Richard Bentall

Richard Bentall (1956 -) holds a Chair in Experimental Clinical psychology at the University of Manchester, UK. Born in Sheffield, he attended the University College of North Wales, Bangor as an undergraduate before taking a Ph.D. in experimental psychology at the same institution. After achieving his doctorate, he moved to the University of Liverpool to obtain a qualification in clinical psychology before achieving an MA in philosophy applied to health care from University of Wales, Swansea. He later returned to his alma mater of Liverpool to work as a lecturer after a brief stint working for the National Health Service as a forensic clinical psychologist. He was appointed as a professor at Liverpool before his 1999 move to the University of Manchester.

He is particularly well known for his work on psychosis, delusions and hallucinations and has published extensively in this area. He also has an interest in differences between human and animal pedagogy and the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

In 1989 he was awarded the British Psychological Society's 'May Davidson Award' for contributions to the field of clinical psychology.

He has edited and authored several books, most notably the recent Madness Explained.

Currently, he lives with his partner, Aisling, and their twin children Fintan and Keeva.