News
Antidepressant prescription numbers rising more rapidly for autistic adults
Antidepressant prescribing has increased more rapidly among autistic adults than non-autistic adults between 1997 and 2023. A new study led by researchers at the University of Bristol and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Bristol has found that in 2023, 30% of autistic adults were prescribed an antidepressant, compared with 7.9% of…
From lived experience to the international stage: reflections from ISPS 2026
Peer Mental Health Researcher Harry Dyson has contributed to the BRC-supported Psychosis and Urban Living (PAUL) Project since its inception several years ago. In July of this year, he attended and spoke at the 24th congress of the International Society for…
Study reveals inequalities in eating disorder symptoms among UK adolescents
Nearly 1 in 10 adolescents may be experiencing elevated eating disorder symptoms, according to new research that highlights important differences in eating disorder symptoms across sex, ethnicity, gender identity and socioeconomic background. The study, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, analysed data from more than…
Analysing sleep may help us monitor brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease
Sleep may contain information to help us understand and potentially monitor some of the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the University of Camerino, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, have shown that poor sleep may not simply be a consequence of the disease. It may also…
Remote technology could make sleep and dementia research more accessible
Older people, including those with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, can successfully take part in long-term sleep research from home when technology is simple, reliable and supported by researchers, a new study has found. Researchers from the University of Bristol, North Bristol NHS Trust and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre:…
Antidepressant use in pregnancy linked to small increases in some birth risks, study finds
An international study led by researchers from the UK, Norway and Sweden has found that antidepressant use during pregnancy may be associated with a small increase in the risk of preterm birth and a low Apgar score, although the overall chance of these outcomes remained low. The research,…
Bristol psychiatrist wins prestigious NIHR Rising Research Leaders Prize
A University of Bristol clinical academic psychiatrist developing new ways to improve perinatal mental health support has received a prestigious national research leadership prize. Dr Katie Hall, a psychiatrist and NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, has been named one of…
Novel delivery of therapist-led online CBT helps people with depression, major trial finds
A new way of delivering therapist-led online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can reduce symptoms of depression and improve function, according to new University of Bristol-led research published in The Lancet Primary Care. Depression affects millions of people and can have a major impact on daily life, relationships…
Researcher perspectives: Sophie Fairweather
Sophie Fairweather is one of our PhD students. She is exploring whether we can predict the risk of someone developing anxiety and depression in childhood by using information we have about their early life. She is supervised by Professor Golam Khandaker and Dr Hannah Jones. In July 2026 we spoke…