Understanding the role of psychodynamic therapy in NHS services for complex needs

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KCL MSc student Yunyi Chen explores a study on the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy in an NHS service for service-users with complex mental health needs, with promising findings that span over a decade of work.

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Brushstrokes and breakthroughs: how can gallery-based art therapy improve young people’s mental health?

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KCL MSc student Amanda Lunsford explores the impact of gallery-based art therapy on mental wellbeing, self-expression, and personal growth. What could this creative, community-based approach mean for young people?

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Beyond the Binary: Understanding the mental health toll of gender non-conformity

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KCL MSc student, Jingyi Zhang, considers a recent meta-analysis on gender non-conformity and common mental health problems, which suggests that governments should prioritise inclusive laws and gender-affirmative care to protect mental health.

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When help feels out of reach: mental health and the menstrual cycle

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KCL MSc student Chiara Roux considers a survey study on help-seeking behaviours and experiences for mental health symptoms related to the menstrual cycle.

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Does low-intensity CBT help improve anxiety or depression in adults with autism?

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KCL MSc student Yi Ye reflects on a study evaluating the adaptation of low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy for autistic adults in NHS Talking Therapies.

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What’s in the blood? Immune cell changes in schizophrenia

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Dr Fabiana Corsi-Zuelli discusses the differences in immune cell counts in patients with schizophrenia compared to controls; highlighting a recent meta-analysis by Dudeck et al. (2025) that reinforces the growing consensus that immune dysfunction plays a role in schizophrenia.

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Psychosis and loneliness: two struggles, one endless loop

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A group of UCL MSc students reflect on a qualitative review looking at the experience of loneliness among people with psychosis, which makes actionable clinical suggestions to enhance connection and address isolation.

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Are circadian rhythms the key to understanding our physical and mental health?

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Amy Ferguson discusses the latest research exploring the role of our circadian rhythms on our health, looking at different variants in the BMAL1 gene.

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Anticholinergics are associated with worse cognition: it’s time to take a serious look at our prescribing

A lot of pills in a pile

Eleanor Dawkins explores a new review and meta-analysis suggesting that cognitive impairment is linked with anticholinergic medication in psychosis, providing grounds for more careful monitoring and review of medications.

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Inheriting the traumas of war: examining DNA methylation across three generations of Syrian refugees

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In her debut Mental Elf blog, Demelza Smeeth discusses the latest research on the inheritance of trauma across three generations of Syrian refugees; summarising a paper that looks into the epigenetic signatures of intergenerational exposure.

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