Joseph Harris, Isabel Clarke, Pedro Aniceto, Lydia Baxter, Marisol Cavieres, Helen Courtney, Catherine Donaldson, Mark Draper, Alison Farr, Kathryn Gaussen, Elke Haworth, Rose Hooper, Holly Jones, Hasina Khatun, Lorna Lennon, Matthew McNaught, Hazel Nicholls, Katherine Pearson, Jodi Pitt, Megan Wilkinson-Tough, Davina Wong, Simon Riches
{"title":"Comprehend, Cope and Connect: a trauma-informed holistic approach to address mental health crisis as a team.","authors":"Joseph Harris, Isabel Clarke, Pedro Aniceto, Lydia Baxter, Marisol Cavieres, Helen Courtney, Catherine Donaldson, Mark Draper, Alison Farr, Kathryn Gaussen, Elke Haworth, Rose Hooper, Holly Jones, Hasina Khatun, Lorna Lennon, Matthew McNaught, Hazel Nicholls, Katherine Pearson, Jodi Pitt, Megan Wilkinson-Tough, Davina Wong, Simon Riches","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.29","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.29","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Comprehend, Cope and Connect (CCC) is a trauma-informed, transdiagnostic and evidence-based psychological intervention for mental health crises that can be applied cross-culturally. CCC has been implemented in acute and crisis mental health settings across the South of England and in services elsewhere in the UK. More recently, it has been taken up and adapted for specialist community settings, including perinatal services, addiction services and primary care settings. A continuously growing evidence base indicates that CCC could be the next step towards solving the national problem of mental health crises. It is now time for CCC to be piloted and researched nationally.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144636027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10123
Peter L Cornwall, Penny Walton
{"title":"Changing characteristics of medical directors in mental health trusts in England.","authors":"Peter L Cornwall, Penny Walton","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10123","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>The medical workforce in psychiatry is increasingly diverse, but not necessarily in its senior leadership in the UK's National Health Service (NHS). We aimed to describe the characteristics of psychiatrists with board-level responsibility in mental health trusts in England in 2024, comparing the current picture with that of 2016 and 2020, using publicly available data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The proportion of medical directors who are female has not changed, so women remain underrepresented, while the proportion who are international medical graduates has increased substantially, so they are no longer underrepresented. Although fewer in number, intellectual disability psychiatrists are underrepresented.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Greater attention will need to be paid to developing female medical leaders if representative leadership is to be achieved.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144607188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10119
Eiman Araib, Usama Khan, Umama Alam, Manahil Moazzam
{"title":"Efficacy of mobile applications in treating depression: systemic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Eiman Araib, Usama Khan, Umama Alam, Manahil Moazzam","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>Previous meta-analysis of the efficacy of mobile phone applications (mHealth apps) for depression has several limitations, including high risk of bias and heterogeneity in effect sizes across studies, and gaps in understanding of variability in treatment outcomes. We aimed to provide more reliable and clinically relevant findings by conducting a systematic literature search on PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo, focusing on newer studies with minimal risk of bias.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysing 17 randomised controlled trials (<i>n</i> = 2821) published between 2020 and 2025, we found a pooled standardised mean difference (s.m.d.) of -0.46 (95% CI -0.64 to -0.28; <i>P</i> < 0.001) relative to the control groups, which indicates a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. Subgroup analyses confirmed efficacy in both adolescents (s.m.d. = -0.42) and adults (s.m.d. = -0.49). Despite evidence of publication bias, 70% of the studies had a low risk of bias, supporting the robustness and reliability of these findings.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>The results underscore the clinical relevance of mHealth apps as scalable and accessible tools for bridging gaps in mental healthcare. Their effectiveness across age groups highlights their potential for broad implementation, with future research needed to refine personalisation, engagement strategies and methodological rigour.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144599155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brian O'Mahony, Sarah Lanigan, Níall Lally, Andrew O'Malley, Bobby Smyth, Colm McDonald, Brian Hallahan
