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Psychopharmacology

Colourful brain scan image of a neurotransmitter receptor ligand © © Phil Cowen

In the last century discoveries in psychopharmacology transformed psychiatry and radically improved the treatment of serious mental illness. Drug treatment still plays an important role in the treatment of serious psychiatric disorder but it is important to improve current pharmacological treatments in terms of both effectiveness and safety. In the Department we investigate all aspects of psychopharmacology from molecular studies to experimental medicine through to large-scale clinical trials. 



Groups within this theme

Our research aims to understand how psychotropic drugs work at molecular level. By exploring this through clinical research in patients we contribute to the development of new evidence-based pharmacological treatments for severe mental illness.
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 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
We are dedicated to testing and developing new ways of improving treatments for psychiatric disorders, and maintaining brain health during aging. A significant proportion of people suffering from disturbances of mood and memory, do not respond to the available medication, and so there is an urgency to supplement or provide an alternative to current therapies.
Neurobiology and Experimental Therapeutics
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 are interested in the molecular and neural basis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and how the risk genes for these disorders operate. We use a range of platforms, methods, and collaborations, to carry out this work.
Translational Neurobiology of Psychosis
We have three main areas of activity, all aiming towards secondary prevention of dementia. By understanding disease mechanisms we seek potential therapeutics; through discovery of biomarkers we hope to enable preventative trials, and with informatics we utilise large biological and clinical datasets in the support of translational neuroscience.
Translational Neuroscience & Dementia Research

Publications

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