One in six UK hospital beds is currently occupied by a person with dementia, at a cost to the taxpayer of £2.8 billion annually, with this number set to increase to one in four by 2040, according to a new report by @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social researchers. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/au...

Great to see two colleagues, Michelle Arellano Spano and Bijayalaxmi Biswal, from the division awarded ECR Catalyst grants 26/27 from @uclgrandchallenges.bsky.social www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challe...

Successful ECR Catalyst Grant Projects awarded Mental Health & Wellbeing Catalyst funding

We’re excited to announce eight successful ECR Catalyst Grant Projects awarded by UCL Grand Challenges.

ucl.ac.uk

Drugs commonly used for weight loss, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have been found to reduce the key symptoms of binge eating disorder, in a new review of evidence led by @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social researchers

Weight loss drugs could help with binge eating disorder

Drugs commonly used for weight loss, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have been found to reduce the key symptoms of binge eating disorder, in a new review of evidence led by UCL researchers.

ucl.ac.uk

Join us tomorrow to explore digitalisation of healthcare with Dr Amarachukwu Nwosu—examining how tech & innovation can shape palliative care. 🗓 10 June | 6–8pm 📍 Sir Ambrose Fleming Lecture Theatre, UCL, London 🎟 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digitalisa...

Digitalisation of healthcare with Dr Amarachukwu Nwosu

In this seminar, Dr Nwosu will talk about the digitalisation of healthcare.

eventbrite.co.uk

Celebrating our colleagues nominated for the UCL Inclusion Awards 2026 🎉 🌟 Patrick Nyikavaranda — Provost’s Award for Embedding EDI 🌟 Natasha Bradley — Sarah Guise Award 🌟 Sushrut Jadhav — Sir Stephen Wall Award Huge congratulations to all three👏 www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-div...

UCL Inclusion Awards 2026 - Nominees

Here are the nominees for UCL's Inclusion Awards 2026

ucl.ac.uk

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek = action. A great example from @nicolawhite.bsky.social 👇 rdn.nihr.ac.uk/stories/brin... Using VR in hospice care is helping people feel calmer + distracted from pain by transporting them somewhere peaceful

One in 10 times that a person with dementia goes missing results in serious harm, finds a new @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social led analysis of police data on missing people incidents involving older adults in the UK. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/ma...

Harm from missing incidents among people with dementia

One in 10 times that a person with dementia goes missing results in serious harm, finds a new UCL-led analysis of police data on missing people incidents involving older adults in the UK.

ucl.ac.uk

A new UK-based study from the Division has shed light on how difficult experiences throughout life may raise the risk of developing dementia, in some cases by 74%. www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

New study links adult hardships and childhood abuse to higher dementia risk

A new UK-based study has shed light on how difficult experiences throughout life may raise the risk of developing dementia.

ucl.ac.uk

📣 New research from the VIP Trial in @bjpsych.bsky.social 📣 Our evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of adapted cognitive-behavioural therapy for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults affected by crime is out now: tinyurl.com/vbzavfcb @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social

We have a new paper outlining the latest challenges and future directions for Mendelian randomization. We used AI to review 10,126 abstracts from studies using Mendelian randomization. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Challenges and future directions for Mendelian randomization - Nature Genetics

Mendelian randomization is widely used but relies on specific assumptions that are rarely systematically assessed. This Perspective argues that researchers should rigorously test these assumptions thr...

nature.com

Booking open for short course on molecular epidemiology, 19th-21st May 2026, in-person. Open to researchers in #epidemiology, #biostatistics, #psychology, #psychiatry, or related #biomedical fields www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Molecular Epidemiology Short Course

This in-person course provides an applied introduction to molecular epidemiology, covering genetic and molecular data, quality control, GWAS, polygenic scores, and functional interpretation.

ucl.ac.uk

We have an exciting postdoctoral fellowship opportunity in the PsychGen Centre. We are seeking a quantitative researcher who wants to use genetically-informed designs to investigate the intergenerational transmission of mental health. Deadline: 14 April 945000.webcruiter.no/Main/Recruit...

Do you want to contribute to cutting-edge research on mental health?

We are seeking to appoint a quantitative researcher to work on an ambitious research project using genetically-informed designs to investigate the intergenerational transmissi...

945000.webcruiter.no

A new report by Dr Sarah Yardley (Churchill Fellow, UCL Division of Psychiatry) calls for a major rethink of how palliative care is designed and delivered for people with complex mental health needs. @uclbrainscience.bsky.social @churchillfship.bsky.social www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

New report urges overhaul of palliative care for people with complex mental health needs

A new report by UCL researcher and Churchill Fellow calls for a major rethink of how palliative care is designed and delivered for people with complex mental health needs.

ucl.ac.uk

This week is #BrainAwarenessWeek Colleague Argyris Stringaris talks how AI can shape the future of mental health diagnosis and treatment with @uclbrainscience.bsky.social

How AI is shaping the future of mental health diagnosis and treatment

Like many other areas of health, artificial intelligence is having a big impact on mental health. From helping researchers analyse large datasets and improve prediction, to offering new avenues of…

youtu.be

Congrats to Karoline Kuchenbäcker, awarded the Suffrage Science Award in Life Sciences 2026 for her commitment to making genomics more inclusive, through pioneering work in diverse and historically under-represented populations. www.bioch.ox.ac.uk/article/anno...

Announcing the recipients of the Suffrage Science Awards in Life Sciences 2026

The awards took place in Oxford University's Science Area in celebration of the achievements of 11 inspiring awardees

bioch.ox.ac.uk

UCL's @helenkillaspy.bsky.social and NLFT welcomed clinical colleagues from Portuguese Ministry of Health as part of an international partnership to deliver an ambitious programme of investment in mental health rehabilitation services. www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

UCL working with Portuguese Ministry of Health to Build Mental Health Rehabilitation Services

UCL Psychiatry and North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) welcomed clinical colleagues from Portugal as part of an international partnership focused on mental health rehabilitation services.

ucl.ac.uk

📣Our latest QHRN seminar is now open for registrations! 💬Medication for mental health difficulties within Early Intervention for Psychosis services 🗓️ 26 March 2026 🕑 1pm-2pm GMT 🗣️Dr Ruby Jarvis, @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social More info & to register: www.ucl.ac.uk/qualitative-...

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...

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...

nature.com

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...

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.

ucl.ac.uk

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

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...

BBC Sounds - Shay Kaur Grewal - Available Episodes

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

bbc.co.uk

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

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.

ucl.ac.uk

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 →

12 Papers of Christmas

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

ucl.ac.uk

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.

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.

ucl.ac.uk

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...

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.

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.

independent.co.uk

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.

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.

ucl.ac.uk

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

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...

ucl.ac.uk

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...

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.

ucl.ac.uk

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...

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...

ucl.ac.uk