Derrol joined the university in the spring of 2001. Prior to this he'd worked in psychiatric hospitals as an assistant nurse and assistant psychologist. It was here that his interest in schizophrenia and - in particluar - delusions and hallucinations was first kindled. Tired of endless form filling he left the NHS to pursue a career in lecturing. This led him to York University where he did an M.A. and Ph.D. both of which examined aspects of schizophrenic talk that are generally considered ‘incomprehensible’ or ‘bizarre’. His current research interests are in the analysis of disordered communications (using conversation analysis) and the phenomenology of psychotic experience (using patients’ autobiographies). He used to keep bees but is now striving to become Yorkshire’s leading mandolin player.

• The diagnosis of psychotic disorders
• The experiences of hallucinations and delusions

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