{"title":"Novel substance, same old problems: admissions of psychosis precipitated by hexahydrocannabinol, a widely available semi-synthetic cannabinoid.","authors":"Brian O'Mahony, Sarah Lanigan, Níall Lally, Andrew O'Malley, Bobby Smyth, Colm McDonald, Brian Hallahan","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.85","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.85","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>To investigate the impact of the widespread availability and use of the semi-synthetic cannabinoid hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) on hospital admissions owing to psychosis. Medical records of patients admitted for psychotic illness to University Hospital Galway were examined to assess HHC or other illicit drug use before admission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 214 total admissions for psychotic illness, 28 admissions (13.1%) were preceded by use of HHC, nine of whom used only HHC. Sixteen (34%) admissions of first-episode psychosis were preceded by HHC use, with seven of these using only HHC.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Clinicians should explicitly enquire about the use of HHC in patients presenting with first-episode and relapse of psychotic illness. Sufficient evidence has now accumulated from research of a link between HHC and psychosis. Such psychoses appear to be more prominent in young people with early-phase psychosis, and highlights the need for authorities to change legislation to avoid further harm.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144599156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-07-07DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10120
Sabrina D Ross, Nadja Ziegert, Francisca S Rodriguez
{"title":"Non-pharmacological interventions in dementia care: what is being implemented.","authors":"Sabrina D Ross, Nadja Ziegert, Francisca S Rodriguez","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10120","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10120","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) are recognised for their potential in treating dementia symptoms. However, little is known about the extent of their use. In this study, we conducted structured interviews with people with dementia and their family caregivers (<i>n</i> = 50), professional caregivers (<i>n</i> = 42) and dementia care coordinators (<i>n</i> = 42) on the use of 14 NPIs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cognitive stimulation/training, physical activity and occupational therapy were implemented by most participants, whereas neurofeedback, drama therapy and phototherapy were rarely used. Most NPIs were carried out weekly. People with dementia and their caregivers reported using significantly fewer NPIs than other participants (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Participants perceived effects for, on average, 90.3% (s.d. = 31.3%) of the NPIs that they used.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Providing targeted support and funding might help to increase the use of NPIs by family caregivers as well as in institutional care settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144574778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-07-02DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10124
Ruslan Zinchenko, Hosam Elhamoui
{"title":"Misdiagnosed, mismanaged, mistreated: personality disorders and the Mental Health Act.","authors":"Ruslan Zinchenko, Hosam Elhamoui","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Mental Health Act perpetuates the harmful and misguided detention of individuals with personality disorders. The outdated practice lacks ethical, legal or clinical justification. Coercion is mistaken for care, and detention often exacerbates distress, retraumatises patients and increases suicide risk. Despite its promises, the new Mental Health Bill fails to address these systemic failures, continuing the cycle of risk-driven, defensive psychiatry. It is time to abandon compulsory detention for this patient group, redirect resources toward evidence-based, relational interventions, and move toward a capacity-based, trauma-informed legal framework that aligns with contemporary psychiatric understanding of these conditions and fundamental human rights.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144537883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruth Knight, Ola Demkowicz, Eva Sprecher, Aislinn Gomez Bergin, Hazel Marzetti, Kimberly Petersen, Buket Kara, Vilas Sawrikar, Hannah White, Jackie Parsonage-Harrison, Jeanne Wolstencroft, Tessa Reardon, Anna March, Leanne McIver, Hannah Jones, Tim Clarke, Josefien Breedvelt, Eleanor Chatburn
