Current Projects
Bipolar
Bipolar disorder is an illness of the brain which is characterised by extreme moods of feeling very high and active or agitated with rapid thought (manic) or feeling very low (depressive). Bipolar disorder is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental insults to the brain that affect brain development. There is no cure. Treatment involves mood stabilising and antipsychotic medication, and psychological and lifestyle therapies. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness involving mood fluctuations between extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression). Some people with bipolar disorder also experience psychosis and become unable to discern what is real....
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are a group of brain disorders which present with persistent, excessive worry, feelings of panic, dread or fear. The anxiety may become so distressing that it interferes with a person’s ability to carry out or take pleasure in day-to day life. Anxiety is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic predispositions and strong environmental cues and triggers. There is no cure. Treatment is psychological therapy as well as antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs. Until recently, adolescents have been neglected as a research target, at least partly due to the absence of laboratory models to study how and why...
Depression
Depression is a brain illness characterised by a persistent lowering of mood which may sometimes manifest as irritability in young people.