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Mood disorders

Mood disorders include depressive and bipolar disorders. Our research investigates the causes and symptoms of these disorders and how to prevent them or manage them more effectively using medication, psychological treatments and practical interventions.

Groups within this theme

Oxford Brain Health Clinical Trials Unit is the only mental and cognitive health specific CTU in the UK. Our mission is to conduct high quality and patient-centric research that enables clinicians to improve patient care.

Oxford Brain Health Clinical Trials Unit

We work to understand the cognitive, biological, emotional and somatic processes underpinning the severe eating disorder Anorexia Nervosa in particular, and Eating Disorders in general. Our trans-disciplinary research, involving clinicians and neuroscientists, aims to translate research findings into novel treatment strategies.

Oxford Brain-Body Research into Eating Disorders

Psychotropic drug treatment is often prescribed to help people with mental health problems but its use can be controversial. The work of the group aims to understand how psychotropic drugs work from a molecular level through to clinical research in patients.

Clinical Psychopharmacology

Using computer models of behaviour, we aim to better understand anxiety and depression, and to guide the development of novel treatments.

Computational Psychiatry

Our research includes projects in the epidemiology of mental illness and violent crime, violence risk assessment, prison health, pharmacoepidemiology studies, forensic services, and suicide and self-harm in prisoners and offenders.

Forensic Psychiatry

Our mission is to prevent depression and enhance human potential across the lifespan through the therapeutic use of mindfulness.

University of Oxford Mindfulness Research Centre

Our research aims to understand how individual genes contribute to the complex brain functions that are impaired in people with psychiatric disorders. By understanding these links we hope to improve treatments for these disorders.

Neural Correlates of Gene Function

Why do some people suffer from depression and memory loss as they age, whereas others stay well for the whole of their lives? We examine the effect of genes and life history on ageing using neuropsychology and neuro-imaging techniques as part of large scale epidemiological and experimental medicine studies.

Neurobiology of Ageing

We explore how the brain processes emotional information and how this is influenced by brain chemicals and medicines. This helps us to understand disorders such as depression and anxiety and to understand and contribute to the development of drug and psychological treatments.

Psychopharmacology and Emotion Research Laboratory

We work with schools, the local authority and mental health services, to work out how best to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. In 2019, we started an important survey of school pupils in Oxfordshire. Over 4000 pupils in 36 schools took part and we were able to share all relevant results with schools and services. We now plan to increase the numbers of young people participating, so we can better understand how to support them.

School Mental Health

Centre for Suicide Research

Centre for Suicide Research