Should psychiatrists think more about physical pain? That's the lead item in this week's Thought Formation. Also featured: #mentalhealth & firearm injury; AI & the placebo effect; and the strange, dark life of the inventor of the EEG. thoughtformation.substack.com/p/a-real-pain

This week's Thought Formation: psychotherapy, nostalgia, the stomach-brain connection, and specific phobias. Includes one of the greatest sentences I've read in the medical literature: "Men may have a more cavalier attitude to vomiting than women." #mentalhealth open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

“Depression ain’t funny.” Wasn’t aware of this until the Sunday Times reprinted it. Ozzy Osbourne’s advice to a reader with depression. Rarely seen someone talking about #mentalhealth and the pros/cons of antidepressants with such an amazing combination of empathy, clarity, frankness, and humour.

Psychedelics in mental health: still a field full of hype, hope… & huge gaps in evidence buff.ly/nBGYa3B New blog by leading experts sets out 5 priorities to move the field forward — from better trial design to preparing health systems. Let’s unpack them 👇 🧵 THREAD #Psychedelics #MentalHealth

Finally saw ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, and I think that over the past 30 years, Wes Anderson’s output has gone from ‘Rushmore’ to the kind of films Max from ‘Rushmore’ would make.

Want to work with us on developing one of the biggest prizes in mental health science? Submit your EOI by 24th June and you'll get access to our webinar for further information!

We're looking for a supplier to help design & facilitate the first cycle of a major new prize in mental health science. Interested suppliers must be able to run a global prize that is inclusive, impactful, academically rigorous & technically robust. Submit your EOI by 24 June! Find out more ⬇️

🚨New Contract Opportunity in Mental Health🚨 And it's a big one! Read on for more info and details Can your organisation help us build a depressed mood mission map? EOI: 02/07 Full Applications: 08/08 Register for our live webinar on 19th June: wellcome-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

What's holding back drug repurposing in mental health? That's the big question in this week's Thought Formation. Plus: the long shadow of 9/11, rethinking schizophrenia, and worrying figures on the mental health of medical students. open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

Not entirely sure what this means, but it’s definitely the first time I’ve seen a fashion collection inspired by a neurotransmitter.

What is "metaphorical brain talk", and how might it damage trust in psychiatry? That's just one of the questions answered in this week's Thought Formation, my pick of recent #mentalhealth articles. It's all here, all free, and I hope you enjoy it. open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

‘“All the younger people...were just much more optimistic and hopeful.” It was the older generation, she realised “who were panicked and anxiety-driven”.’ My interview with Sarah Baird, Co-Chair of @thelancet.com Commission on adolescent health & wellbeing. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

I thought specialising in psychiatry meant that I was done with the Krebs cycle. But just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. Plus: should psychiatrists help patients to date? How does lamotrigine work? And VR in Antarctica. All here, and all free. open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

Morning #BNA2025! ☀️ Wondering what funders are thinking about the future of UK #MentalHealthResearch? Join us at 2pm in Room 12 for the @iamhrf.bsky.social session to find out!

This week’s Thought Formation highlights two papers on controversial diagnoses: prolonged grief disorder & adult ADHD. Plus: - Can the retina help us understand schizophrenia? - Simple, but good advice to help carers of people with psychosis. All free, as ever. open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

If you'd like a free 5-minute read on interesting new #mentalhealth research, why not subscribe to Thought Formation? Tomorrow's will cover "prolonged grief disorder", adult ADHD, retinal changes with schizophrenia, and what to say to help carers. Sign up here: thoughtformation.substack.com

Big questions: - What's the difference between Portugal and British Columbia? - Does CBT work? - What's the problem with trials of #mentalhealth apps? - And can dogs help with your mental health? All for free in this week's Thought Formation. open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

This week's Thought Formation looks at why we might need to refocus our efforts on #climatechange and #mentalhealth. Plus: Childhood adversity and psychosis; the problem with mental health problems as "brain diseases"; and what is "Mushtella"? All here, all free. open.substack.com/pub/thoughtf...

“I really don’t believe in one answer, and I practise that in medicine...I’ve always lived in the grey, I think.” This weekend, Dr Libby Sallnow @uclbrainscience.bsky.social Marie Curie Research Dept was interviewed by @thelancet.bsky.social on her work: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

"The best response to criticism of our field is not words, but rather positive results." @lynseyb.bsky.social and me in the BJPsych on how to build a better future for mental health science. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

“Grief is something that is universal.” Libby Sallnow wants to change the conversation around death and dying. Here's my interview with her for @thelancet.bsky.social. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Thought Formation time! This week: listening to people who hear voices; anticholinergics and cognitive impairment; new data on physician suicide; & the benefits of mixed methods. Sign up here for a free weekly update on what's new in #mentalhealth: thoughtformation.substack.com/p/listening-...

