Kate Tchanturia is a Georgian‑British clinical psychologist and academic specialising in eating disorders. She holds the position of Professor of Psychology of Eating Disorders at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) within King's College London. In addition, she serves as Consultant Psychologist for the National Eating Disorder Service at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and is president of the Eating Disorders Research Society.
Early life and education
- Birthplace: Georgia (formerly part of the Soviet Union).
- Undergraduate: BSc in General and Experimental Psychology, Tbilisi State University, 1982.
- Doctorate: PhD in Experimental Psychology, Tbilisi State University, 1988.
Career trajectory
| Year | Position / Activity |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Associate Professor, Tbilisi State University |
| 1997 | Relocated to London, United Kingdom |
| 1998‑2003 | Clinical Research Fellow, IoPPN, King's College London |
| 2001 | Chartered Clinical Psychologist (UK) |
| 2004 | Lecturer in Mental Health Studies and Eating Disorders, IoPPN |
| 2014 | Elected Fellow of the British Psychological Society |
| Present | Professor of Psychology of Eating Disorders, King's College London; Consultant Psychologist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; President, Eating Disorders Research Society |
Research focus
Tchanturia’s work centres on the cognitive and socio‑emotional aspects of eating disorders. Key areas include:
- Cultural variations in how eating disorders present across populations.
- Cognitive profiles, particularly inflexible and detail‑focused thinking styles, addressed through Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT).
- Emotion processing and translation of experimental findings into clinical interventions.
- Comorbidity with autism spectrum conditions, leading to the development of the PEACE pathway (Pathway for Eating disorders and Autism) that tailors treatment for patients exhibiting both eating‑disorder and autistic traits.
Her research has highlighted that a substantial proportion of individuals with anorexia nervosa display autistic characteristics, influencing prognosis and informing specialised therapeutic approaches.
Selected contributions
- Development and implementation of the PEACE pathway, now adopted within NHS services for integrated care.
- Adaptation of CRT and the combined Cognitive Remediation and Emotion Skills Training (CREST) programmes for diverse age groups and languages.
- Publication of a guide titled Supporting Autistic People with Eating Disorders (2021), offering evidence‑based recommendations for clinicians.
Professional affiliations
- Fellow, British Psychological Society (2014).
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
- President, Eating Disorders Research Society.
Recognition
Tchanturia has received national awards in Georgia and the United Kingdom for her contributions to psychology and mental‑health research, underscoring her influence on both academic scholarship and clinical practice.
The information above is drawn from publicly available biographical sources, including her university profile and a Wikipedia entry summarising verified career details.