About
Dr. Whitney Scott is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Health Psychology at King's College London and a Clinical Psychologist at the INPUT Pain Management Unit at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital. Her research focuses on psychosocial factors in chronic pain, with a special emphasis on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and its online delivery for diverse populations including people living with HIV and severe mental illness.
- PhD in Clinical Psychology, McGill University (Canada)
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Health Psychology at King’s College London (2014-2019)
Research Interests:
Whitney Scott’s work investigates the role of psychological flexibility, stigma, and social context in chronic pain experiences. Key areas include adapting ACT for specific populations (HIV, Type 2 Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis), evaluating virtual pain management programs during the pandemic, and developing interventions for sexual difficulties in MS patients. Her recent studies examine weight discrimination in pain outcomes and the psychometrics of stigma measurement tools.
Publication Trends:
Scott’s recent publications (2023-2025) focus on ACT-based interventions, stigma analysis in chronic pain, telemedicine applications, and interdisciplinary approaches to fibromyalgia and HIV-related neuropathy. She collaborates extensively on systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Scientific Awards:
- IASP John J Bonica Postdoctoral Fellowship (2014-2016)
Advising & Grants:
Scott has supervised research projects on ACT adaptations for fibromyalgia and HIV-related pain, funded by the MRC Medical Research Council and NIHR National Institute for Health Research. She contributes to public engagement through blogs and podcasts.
Labs & Teams:
She works within the Health Psychology Section at King’s College London, part of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. Scott collaborates internationally on projects like PAINSTORM and MICA, focusing on neuropathic pain mechanisms and outcomes.
