UCL Div. of Psychiatry

Risk of major adverse cardiovascular events with aripiprazole versus olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone in severe mental illness: a target trial emulation - Nature Communications Initiating aripiprazole antipsychotic monotherapy versus olanzapine, quetiapine or risperidone might reduce cardiovascular event risk in severe mental illness. Here, the authors show patients initiati...

Does antipsychotic choice impact long-term risk of cardiovascular events in severe mental illness?

New study in @nature.com shows aripiprazole has similar 5‑year cardiovascular risk to most commonly used antipsychotics, and potentially lower risk than risperidone.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Academic pressure linked to increased risk of depression risk in teens Pressure to achieve at school at age 15 is linked to depressive symptoms and risk of self-harm, and the association appears to persist into adulthood, finds a study led by UCL researchers.

Pressure to achieve at school at age 15 is linked to depressive symptoms and risk of self-harm, and the association appears to persist into adulthood, finds study led by Prof Gemma Lewis, UCL Psychiatry.

www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/fe...

Today, UCL turns 200. 🎉 For two centuries, our community has opened doors, challenged convention and pushed the boundaries of knowledge across every discipline. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the UCL story, here’s to the next century. ✨

#UCL200 #LoveUCL

BBC Sounds - Shay Kaur Grewal - Available Episodes Listen to the latest episodes of Shay Kaur Grewal on BBC Sounds.

This week, PhD student Sharon Eager was interviewed @bbclondon.bsky.social about her research following
ONS findings which show that 33% of 16 to 29 year-olds in the UK report feeling lonely

Listen from 14:18 until 14:33
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...

Most Alzheimer’s cases linked to variants in a single gene Potentially more than 90% of Alzheimer’s disease cases would not occur without the contribution of a single gene (APOE), according to a new analysis led by UCL researchers.

Potentially more than 90% of Alzheimer’s disease cases would not occur without the contribution of a single gene (APOE), according to a new analysis led by Dr Dylan Williams @dylwil.bsky.social highlighting a powerful drug development target @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social @uclpophealthsci.bsky.social

12 Papers of Christmas Read a selection of publications from 2025 by UCL Division of Psychiatry colleagues

Wishing a very Merry Christmas to our amazing colleagues, students and partners! 🎄
As a festive treat, we’ve wrapped up 12 standout research papers from 2025 for you to explore.
Unwrap this year’s discoveries →

Body image issues in adolescence linked to depression in adulthood Teenagers who are unhappy with their bodies are more likely to develop symptoms of eating disorders and depression in early adulthood, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

Teenagers who are unhappy with their bodies are more likely to develop symptoms of eating disorders and depression in early adulthood, according to a new study led by @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social researchers.

Six particular depressive symptoms when experienced in midlife predict dementia risk more than two decades later, finds a new study led by Dr @philippfrank.bsky.social @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social @whitehall2study.bsky.social www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/de...

Biological signs of poor heart health linked to later dementia diagnosis – study Researchers found the link is evident up to 25 years before a dementia diagnosis.

Middle-aged adults with biological signs of poor heart health are more likely to go on to be diagnosed with dementia in later life, according to a new study from @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social.

Poorer heart health in middle age linked to increased dementia risk People with signs of damage to their heart during middle age are more likely to develop dementia in later life, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

People with signs of damage to their heart during middle age are more likely to develop dementia in later life, according to a new study led by @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social researchers.

Antidepressants improve core depressive symptoms early on One of the most common antidepressants, sertraline, contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms, including low mood, within two weeks, finds a new analysis of a major c...

One of the most common antidepressants, sertraline, contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms, including low mood, within two weeks, finds a new analysis of a major clinical trial, led by Dr @giuliapiazza.bsky.social @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social @uclpals.bsky.social

Dr Becky Appleton receives NIHR award to improve mental health support for young people Dr Becky Appleton (Division of Psychiatry) will use the NIHR award to find out which services work best for which young people.

Congrats to Dr Becky Appleton, who has been awarded a prestigious fellowship to investigate which mental health services work best for young people and how to reduce inequalities in access and outcomes

www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Neighbourhood trust benefits some but may increase mental illness risk in others Living in a neighbourhood where people trust each other is linked to an increased risk of severe mental illness among people from ethnic minority groups, despite the opposite being true for white majo...

New study finds higher levels of personal trust in the neighbourhood were associated with either a reduced or increased risk of developing psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder, depending on the person’s origin.
@uclbrainscience.bsky.social @ki.se

www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/oc...

UCL – University College London UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Apply to work with me and a great team at @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social to do some exciting research using electronic health records! The position is funded for 19 months in the first instance and you’ll be joining a fascinating NIHR project: www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

ICYMI - last week @uclbrainscience.bsky.social spoke to Dr @libbysallnow.bsky.social for #WHPCD on the importance of end of life care and why we need to talk about dying.