@benaaronovitch.bsky.social Hello, Ben. Would you be able to DM me, please (it's Niall, formerly of Lancet Psychiatry; we were in touch when you were writing 'The Hanging Tree')? Thank you!

Coming soon - a new @wellcometrust.bsky.social funded Generative AI for Mental Health Research Accelerator - aiming to support foundational research on the application of generative AI to improve measurement of and intervention in anxiety, depression, & psychosis. Learn more - mexa.app/accelerator

What's it like to take psychedelic mushrooms? "My roommates came outside and, again, I was disappointed in their banter." Also this week: what we want from therapy; adverse childhood experiences and psychosis; homelessness, addiction, and treatment. thoughtformation.substack.com/p/the-ups-an...

"I’m telling you, life is chaotic, complicated, and unjust." My @thelancet.bsky.social review of frighteningly honest Apple TV+ medical drama Berlin ER/Krank Berlin, which starts streaming next week. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

My pick of the #weeklypapers in #mentalhealth includes proposed pathways to new medications, suicide prevention in early psychosis, a pandemic puzzle, and a paper that pits ChatGPT against human therapists. It's here, and it's free: thoughtformation.substack.com/p/a-formula-...

Our new target validation funding call is now live! @wellcometrust.bsky.social aims to support validation of novel targets relevant for anxiety, depression and psychosis. wellcome.org/grant-fundin... Join us for the webinar at 13:00 GMT on 25th Feb - wellcome-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Great to see our recent paper featured in @nboyce.bsky.social’s latest Friday newsletter thoughtformation.substack.com/p/what-do-ad...

New MHRA guidance out to support manufacturers navigate medical device regulations in the UK and protect users of digital mental health technologies: www.gov.uk/government/n...

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays the #weeklypapers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. What’s new in #mentalhealth?

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays the #weeklypapers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. What’s new in #mentalhealth?

Don't feel everything has to be perfect before you can allow yourself to be happy.

That reassuring thump as the #weeklypapers arrive on your Bluesky doorstep. What’s caught my eye in #mentalhealth research and comment this week?

Fantastic to see the launch of the new @wellcometrust.bsky.social funded MAMS platform for Treatment Resistant Depression: www.charite.de/en/service/p...

@wellcometrust.bsky.social wants to help find better pharmacological treatments for mental health. That’s why it’s funding novel target validation proposals related to early intervention in anxiety, depression and/or psychosis. Sign up to be notified and register for the webinar in post below ⤵️

The #weeklypapers return! What's caught my eye in the world of #mentalhealth so far this year?

The #weeklypapers return! What's caught my eye in the world of #mentalhealth so far this year?

Join the next Mexa virtual hackathon to design solutions using generative AI for mental health treatment. 📅 key dates: 𝐊𝐢𝐜𝐤-𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭: January 24, 2024 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝: January 26–29, 2024 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: February 3, 2024 Register: airtable.com/app3qpCRLWwT...

My review of IWM London's new "War and the Mind" exhibition, the main response to which thus far has been "I didn't have you down as a Guns N' Roses fan." www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

“Unshakeable memories and mutable myths; close cooperation and fierce hostility; the vivid red of propaganda posters and the dull grey of the battlefield.” My review of IWM London’s “War and the Mind” in @thelancet.bsky.social. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

“You boy, what day is this?” Why it’s Thursday, and time for the #weeklypapers, my personal selection of the most interesting recent publications in #mentalhealth.

Already tired of Wham!, Wizzard, and Slade? Switch off the radiogram and settle down with the #weeklypapers, my personal pick of new #mentalhealth publications.

*New* #openaccess SR on exercise for #PTSD: "While exercise did not significantly reduce PTSD symptom severity...its potential to improve functional outcomes and mediate neurobiological pathways...suggests that it remains a promising therapeutic avenue." wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-720

"In the UK, we will be joining Private Eye and the London Review of Books as a fortnightly print magazine." Really hoping @bmj.com also start doing @privateeyenews.bsky.social-style covers. www.bmj.com/content/387/...

All I want for Christmas is… the #weeklypapers. My personal pick of new #mentalhealth research and comment that has caught my eye.

I have crossed oceans of time to bring you the #weeklypapers: my pick of interesting new #mentalhealth research, comment, and more.

I have crossed oceans of time to bring you the #weeklypapers: my pick of interesting new #mentalhealth research, comment, and more.

AVATAR therapy shown to reduce distress associated with hearing voices in people living with psychosis. nature.com/articles/s41... Wellcome is committed to supporting development of new and improved interventions for anxiety, depression and psychosis - wellcome.org/news/avatar-... 🧪

"Shrinking" gives an inaccurate portrayal of therapy, and you definitely shouldn't try Jimmy's techniques in the clinic. Here's my Lancet article on why that might not matter. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...