{"title":"Meeting of minds: imagining the future of child and youth mental health research from an early career perspective.","authors":"Ruth Knight, Ola Demkowicz, Eva Sprecher, Aislinn Gomez Bergin, Hazel Marzetti, Kimberly Petersen, Buket Kara, Vilas Sawrikar, Hannah White, Jackie Parsonage-Harrison, Jeanne Wolstencroft, Tessa Reardon, Anna March, Leanne McIver, Hannah Jones, Tim Clarke, Josefien Breedvelt, Eleanor Chatburn","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Child and youth mental health is an international public health and research priority. We are an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral network of UK-based early career researchers (ECRs) with an interest in child and youth mental health research. In this paper, we reflect on ongoing challenges and areas for growth, offering recommendations for key stakeholders in our field, including researchers, institutions and funders. We present a vision from an ECR perspective of what future child and youth mental health research could look like and we explore how the research infrastructure can support ECRs and the wider research field in making this vision a reality. We focus specifically on: (a) embracing complexity; (b) centring diverse voices; and (c) facilitating sustainable research environments and funding systems. We present recommendations for all key partners to consider alongside their local contexts and communities to actively and collaboratively drive progress and transformative change.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144504792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BJPsych BulletinPub Date : 2025-06-26DOI: 10.1192/bjb.2025.10127
Paul Stephenson, Marianne Durand, Matthew Humphreys, Alex Stewart
{"title":"The influence of type of consultation and patient characteristics on non-attendance at adult ADHD consultation - ERRATUM.","authors":"Paul Stephenson, Marianne Durand, Matthew Humphreys, Alex Stewart","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.10127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.10127","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144494084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paul Stephenson, Marianne Durand, Matthew Humphreys, Alex Stewart
{"title":"The influence of type of consultation and patient characteristics on non-attendence at adult ADHD consultation.","authors":"Paul Stephenson, Marianne Durand, Matthew Humphreys, Alex Stewart","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.35","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.35","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>Non-attendance at out-patient appointments of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services incurs significant costs and contributes to lost service provision and unmet clinical needs. This cross-sectional study of clinical contacts, between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 in a specialist adult ADHD service, aimed to identify factors, including type of consultation, associated with non-attendance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 3673 organised clinic appointments, 2815 (77%) were attended: 2314 (82%) by telephone and 501 (18%) as in-person appointments; non-attendance rates were 17 and 42%, respectively. Patient characteristics associated with improved attendance included: female gender, age >30 years and presence of other psychiatric diagnoses.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>This study will assist adult ADHD service providers to maximise patient attendance. The role of telephone (or virtual) clinics must be considered. Enhanced appointment reminders and improving access to services targeting at-risk groups could also improve attendance rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144224180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Harry Costello, Matthew Baum, Cameron Watson, James B Badenoch, Ella Burchill, Jonathan P Rogers, Rachel Thomasson, David Okai, Timothy R Nicholson, Anthony David, Eileen M Joyce, Michael Dilley, Graham Blackman
{"title":"A national survey of neuropsychiatry training experiences.","authors":"Harry Costello, Matthew Baum, Cameron Watson, James B Badenoch, Ella Burchill, Jonathan P Rogers, Rachel Thomasson, David Okai, Timothy R Nicholson, Anthony David, Eileen M Joyce, Michael Dilley, Graham Blackman","doi":"10.1192/bjb.2025.34","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2025.34","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and method: </strong>Neuropsychiatry training in the UK currently lacks a formal scheme or qualification, and its demand and availability have not been systematically explored. We conducted the largest UK-wide survey of psychiatry trainees to examine their experiences in neuropsychiatry training.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 185 trainees from all UK training regions completed the survey. Although 43.6% expressed interest in a neuropsychiatry career, only 10% felt they would gain sufficient experience by the end of training. Insufficient access to clinical rotations was the most common barrier, with significantly better access in London compared with other regions. Most respondents were in favour of additional neurology training (83%) and a formal accreditation in neuropsychiatry (90%).</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Strong trainee interest in neuropsychiatry contrasts with the limited training opportunities currently available nationally. Our survey highlights the need for increased neuropsychiatry training opportunities, development of a formalised training programme and a clinical accreditation pathway for neuropsychiatry in the UK.</p>","PeriodicalId":8883,"journal":{"name":"BJPsych Bulletin","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}