Causal Inference in Practice Short Course This course covers the latest developments in causal inference methods and provides practical explanations for applying them to real research questions.

Book now for next short course on Causal Inference in Practice.

This course covers the latest developments in causal inference methods and provides practical explanations for applying them to real research questions.

18th-20th Feb 2026, in person.

🔗 www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Do you have a question about genomic testing in mental health? New open access resource for mental health clinicians, developed by colleagues in UCL Division of Psychiatry, is now available on NHS England.

Do you have a question about genomic testing in mental health?

New open access resource for mental health clinicians, developed by colleagues in UCL Division of Psychiatry @uclbrainscience.bsky.social is now available on NHS England #WorldMentalHealthDay

www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

YouTube video by UCL Lunch Hour Lectures Lunch Hour Lecture | The antidepressant controversy

Last year, Profs Glyn Lewis & Gemma Lewis @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social discussed the antidepressant controversy in this Lunch Hour Lecture for #WorldMentalHealthDay

You can watch back on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cet4...

To mark #WorldMentalHealthDay, we spoke to Prof @kirkbride.bsky.social about how our environment — from green spaces to social inequality — shapes our mental wellbeing.
www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc... @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social

Today marks #WorldMentalHealthDay.

@uclgrandchallenges.bsky.social are highlighting how our pioneering research is transforming lives globally, nationally and locally. Explore @ucl.ac.uk research stories at:

ucl.ac.uk/grand-challe...

Researchers must work collaboratively with the communities they aim to involve in their studies – starting from shaping the research question, continuing through to the study’s design and implementation, and ensuring meaningful follow-up once the research concludes. This kind of partnership fosters trust, enhances the relevance of the research to those communities, and ultimately leads to greater engagement and participation.

How can we address the underrepresentation of minoritised ethnic groups in dementia research?
We spoke to Dr Natalie Marchant (@uclpsychiatry.bsky.social) about making research practices and recruitment more inclusive.
www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
#UCLDementia
@grandchallenges

Racial discrimination may increase psychosis risk Being racially or ethnically discriminated against may increase the risk of later developing psychotic symptoms, finds a major review of international evidence led by UCL researchers.

Colleagues from @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social found consistent evidence from numerous studies that racial and ethnic discrimination appears to contribute to the development of psychosis.

Read: ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/se...

@uclbrainscience.bsky.social @kirkbride.bsky.social @kingsioppn.bsky.social

Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay.
In this Q&A, Prof @alexandrapitman.bsky.social (@uclpsychiatry.bsky.social) talks about her clinical academic career in suicide prevention why collaboration and compassion are vital in her research.
www.noclor.nhs.uk/news-events/...

If you are a UCL researcher and/or clinicians from our partner NHS Trusts interested in clinical and public health research on self-harm, suicide attempt and suicide, become a member of the SIG: forms.office.com/e/pQpeV0VEn7

Today marks World Suicide Prevention Day #WSPD2025

@ucl.ac.uk SIG in Self-Harm and Suicide brings researchers and clinicians together to improve the understanding of the motivations, risk factors, treatments and prevention of self-harm, suicide attempt and suicide: tinyurl.com/yru5nvjm

The world has changed and it demands a new era of sustainability.

We have pushed boundaries. Yet the path ahead requires even greater efforts.

UCL’s Sustainability Plan is shaped by evidence and powered by people.

The ripple starts here. Be part of the change 👉 direc.to/nvRa

Funding awarded to 10 ECR Catalyst Grant projects in Mental Health & Wellbeing We are delighted to announce the successful projects from our recent funding call for Early Career Researchers, delivered through UCL’s Grand Challenge of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Congratulations to both Michelle Arellano Spano and Ishrat Pabla on receiving @uclgrandchallenges.bsky.social ECR Catalyst grant funding for your projects around mental health and young people.

Find full project titles at: www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challe...

Reads: Can music be a form of therapy for dementia

🎶 Can music be a form of therapy for dementia? We speak to Prof Naaheed Mukadam (@uclpsychiatry.bsky.social) about the link between music and memory. buff.ly/Rtx4Vpg
#UCLDementia #WorldAlzheimersMonth

Mendelian randomization short course This course covers the fundamental developments in Mendelian randomization and gives practical explanations about how to apply MR to applied research questions.

Places still available on Mendelian randomization short course this September!

This course gives practical explanations about how to apply MR to applied research questions.

📆16-18 Sept, in person.
🔗Book now: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

📻Podcast | Are you a carer?

Latest podcast series explores the hidden stories behind the role and why we should all be paying more attention to the issues they face in our healthcare system

@uclbrainscience.bsky.social @carers-uk.bsky.social @thisinstitute.cam.ac.uk

www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...