NIHR grant supports research into anxiety disorders in young children
20 August 2019
Professor Cathy Creswell of the Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Oxford has been awarded a £2.5 million grant from the National Institute for Health Research to develop and evaluate procedures for identifying and treating anxiety disorders in primary school aged children.
First Female Professor of Psychiatry in the Department
20 August 2019
Awards Mental Health Psychosis Schizophrenia
Professor Belinda Lennox has been given the title of Professor of Psychiatry in the 2019 Recognition of Distinction Exercise at the University of Oxford.
Oxford Short Course in Experimental Medicine for Mental Health - OxCEMM
1 August 2019
This new course ran for the first time in January 2019, with an engaging and thought-provoking programme of talks, tours of facilities and group discussions. Feedback from participants was uniformly excellent. Applications for the January 2020 course open on 15th August 2019.
New book – Mindfulness: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Psychology
1 August 2019
From leading meditation teacher Christina Feldman and distinguished psychologist Willem Kuyken, this book provides a uniquely integrative perspective on mindfulness and its applications.
Close Monitoring Essential to Ensure Safety of Ketamine for Depression
30 July 2019
Patients, carers and advocates say better evidence is needed on the safety of ketamine for depression after long-term use, and that those prescribed it must be closely monitored.
The Robert Kerwin International Conference Bursary - British Association of Psychopharmacology
29 July 2019
The British Association of Psychopharmacology awards two bursaries each year to commemorate Robert Kerwin’s efforts in supporting and mentoring early career researchers. Nicola Hall, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Psychiatry, has been awarded the Robert Kerwin International Conference Bursary.
£9 million investment for health and social care research
11 July 2019
Awards Integrated care Mental Health Patient involvement Public involvement
The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration for Oxford and Thames Valley will launch in October 2019. It is one of 15 ARC's across England, each will work with local and national partners to address some of the nation’s most pressing challenges faced by the health and care system over the next 5 years, including dementia, obesity and mental health.
Switching Perceptions wins Vice-Chancellor’s Public Engagement Award - engaging through art in psychiatric illnesses
10 July 2019
Awards Events Mental Health Patient involvement Psychological therapy
Associate Professor Liz Tunbridge, Department of Psychiatry, has won a Project Award in this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Public Engagement with Research Awards, alongside artist Eleanor Minney. The work of Liz and Eleanor was recognised in the Projects Awards category for activities that have engaged in public dialogue and consultation.
Oxford Health uses Oxehealth technology to transform patient observations at night
9 July 2019
Mental Health Trust uses clinically validated digital technology to enable nurses to carry out vital checks on patients with mental health conditions, without disturbing their sleep.
Epilepsy drugs linked to increased risk of suicidal behaviour, particularly in young people
1 July 2019
Treatment with gabapentinoids - a group of drugs used for epilepsy, nerve pain and anxiety disorders - is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour, unintentional overdose, injuries, and road traffic incidents.
Self-harm in Children and Adolescents: A Major Health and Social Problem of our Time
1 July 2019
Mental Health Psychological therapy Self-harm Suicide
In the Jack Tizard Memorial Lecture during the Association for Child and Mental Health National Conference at the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Keith Hawton, highlighted the very worrying recent increases in rates of suicide in England in older adolescents and the big rise in self-harm in young teenage females.
Experts call for new kind of registry for deployment of psychedelics as medicines
1 July 2019
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently licensed a form of ketamine – esketamine – as a treatment for depression which is resistant to other treatments. It is administered as a nasal spray in a clinic, initially twice a week, then weekly or fortnightly. Regular doses of the drug are necessary to prevent relapse.
Virtual Reality Could Transform Psychological Therapy in the NHS
27 June 2019
Anxiety Early intervention Mental Health Psychological therapy Schizophrenia Virtual reality
A new clinical trial is testing a virtual reality (VR) based psychological therapy for people with severe mental health difficulties. gameChange is the largest ever clinical trial of virtual reality for a mental health disorder. Automated delivery of therapy using VR has potential to transform NHS provision of psychological therapy.
Clinical Guidelines for Antidepressant Dosage Must Reflect the Evidence
10 June 2019
New analysis shows the lower range of the licensed dose of the most commonly used second-generation antidepressants achieves the optimal balance between efficacy, tolerability and acceptability in the acute treatment of adults with major depression.
Cristal Health uses industrial scale data science to improve lives
4 June 2019
New spinout enterprise from Oxford seeks to accelerate evidence based innovation for treatments and services in mental health and dementia.
Illuminating the brain – Neuroscientist Dr Karl Deisseroth
21 May 2019
Dr Karl Deisseroth, D.H. Chen Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, was in Oxford last week for the Kyoto Prize at Oxford. He visited the Department of Psychiatry and discussed his work with Head of Department Professor John Geddes and team.
Dementias Platform UK datathon - understanding origins of dementia using machine learning
20 May 2019
Dementia Early intervention Events
Using machine learning (AI) techniques to analyse complex cohort data, a group of researchers uncovered hidden patterns in cohort data that might identify those at risk of developing dementia, or indicate promising areas for research into treatments.
Future of Children and Young People’s Mental Health
14 May 2019
Anxiety Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Child and adolescent Early intervention Mental Health
Professor of Psychology, Cathy Creswell joins the University of Oxford in a new dual role between the Departments of Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology.
3-dimensional landscape of European data availability for Alzheimer’s disease research launched
10 May 2019
The ROADMAP project launches its Data Cube. The Cube offers a dynamic overview of the ‘landscape’ of data availability in Europe for Alzheimer’s disease research.
Mental illness in children and adolescents: neuroscience, ethics and practice in psychopharmacology
30 April 2019
Child and adolescent Events Mental Health
Dr Gabriela Pavarini took part in the Festival of Neuroscience in Dublin organised by the British Neuroscience Association to celebrate and share the latest thinking in neuroscience today.