CORE was established in 1995 to promote effectiveness based research within applied psychology. The initial focus of the unit was on outcomes research led by Dr Paul Clifford. In 2000 Professor Steve Pilling became the Director, and since that time the unit has focused on four main areas: The development of clinical guidelines, particularly in mental health The evaluation of complex interventions in mental health The evaluation and development of psychological Interventions, in particular low intensity interventions Competence frameworks for psychological interventions