Chris Dowrick

Chris Dowrick is Professor of Primary Medical Care at the University of Liverpool with a broad academic and clinical perspective. He maintains an active clinical practice as a General Practitioner with Aintree Park Group Practice while also serving as Professorial Research Fellow with the Department of General Practice at the University of Melbourne. Internationally, he chairs the Working Party for Mental Health in the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA), demonstrating his global influence in primary care mental health.

Professor Dowrick's research program critically examines depression in primary care settings, medically unexplained symptoms, patient-centered approaches to mental healthcare, and strategies for improving mental health services for marginalized populations. His work spans diagnostic frameworks, the impact of psychosocial interventions, patient-based outcomes, and the relationship between concepts of self and healthcare consultations. His scholarly contributions include two significant books: 'Person-centred Primary Care: Searching for the Self' (Routledge 2018) and 'Global Primary Mental Health Care' (Routledge 2020).

His recent publications reveal a strong trajectory in integrating mental health care with general primary care services, with particular emphasis on depression management, antidepressant use, and innovative approaches to mental health support including digital interventions and music-based therapies. His work bridges local UK healthcare contexts with global primary care systems, addressing implementation challenges across diverse settings.

Professor Dowrick's significant contributions to the field have been recognized with:

• George Abercrombie Award from the Royal College of General Practitioners (2017)
• Senior Investigator Emeritus designation from the National Institute for Health Research (2016)

His extensive research portfolio includes major projects funded by the Department of Health & Social Care (UK), Medical Research Council, European Commission, and Wellcome Trust, including the REDUCE programme on antidepressant discontinuation, integration of mental health with non-communicable disease management, and initiatives focused on mental health for refugees and asylum seekers. He has supervised numerous doctoral students whose research addresses critical issues in mental health, palliative care, and support for caregivers.

Professor Dowrick actively contributes to academic discourse as Editor of 'Chronic Illness' since 2004, and through professional leadership as Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine. His work exemplifies the integration of clinical practice, academic research, and global health policy to advance primary care mental health services worldwide.