Clinical Psychopharmacology

The chance discovery of psychotropic drugs in the middle of the last century transformed the practice of psychiatry. However in recent years, with dwindling industry investment, the development of new psychotropic drugs has been relatively slow. It is therefore crucial for academia to stimulate the process of drug discovery.

The Clinical Psychopharmacology group comprises of collaborations between basic scientists and clinicians, using techniques such as pharmacological challenge, neuroimaging, neuropsychological testing and drug repurposing to explore the mechanisms of new and existing psychopharmacological treatments in psychiatry.

On order to inform a ‘precision medicine’ approach to treatment, we explore the different mechanistic pathways that can lead to severe mental illness. For example, there is increasing evidence that inflammation may play a role in the symptoms of depression. Our group is currently investigating if the anti-inflammatory properties of a type of drug commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol, called statins, has antidepressant effects. By exploring the influence of statins on emotional processing, in collaboration with the Oxford Psychopharmacology and Emotion Laboratory (PERL), we can gain insight into potential inflammatory mechanisms of depression.

Brain imaging is an important part of understanding how psychotropic drugs work and we have collaborations with the IMANOVA PET Institute at the Hammersmith Hospital and with the Oxford Centre for Functional Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB). Our current work focuses on the clinical application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRS). We are using MRS to measure levels of certain neurometabolites that are important for energy production; this has enabled us to study the brain chemistry of chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as the symptoms of fatigue experienced by some patients recovering from COVID-19. 

Lithium is still the best mood stabiliser for patients with bipolar disorder. However, it has some problematic long-term side effects and is not well-tolerated. In collaboration with colleagues in the University Department of Pharmacology we are exploring the potential of a safe antioxidant drug called ebselen as a lithium mimetic. Our initial studies suggest some efficacy of ebselen in the treatment of mania and we are currently assessing its effects in patients with depression.