Dr Megan Crawford
Reader
Psychology
Personal statement
I joined the School of Psychological Sciences and Health in 2019 after studying and working in Wales, USA, and Australia.
I consider myself a sleep researcher and have a particular interest in the treatment of chronic sleep problems such as insomnia and sleep apnoea.
Area of Expertise
Insomnia
Sleep Apnoea
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Treatment Adherence
Behaviour Change
Prize And Awards
- Best Poster Presentation
- Recipient
- 2016
- Outstanding Reviewer Status
- Recipient
- 2015
- SRS Honorable Mention Abstract Award
- Recipient
- 2012
- Weinmann Young Investigators Mobility Award
- Recipient
- 2010
- Best Young Researcher Poster Presentation
- Recipient
- 2007
Publications
- Response to Martin‐Olalla and Mira's Letter to the Editor ‘Seasonal Daylight Saving Time in UK: A Long‐Standing, Successful Record With Few Reasons to Alter’
- Crawford Megan R, Winnebeck Eva C, von Schantz Malcolm, Gardani Maria, Miller Michelle A, Revell Victoria, Hare Alanna, Horton Caroline L, Durrant Simon, Steier Joerg
- Journal of Sleep Research (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.70022
- The British Sleep Society position statement on Daylight Saving Time in the UK
- Crawford Megan R, Winnebeck Eva C, Schantz Malcolm von, Gardani Maria, Miller Michelle A, Revell Victoria, Hare Alanna, Horton Caroline L, Durrant Simon, Steier Joerg
- Journal of Sleep Research (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.14352
- Changing the organizational work schedule of shift workers leads to improved sleep – an editorial
- Vallières Annie, Crawford Megan R
- SLEEP Vol 47 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae103
- The impact of symptom clusters on endocrine therapy adherence in patients with breast cancer
- Agnew Sommer, Crawford Megan, MacPherson Iain, Shiramizu Victor, Fleming Leanne
- The Breast Vol 75 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2024.103731
- A systematic review of the methodologies implemented in adolescent self-harm Ecological Momentary Assessment studies
- Martin Bethany, Rasmussen Susan, Russell Kirsten, Crawford Megan, Whittaker Spence Hayden
- Suicide & Self-Harm Early and Mid-Career Researchers’ Forum (2024)
- Effect of high-risk sleep apnea on treatment-response to a tailored digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia program : a quasi-experimental trial
- Sweetman Alexander, Reynolds Chelsea, Lack Leon, Vakulin Andrew, Chai-Coetzer Ching Li, Wallace Douglas M, Crawford Megan, Richardson Cele
- Frontiers in Sleep Vol 3 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.3389/frsle.2024.1355468
Teaching
I currently teach on both undergraduate and postgraduate courses within the School of Psychological Sciences.
I am class lead for the MSc Health Psychology Related To Medical Conditions.
I also supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.
Research Interests
My research focuses on optimising psychological treatments for sleep disorders. In my research, I have focused on optimisation through measuring and improving treatment adherence, improving access to treatments and ensuring that the treatment is generalisable to a number of different groups.
My work on treatment adherence started during my PhD, and since then I have developed a theoretical model to explain adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for sleep apnoea. The model focused on the synergy between psychological, biological and social factors.
Improving access to treatment is particularly relevant for individuals experiencing insomnia since the treatment of choice (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) is not readily accessible. As a consequence, digital interventions have been developed to improve access. I recently evaluated one of these interventions as a potential treatment for sleep problems in chronic migraineurs.
This study also nicely dovetailed into my third research interest which is ensuring that treatment is generalisable to other groups. So far I have evaluated CBT in individuals with migraines and also individuals with sleep apnoea. This research has demonstrated that we can treat insomnia when it co-occurs in the context of other conditions.
Professional Activities
- BBC Radio London afternoon show- BBC Lancashire- Daylight Saving Time- British Sleep Society Position Statement
- Recipient
- 28/10/2024
- Scottish Sun- Daylight Saving Time- British Sleep Society Position Statement
- Recipient
- 26/10/2024
- Euronews- Daylight Saving Time- British Sleep Society Position Statement
- Recipient
- 26/10/2024
- The Herald- Daylight Saving Time- British Sleep Society Statement
- Recipient
- 26/10/2024
- U105 -Daylight Saving Time- British Sleep Society Position Statement
- Recipient
- 25/10/2024
- BBC Breakfast- Daylight Saving Time- British Sleep Society Position Statement
- Recipient
- 25/10/2024
Projects
- eXcite OSA - developing an adherence support and sleep education programme
- Crawford, Megan (Principal Investigator)
- Producing an adherence support programme that can be integrated into the eXciteOSA app. eXcite OSA is a new daytime treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea
- 02-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2022
- Digital Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia in Chronic Migraines: Feasibility of a Randomised Controlled Trial
- Crawford, Megan (Principal Investigator) Fleming, Leanne (Co-investigator)
- 22-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2025
- 24hr movement behaviours in parents and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes
- Kirk, Alison (Co-investigator) Crawford, Megan (Principal Investigator) Janssen, Xanne (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2020 - 30-Jan-2025
- Non-adherence to hormonal therapy in breast cancer survivors: systematic review and qualitative analysis of the role of sleep disturbance
- Fleming, Leanne (Principal Investigator) Crawford, Megan (Co-investigator) Dixon, Diane (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2020 - 30-Jan-2020
- Improving sleep of adolescents- The Strathclyde Sleep for ScHools (SSSH) project
- Crawford, Megan (Principal Investigator) Boyle, Jim (Co-investigator) Fleming, Leanne (Co-investigator)
- 17-Jan-2019 - 31-Jan-2021