NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre

15/10/2025

Around 24% of mothers experience postnatal depression, which if left untreated can have long-lasting impacts for both mother and baby.

New research has shown that a community-based singing group - Breathe Melodies for Mums - has helped reduce depressive symptoms for up to 6 months. It is part of the SHAPER programme which is assessing the effectiveness and implementation of arts-in-health interventions.

The women who took part said they welcomed the intervention and were more likely to complete all the sessions, compared to the control group.

Funded by Wellcome, it receive additional support from the NIHR Maudsley BRC.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/ebswhcBy

07/10/2025

Join us for a zine-making workshop exploring new research into and substance use. 🧑‍🎨

Loneliness affects everyone but it can be especially tough for people with mental health conditions, and people who experience problems with substance use (such as alcohol, cannabis and opioids).

In this session, Postgraduate Researcher Jonathan Crabtree will share findings from his new research in this area. Peer mentors with lived experience of mental health will provide support and share their stories during the session.

Hosted by NIHR Maudsley BRC researchers, Artizine UK and The McPin Foundation. The event is part of of Social Science

Tues 4 Nov, 2-6pm, in-person only
Peckham Levels
Register now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/zine-making-workshop-stories-of-loneliness-and-substance-use-tickets-1754338416429?aff=BRC

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust | Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London

17/09/2025

Our Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI) Impact Award is now open for submissions.

This award recognises researchers supported by the NIHR Maudsley BRC who have made significant contributions to research, which has demonstrated measurable impact in advancing CEDI principles - whether through improving research practice, community engagement, or changes in policy, clinical practice or service delivery.

The winner will be awarded £1,000 to go towards training or conference attendance.

Submissions deadline: Monday 20 October at 12 noon.

➡️ https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/equality-diversity/culture-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-cedi-impact-award/

19/02/2025

The piece includes comment from Professor Peter Goadsby, our lead for our Pain and Addictions theme.

Read more about Professor Goadsby's work in migraine: https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/stories-of-research/helping-millions-of-migraine-sufferers-with-new-drugs/

Drugs that can prevent or relieve migraine attacks are only effective for some people. Research is starting to untangle the reasons why.

21/01/2025

Join an online Q&A about anxiety and worry in pregnancy and motherhood with Professor Colette Hirsch, Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Chief Investigator of the RELAX study.

Professor Hirsch is Deputy Lead of our Digital Therapies theme and Professor of Cognitive and Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience: https://lnkd.in/eb874ACQ

She leads the RELAX study, exploring if online training effectively reduces anxiety in pregnant women and new mothers.

Have your questions answered by:
👉 submitting them in advance
👉 or ask live in the event

Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eshj7PtH

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre

13/03/2024

Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi discusses the latest progress in Motor Neurone Disease ( ) research, the roles of genetics and sports in its onset, and hopes for a cure, on The Mid Point podcast with Gabby Logan.

Listen on Spotify: bit.ly/3Tj2wBY

Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi leads our Motor Neuron Disease Theme - read more about his research here: bit.ly/3wZEPqU

14/02/2024

A new therapist-guided digital programme, COMPASS, has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression in people with long-term physical health conditions.

An estimated 15.4 million people in England have one or more long-term physical health conditions. 30% of these individuals also have a co-occurring mental health condition.

Dr Federica Picariello, post-doctoral health psychology research associate at King’s IoPPN and joint first author of the study, said "Our study shows that COMPASS offers an effective and potentially scalable intervention for people whose long-term physical health condition is, in fact, the key driver for their anxiety and/or depression."

Led by Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London , the study was supported by NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and the 's Health Partners Mind & Body Programme.

Read more: https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2024/february/new-digital-therapy-reduces-anxiety-and-depression-in-people-living-with-long-term-physical-health-conditions/

09/02/2024

What do young people say about the long-term impacts on their during the pandemic? And what do they see as research priorities?

Researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience discussed these questions with young people and identified 9 key insights 👇

Read the comment in Nature Mental Health: https://lnkd.in/eHdWQYDK

08/02/2024

An imaging study conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London and supported by the NIHR and Wellcome Trust of 390 babies has shown distinct patterns of brain connectivity between preterm and term babies.

The study also linked these to various developmental measures such as language, 18 months later.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3UtSu3r

05/02/2024

We’re proud to be taking part in Place2Be’s (5-11 February 2024).

This year’s theme is My Voice Matters, so this week we hope to encourage and empower young people to have their voice heard in research.

01/02/2024

Modelling data from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, researchers have been able to estimate the number of patients who could be eligible for new treatments.

The study was supported by NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and led by researchers at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS FT and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Using data on eligible patients from both Trusts and scaling up, the team estimate that a maximum of 30,000 people using dementia services around the country would be suitable for these potential treatments and that NHS providers could provide them on a small scale with the right investment, if approved.

Read more ➡ https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2024/february/study-estimates-number-of-patients-for-potential-new-alzheimer-s-disease-treatments/

25/01/2024

New research has shown interventions to improve mood can reduce levels of inflammation in people with by 18%. IBD, comprising Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting over 500,000 people in the UK.

The results indicate that interventions for mood can present an alternative treatment for IBD that is both effective and low-cost.

The study was funded by NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and Medical Research Council. It was led by Natasha Seaton, and supported by our Theme Leads: Professors Valeria Mondelli (Co-Lead, Psychosis and Mood Disorders) and Rona Moss-Morris Morris (Lead, Digital Therapies).

https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2024/january/mood-interventions-may-reduce-inflammation-in-crohn-s-and-colitis/