Helen Minnis

Prof. Helen Minnis is Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow. Her clinical and research work has long focused on the mental health needs of children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and early adversity. Her research aims to improve understanding and treatment of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental difficulties among children in foster care, adoptive families, and high-risk environments.

Prof. Minnis currently leads several intervention studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of specialized services for children in out-of-home care. One trial evaluates an infant mental health service designed to support the development of young children in foster placements. Another focuses on Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) for primary school-aged children who have been adopted or are in foster care, aiming to strengthen attachment relationships and reduce emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Her research also explores the intersection of neurodevelopmental disorders and childhood maltreatment using behavioral genetics methodologies. This includes examining how abuse and neglect may interact with neurodevelopmental vulnerability across the life course.

Prof. Minnis collaborates with leading institutions across Europe, including the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London; the Universities of Aalborg and Aarhus in Denmark; and the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In addition to her research and clinical work, Prof. Minnis contributes to postgraduate training and interdisciplinary collaboration, helping to advance trauma-informed mental health care and evidence-based interventions for vulnerable children and adolescents.