For the letter T in our A-Z series, Chris discusses the emerging field of Therapygenetics.
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Depression is the fifth leading cause of the global burden of disease and first leading mental health cause (Vos et al., 2017). Whilst everyone experiences sadness and perhaps even depression at times in their lives, perhaps following loss of a loved one, those with clinical depression experience symptoms that go…
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological therapy, most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders and depression. CBT is a talking therapy that explores the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It is a structured, goal-oriented, skills-based treatment that uses both cognitive and behavioural techniques to change the way…
The idea that talking about your feelings is a good thing is definitely not new. Folk wisdom dictates “Get it off your chest and you’ll feel better” and research seems to agree. Experimental research in the last few decades has explored the mechanisms of verbalizing affect more closely.
This week we talked to Kaye Blegvad, author of the incredible “Dog Years: An illustrated Book About Mental Health” her experience of living with depression, including friendships, genetics and stigma. How did you come up with the idea of a naughty black dog to represent your depression? I…
I have just finished reading a book by the British clinical psychologist David Smail (1938 – 2014), called “Power Interest and Psychology: Elements of a materialist understanding of distress”. My housemate bought Smail’s book after I complained that his opinions on mental health were out of date, based on literature…
Last year, Rosa [Cheesman, EDIT Lab PhD student] wrote about the state of refugees’ mental health in camps, and the factors underpinning resilience to mental health issues as a result of trauma. Continuing the theme, Shivani [Parikh, EDIT Lab placement student] has investigated how the Syrian Civil War might alter children’s development. This article…
In any given year, one in four people experience a mental health problem, and for 81% their first contact with mental health services is through their GP. However, knowing how to explain how you’re feeling to someone who isn’t a trained psychologist can be incredibly difficult. Last year, the mental…
Thalia’s recent blog post highlighted the devastating fact that suicide is now the leading cause of death of young people (ages 20-34) in England and Wales. Moreover, the issue of the gender difference in suicide rates was raised. Thalia’s post noted that “whilst women are much more likely to be…
It might surprise you that your body is made up of only 10% human cells. There are trillions of microscopic creatures living and dying all over you, and these are particularly diverse and numerous in the human gut. Mounting evidence suggests that microbes aren’t all enemies but are vital to…
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