- Brain stimulation: UCL has unique strengths in functional neurosurgery, cognitive science of mood disorders and mechanisms of psychological therapies. We are the only UK centre to have conducted trials of neurosurgery in severe mental health disorders (deep brain stimulation for Tourette syndrome, OCD, Lewy body and Parkinson’s disease dementia).
- New drug development and repurposing: The clinical imperative to identify safer and more effective treatments for psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease has driven our investigation of novel muscarinic (M1/M4) agonists with an industry partner Heptares and repurposing of 5HT3 (ondansetron) and 5HT2A (volinanserin) antagonists (Reeves, Howard). We investigate efficacy and mechanisms of mood stabilisers for aggression and agitated behaviour in intellectual disability where there are currently no evidence-based treatments (Hassiotis, Strydom).
- Psychological therapies: Planned theme developments include new psychotherapies for children and adolescents using mentalisation approaches, modifications of standard CBT for use in new patient groups, including intellectual disability, older people, and patients with physical healthcare co-morbidities (Fonagy, Pilling).
Our achievements include:
- We have established NHS Ablation Service at Queen Square for treatment of mental health disorders and are setting up a clinical pathway for severe treatment resistant depression to include neurosurgical treatment within Camden and Islington NHS Trust.
- UCL has led on development of non-drug interventions for psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease patients and their caregivers.
- MARQUE to treat agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease in care homes,
- Recent awards of £1.7m from NIHR for adaptation, development and trialing of problem solving therapy for depressed AD patients and £1.6m for trial of the DREAMS intervention for sleep disturbance in Alzheimer’s disease.
