H, Freeston M, Honey E, Parr JR. Development of the Anxiety Scale for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASC-ASD). Autism Research 2016, 9(11), 1205-1215.
  • Adams J, McNaughten RJ, Wigham S, Flynn D, Ternent L, Shucksmith J. Acceptability of Parental Financial Incentives and Quasi-Mandatory Interventions for Preschool Vaccinations: Triangulation of Findings from Three Linked Studies. PLoS One 2016, 11(6), e0156843.
  • Wigham S, Emerson E. Trauma and life events in adults with intellectual disability. Current Developmental Disorders Reports 2015, 2(2), 93-99.
  • Parr J, Gray L, Wigham S, McConachie H, LeCouteur A. Measuring the relationship between the parental Broader Autism Phenotype, parent–child interaction, and children’s progress following parent mediated intervention. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 2015, 20, 24-30.
  • Wigham S, Rodgers J, South M, McConachie H, Freeston M. The interplay between sensory processing abnormalities, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety and restricted and repetitive behaviours in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2014, 45(4), 943-952.
  • Wigham S, McConachie H. Systematic review of the properties of tools used to measure outcomes in anxiety intervention studies for children with autism spectrum disorders. PLoS ONE 2014, 9(1), e85268.
  • South M, Chamberlain PD, Wigham S, Newton T, Le Couteur A, McConachie H, Gray L, Freeston M, Parr J, Kirwan CB, Rodgers J. Enhanced decision making and risk avoidance in high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Neuropsychology 2014, 28(2), 222-228.
  • Wigham S, Taylor JL, Hatton C. A prospective study of the relationship between adverse life events and trauma in adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 2014, 58(12), 1131-1140.
  • Hudry K, Aldred C, Wigham S, Green J, Leadbitter K, Temple K, Barlow K, McConachie H, the PACT Consortium. Predictors of parent-child interaction style in dyads with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities 2013, 34(10), 3400-3410.
  • Wigham S, McConachie H, Tandos J, Le Couteur A, Gateshead Millennium Study core team. The reliability and validity of the Social Responsiveness Scale in a UK general child population. Research in Developmental Disabilities 2012, 33(3), 944-950.
  • Wigham S, Hatton C, Taylor JL. The Lancaster and Northgate Trauma Scales (LANTS): The development and psychometric properties of a measure of trauma for people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities 2011.
  • Wigham S, Hatton C, Taylor JL. The Effects of Traumatizing Life Events on People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities 2011, 4(1), 19-39.
  • Hatton C, Wigham S, Craig J. Developing measures of job performance for support staff in housing services for people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities 2009, 22(1), 54-64.
  • Wigham S, Robertson J, Emerson E, Hatton C, Elliott J, McIntosh B, Swift P, Krinjen-Kemp E, Towers C, Romeo R, Knapp M, Sanderson H, Routledge M, Oakes P, Joyce T. Reported goal setting and benefits of person centred planning for people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities 2008, 12(2), 143-152.
  • Wigham S, Supyk J. Should Occupational Therapists Work Shifts?. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2001, 64(3), 151-152.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • McKinnon I, Wigham S, Reid K, Milton D, Lingam R, Rodgers J. Utility of Complex Trauma Questionnaires for Adults on the Autism Spectrum with Mild Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review. In: International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting (INSAR). 2021, Virtual: INSAR.

• Report

  • Adams J, Bateman B, Becker F, Cresswell T, Flynn D, McNaughton R, Oluboyede Y, Robalino S, Ternent L, Gardner Sood B, Michie S, Shucksmith J, Sniehotta FSF, Wigham S. Effectiveness and acceptability of parental financial incentives and quasi-mandatory schemes for increasing uptake of vaccinations in preschool children: systematic review, qualitative study, and discrete choice experiment. Southampton: National Institute for Health Research, 2015. Health Technology Assessment 19 (94).

• Reviews

  • Wigham S, Kaner E, Bourne J, Ahmed K, Hackett S. Public mental health and wellbeing interventions delivered by allied health professionals (AHPs): mapping the evidence and identification of gaps. A systematic review. Journal of Public Mental Health 2023, 22(4), 216-229.
  • Male I, Farr W, Allard A, Grahame V, Maxwell J, Reddy V, McGrevey S, Abrahamson V, Wigham S, Parr JR. Integrated care for autism assessment, diagnosis and intervention. Paediatrics and Child Health 2023, 33(9), 277-284.
  • Bourne J, Harrison TL, Wigham S, Morison C-J, Hackett S. A systematic review of community psychosocial group interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities 2022, 35(1), 3-23.
  • Cassidy S, Bowen E, Bradley L, Wigham S, Rodgers J. Measurement properties of tools used to assess suicidality in autistic and general population adults: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review 2018, 62, 56-70.
  • Wigham S, Ternent L, Bryant A, Robalino S, Sniehotta FF, Adams J. Parental Financial Incentives for Increasing Preschool Vaccination Uptake: Systematic Review. Pediatrics 2014, 134(4), e1117-e1128.