Co-operation and competition in the brain - a step closer to realistic digital twin brains
16 April 2026
New study shows that a balance between cooperation and competition is a fundamental principle of how human and animal brains function, a finding which could help inform more realistic brain-like artificial intelligence, such as digital twin brains.
New mental health pathway for primary school children reduces anxiety problems – study shows
10 April 2026
A new way of supporting primary age children’s mental health via schools has been shown to be highly effective in reducing anxiety problems, according to a new trial.
Declining water levels linked to air pollution and depression severity
30 March 2026
New study highlights how water management and environmental change may be shaping mental health around the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA.
Student Wellbeing at Oxford: Waves of Evidence
30 March 2026
The authors of a new paper explain how a new methodology helped them better understand student wellbeing at Oxford and what more could be done to support mental health.
University of Oxford and the Eden Project to research how nature can promote mental health
10 March 2026
An innovative new collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Eden Project will investigate how nature can improve mental health and wellbeing.
Digital tool that personalises antidepressant treatment significantly improves outcomes of people with depression
4 March 2026
An AI-driven tool that tailors antidepressant treatment to individual patients was shown to improve outcomes for people with depression, compared to standard treatment, in a major international trial.
Targeted TUNE‑UP service boosts access to clozapine for patients - new paper
26 February 2026
A new study examining the impact of an innovative clinic has highlighted its significant impact, showing a dramatic increase in the number of patients able to start clozapine safely in the community.
Potential use for blood biomarkers in dementia diagnosis where medical resources are limited
24 February 2026
Blood biomarkers are highly accessible for use in diagnosis, and there is very strong potential for them to be valuable in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where they can be scalable and extend accurate diagnosis.
School trips key factor in belonging at school – new survey
20 February 2026
Students value school trips most highly in fostering a sense of belonging at school, according to a survey of tens of thousands of pupils in England.
Oxford to advance mental health research through £1.5 million gift
10 February 2026
The University of Oxford has received a £1.5 million gift from Bukhman Philanthropies to support new research aiming to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time – young people’s mental health.
Professor Jeremy Hall appointed Professor of Translational Psychiatry
4 February 2026
Leading neuropsychiatrist Professor Jeremy Hall is set to join the University of Oxford as Professor of Translational Psychiatry.
From the margins to many: Designing mental health systems that young people can truly trust
21 January 2026
How can we build systems that adolescents trust enough to speak honestly, and that are safe enough to receive what they say?
2025 Highlights: Head of Department
6 January 2026
Professor Belinda Lennox reflects on the past year in the Department of Psychiatry.
Research in the Department of Psychiatry in 2025
18 December 2025
Associate Head of Department for Research Professor Paul Harrison reflects on another year of progress across the Department.
People and Culture in Psychiatry in 2025
18 December 2025
Our Associate Head of Department for People and Culture Professor Catherine Harmer reflects on key achievements and activities in our People and Culture work in 2025.
New study offers breakthrough in detecting risk for psychosis and bipolar disorders
16 December 2025
A study published recently in The Lancet Psychiatry has unveiled a new approach to identifying individuals at risk of developing psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder.
Simple scoring system could help clinicians identify possible cases of NMDAR-antibody encephalitis
11 December 2025
Scientists have identified a key set of symptoms and developed a scoring system to help clinicians in frontline medical and mental health services consider the possibility of a rare form of encephalitis, which can sometimes be mistaken for psychosis.
New research collaboration to tackle ethnic inequalities in perinatal severe mental illness
10 December 2025
A ground-breaking new study aims to transform postpartum mental health care for mothers from ethnic minority backgrounds or those living in deprived areas who experience severe mental illness.
Oxford researchers to redefine new human-based research models of pain
9 December 2025
An interdisciplinary team led by Professor Zameel Cader is part of a major new initiative which aims to redefine human-based research models for greater understanding of disease and the acceleration of new medicines.
Charting the Ageing Brain: Insights from 46,000 MRI Scans
9 December 2025
What happens inside our brains as we age? In a collaborative research study recently published in Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, researchers used UK Biobank data to create an unprecedented map of brain ageing—discovering why some regions are more vulnerable than others.