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Clare Mackay

@claremackay.bsky.social

430 followers 170 following 58 posts

Prof of Neuroscience, University of Oxford and @thetrichprof (insta, FB, YouTube) #neuroskyence || #psychscisky || #BFRBs || #trichotillomania || #mentalhealth || #brainhealth || #art || #WomenInSTEM

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · Nov 22

There are plenty more things I wish more people knew, but here are my top 6: #bfrb #bodyfocusedrepetitivebehaviors #trichotillomania #trichotillomaniaawareness #dermatillomania #skinpickingdisorder #hairpullingdisorder
#livedexperiencescientist #mentalhealthawareness

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · 18d

Big news!

I loved researching and writing this book, which is all about shedding the shame, and getting really curious about urges to pick, pull and bite.

I can't wait to share it with you! It's out on April 2nd, and is available to pre-order now.

#bfrb #bfrbs #bodyfocusedrepetitivebehaviors

Picuture showing forthcoming book, called 'Keep your hair on: understanding urges to pick, pull and bite' by Clare Mackay, which will be launched in April 2026

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · 19d

And we’re off! Oxford’s first neurodiversity conference. Massive effort from @ndv-andreiascosta.bsky.social and her army of volunteers. Looking forward to a great couple of days. #ohbrcNFconference

Reposted by Clare Mackay

NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre @oxhealthbrc.bsky.social · 23d

📢 September is #WorldAlzheimer’sMonth, a time to raise awareness and support those affected by #dementia

Our OH BRC Dementia Theme is pioneering research to shift dementia care from reactive treatment to proactive prevention and personalised management.

🌐 Learn more tinyurl.com/yefntkx2

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Reposted by Clare Mackay

Communications Psychology @commspsychol.nature.com · Sep 8

Following social isolation, adolescents show increased sensitivity to rewards during effort-based decision making and reward learning.
@livia-tomova.bsky.social @sjblakemore.bsky.social @emilyanntowner.bsky.social @stepalminteri.bsky.social @lei-zhang.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Acute isolation is associated with increased reward seeking and reward learning in human adolescents - Communications Psychology

This study shows that, following social isolation, adolescents show increased sensitivity to rewards during effort-based decision making and reward learning. Access to virtual social interactions duri...

www.nature.com

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · Aug 28

Thank you! We will do it again - hopefully in 2026. Meanwhile all of the talks from last year are available on my YouTube channel. youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Oxford BFRB Conference - YouTube

Talks from the Oxford BFRB Conference, 13th Sept 2024

youtube.com

Reposted by Clare Mackay

Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social · Jul 29

The 6 things everybody should know about body focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs)👇

In this new video, Professor Clare Mackay - aka The Trich Prof - shares the things she wished more people knew about BFRBs: tinyurl.com/4hbybrp2

@claremackay.bsky.social

The 6 things everyone should know about body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs)

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

tinyurl.com

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · Jul 22

And now there is a video version… please share! youtu.be/Rkc-vpXJ8Bw?...

The 6 things everyone should know about body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs)

YouTube video by The Trich Prof

youtu.be

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · Jul 7

Thank you Lottie!

Lottie Shipp @lottie-shipp.bsky.social · Jul 7

Sharing this incredible video by @claremackay.bsky.social explaining six things we should all know about body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs): youtu.be/Rkc-vpXJ8Bw?...

The 6 things everyone should know about body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs)

YouTube video by The Trich Prof

youtu.be

Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · Jun 24

Congratulations Steve!!

Reposted by Clare Mackay

Oxford University Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (OxCIN) @oxcin.bsky.social · Jun 24

Congratulations to Steve Smith @fmrib-steve.bsky.social for winning the OHBM 2025 Glass Brain Award! This lifetime achievement award recognises extraordinary contributions that drive the field forward - and we can't think of anyone more deserving. 👏👏👏

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · Jun 17

Fantastic 👏👏👏

Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · Jun 8

And for the first time we’ll be exploring the prevalence and impact of body focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs) in a subset. So exciting!

Mina Fazel @minafazeloxford.bsky.social · Jun 8

After a quiet spell here (because it’s been very busy!) — a big #OxWell update 📣🧠
Over 40,000 students have taken part in the 2025 survey so far — THANK YOU to every student who shared their voice 💬💛

Reposted by Clare Mackay

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · May 26

Psychological distress over 30 years in Great Britain: the times they are a changin’ (or are they?) buff.ly/qpu4p0f

🧵 THREAD

#MentalHealth #PsychologicalDistress #Surveys #GB #30years

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Reposted by Clare Mackay

NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre @oxhealthbrc.bsky.social · May 20

Oxford Brain Health Clinic is leading the way in dementia research participation. Be inspired this #ClinicalTrialsDay and see how you can #BePartOfResearch.

oxfordhealthbrc.nihr.ac.uk/oxford-brain...

