Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Investigating how the immune system and sleep disorders affect mental health.

Theme Mental health

Researchers in this workstream are investigating whether problems with the immune system and with sleep contribute to causing certain types of mental illness.

For instance, we are studying whether anti-inflammatory medication can improve symptoms of psychosis in young people. We are also working to identify blood-based biomarkers that could help predict how patients will respond to new treatments for depression and psychosis. Finally, we are testing medication that changes sleep patterns. We want to see if it can improve cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Our analysis of large datasets will give us more information on the safety of medications in pregnancy. This is important because pregnant women are typically excluded from clinical trials testing the effectiveness of new medications.

Our researchers are also working on strategies to increase the number of people with neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism spectrum disorder) taking part in clinical trials. This will allow well-designed trials to take place in this underserved group.

View all research projects

Targeting inflammation to treat psychosis

The Psychosis Immune Mechanism Stratified Medicine (PIMS) trial is a proof-of-concept, randomised, double blind, placebo…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Exploring environmental risk factors for eating disorders

Eating disorders are severe mental health disorders. They often develop alongside a range of other…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Using choice architecture to help prevent eating disorders

The aim of this project is to develop a choice architecture intervention to reduce eating…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Experimental manipulation of cognitive processes

This project aims to build on our previous work around mental health interventions that target…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Psychosis prediction in primary care

Risk prediction models use data from electronic health records to predict the likelihood of something…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Identifying biomarkers for treatment response and disease prognosis

The aim of this project is to identify biomarkers that could help us predict how…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Developing a journaling intervention to address harmful use of online content in children and young people

The online environment can have both a harmful and protective effect on the mental health…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

How to evaluate trauma-informed care in community mental health services

Trauma can be caused by accidents, violence, abuse, loss, disaster, war, social injustice, and many…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Developing and testing a nature-based intervention for mothers with postnatal depression

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby.

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Developing guided EMDR to treat PTSD in primary care

Approximately four per cent of the UK population has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Changing attention bias to reduce body dissatisfaction

Eye-tracking studies have found that people living with an eating disorder are likely to pay…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Supporting neurodivergent young people who mask

Neurodivergent children and young people have a high risk of developing anxiety and depression, however…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Brainteract

The aim of this project is to understand the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Mental health and online activity – exploring training needs

Young people – aged 16-24 – are more likely to use digital technology to access…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Investigating the link between asthma and mental health in children

Asthma is the most common long-term condition among children and young people in the UK,…

Themes Mental health Respiratory disease

Workstream Exacerbation prediction and aerosol emissions

Do school PE kit policies impact girls’ body image?

The physical activity levels and self-esteem of girls decline with age. This is because adolescent…

Themes Diet and physical activity Mental health

Workstreams Population diet and physical activity Psychological interventions

Investigating the link between asthma, brain inflammation and MRI changes

Eight million people in the UK have been diagnosed with asthma. Asthma + Lung UK…

Themes Mental health Respiratory disease

Workstream Exacerbation prediction and aerosol emissions

Designing an art and wellbeing programme to help prevent anxiety and depression in schools

Taking part in art therapy and practising art can help people regulate their emotions and…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Developing novel virtual reality treatments for eating disorders

The aim of this project is to develop novel treatments for eating disorders using immersive…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Using dopamine to treat impaired memory in neurodegenerative disease

This project aims to explore if we can use dopamine to enhance sleep in people…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Adapting trial methods for neurodiverse populations

The aim of this project is to understand how we can involve people with neurodevelopmental…

Theme Mental health

Workstream Biological interventions, trial recruitment and safety

Exploring safe moderation of online suicide and self-harm content

The aim of this project is to assess the impact of blocking online self-harm content.

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions

Informing a digital intervention for self-harm

Previous longitudinal research has helped us understand lifetime/long-term predictors of self-harm thoughts and behaviour (SHTB).

Theme Mental health

Workstream Psychological interventions