@claremackay.bsky.social ay.bsky.social @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social

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Reposted by Clare Mackay

Jude Stevenson @judestevenson.bsky.social · May 19

A new publication from University of Bath DClinPsy on #hairpulling #trichotillomania where I was #ExpertByExperience and external supervisor.

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Reposted by Clare Mackay

Oxford Medical Sciences Division @medsci.ox.ac.uk · May 16

🎉 Huge congratulations to all the @medsci.ox.ac.uk teams and individuals nominated in @ox.ac.uk VC Awards.

The winners were announced at a ceremony hosted by the Vice-Chancellor yesterday.

View the winners and highly commended nominations 👉 hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/vice-chancel...

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Reposted by Clare Mackay

Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social · May 15

Holly Haines is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychiatry and Dementia Theme Co-Ordinator at Oxford Health BRC. She highlights that what’s good for the heart is good for the brain – and research shows that this is true throughout the lifespan, even for children and teenagers.

“Things like obesity and physical inactivity affect our heart health and research shows they also affect our brains – potentially as early as adolescence. This means that simple lifestyle changes, like eating healthier and moving more, could protect our long-term brain health.” Holly Haines, Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford

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Reposted by Clare Mackay

Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford @oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social · May 12

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek we asked researchers what one fact they wished more people knew about brain and mental health.

#ThisIsMyCommunity #MHAWeek2025 #mentalhealth

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · May 13

Eventually get round to rebooking. Tried to book at same time as hubby = impossible (we see different availability). Chose slot from inconvenient options, system says 'that slot is no longer available'.

I GIVE UP!

Altruism/civic duty shouldn't be this hard! (3/3)

#nhs #givingblood

Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · May 13

In 2025 I have to... Create an account, make a booking (v limited slots, mostly inconvenient times), booking cancelled on the day of the apt, get a call from blood donation service to rebook, no slots available - embarrased tele-guy told me to look out for cancelations (!) (2/3)

Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · May 13

Rants about things that used to be easy and are now really hard...

Giving blood

I used to be a regular. I would rock up to a clinic at the hospital where I work, deliver my pint of blood, and be back at my desk within 30 mins

1/3

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Reposted by Clare Mackay

Rethink Mental Illness @rethinkcharity.bsky.social · May 12

🎉 It's #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek!

💜 Join us. Share this post so that people know where to turn for support.

A graphic displaying 6 different mental health helplines to call during mental health awareness week:

- Samaritans (116 123)
- Rethink Mental Illness (0808 801 0525)
- The Mix (online chat service - themix.org.uk
- CALMzone (0800 58 58 58)
- Shout (text SHOUT to 85258)
- YoungMinds (0808 802 5544)

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Clare Mackay @claremackay.bsky.social · May 8

Thank you @rethinkcharity.bsky.social for giving BFRBs the prominence they deserve on your website! www.rethink.org/advice-and-i...

Reposted by Clare Mackay

Dr Lucy Foulkes @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social · May 7

Are you a UK psychiatrist with views to share about self-diagnosis?

We’re looking for UK-based psychiatrists who work with young people aged 10–24 and would be available to take part in a 45-minute online interview

(cont below)

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY 🤩

University of Oxford. What do you think about self-diagnosis of mental disorders? Are you:
- A UK based psychiatrist who works with adolescents (aged 10-24 years)
- Available for a 45 minute online interview
Come take part in our study!
Contact: sara.svobodova@bnc.ox.ac.uk or lucy.foulkes@psych.ox.ac.uk for more information

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Reposted by Clare Mackay

Dr Lucy Foulkes @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social · May 2

I've just come across this, published last year, and the findings are surprising and important

Public attitudes towards people with mental health problems improved from 2008 to 2019 - but then *decreased*. Found across three measures of stigma.

Why?

tinyurl.com/mvuhvz3r

(cont)

Fig. 2 Marginal estimates of stigma-related attitudes (CAMI), knowledge (MAKS) and desire for social distance (RIBS intended behaviour), by year (95% confidence intervals).

CAMI, Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill scale; MAKS, Mental Health Knowledge Schedule; RIBS, Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale.

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