The groundbreaking technology in the Pears Maudsley Centre

The groundbreaking technology in the Pears Maudsley Centre

by | Jul 24, 2024 | Blog Post, News, Pears Maudsley Centre

The groundbreaking technology in the Pears Maudsley Centre

The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People will host an array of cutting-edge technology for the research and treatment of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.

At the Pears Maudsley Centre, clinicians and researchers will collaborate with young people to improve the research and treatment of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.

At the heart of this centre will be the Clinical Research Facility (CRF), which is set to be the leading facility in the UK dedicated to the investigation and treatment of mental health in children and young people. The CRF will be a space where children of all ages, from babies upwards, can participate in research to identify the root of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders, and use this research to implement and monitor groundbreaking interventions.

Supported by £11m of funding from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) to King’s College London, the CRF will house cutting-edge technology to support pioneering mental health research with a particular focus on brain imaging. The equipment selected is aimed to be the least restrictive and intrusive, creating better experience for patients and participants. Much of this technology can be used together simultaneously to provide a more fully-formed, inclusive investigation and collaborative understanding of research.

Below is a comprehensive list of the technology which will be used at the CRF, detailing its application and how it will support research and interventions for aiding the mental health of children and young people.

Electroencephalography (EEG) Suite:

EEG is a non-invasive method that measures electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp. The CRF will have a specially shielded room for EEG which minimises electromagnetic interference from external sources such as electronic devices, which can distort these brain activity signals being measured.

Use in research: EEG is used to study brain activity patterns associated with various mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, depression and anxiety, thereby helping to advance our understanding of brain function and neurological disorders.

Credit: Cerca Magnetics

Optically Primed Magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) Scanner

The OPM-MEG is a new way to non-invasively assess brain function. It measures magnetic fields produced by brain activity with high temporal and spatial resolution. This means it can precisely record rapid changes in brain activity (such as individual neural events or quick changes in cognition) as well as accurately identify the specific brain regions where the changes happen. Unlike conventional MEG, this system can adapt to any age group (baby to adult) and patients can move freely during scanning.

Use in research: OPM-MEG provides insights into brain activity and underlying cognitive processes, improving understanding of neural mechanisms to aid the development of targeted interventions for conditions such as epilepsy, autism, ADHD.

Credit: Magstim

Virtual Reality (VR) Suite: Virtual Reality Cave + Virtual Reality Lab

The VR CAVE is a unique virtual reality laboratory featuring an immersive audio-visual environment that simulates real-world settings. It utilizes four-sided projection onto three walls and the floor, employing specialized technology and programming to create a 3D immersive experience. This can be used to simulate an environment for children and young people to help monitor their reactions and brain activity in response to stimulus in the simulated environment.

The Virtual Reality Lab will use cutting edge VR headsets, web-based platforms and “extended reality” (augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality) which allows researchers to safely immerse participants in purpose-made scenarios, provoking similar cognitive, behavioural, and physical responses to real life within a controlled environment.

Use in research: Virtual reality, combined with motion tracking cameras, custom wearables and head-mounted eye tracking, provides an integrated platform that allows researchers to monitor, track and record brain activity and behaviour changes in conditions such as autism, depending on the simulated world around them.

Credit: Mechdyne

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

fNIRS is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique used to measure brain activity by monitoring local changes in blood oxygenation and blood volume in the brain. These changes indicate neural activity because they reflect local changes in blood flow and oxygen metabolism that occur in response to neuronal activation and brain excitation.

Use in research: fNIRS is used to investigate brain function and connectivity in mental health disorders, and to explore potential therapeutic interventions. fNIRS is well-suited for studying brain function in natural settings as it can withstand moving around, such as during social interactions or while participants are performing motor tasks. It is relatively easy to set-up and use and good for participants such as infants, children, and individuals with movement disorders who may move about a lot and have difficulty with other imaging methods such as MRI or EEG.

fNIRS (Lumo) cap at the Toddlerlab, Birkbeck University

Brain Stimulation

The use of brain stimulation techniques aims to investigate alternatives or adjuncts to traditional treatments like medication and psychotherapy for children & young people. These include:

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
  • Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
  • Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)
  • Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS)

These use electrodes to create magnetic fields or low electrical currents in different forms and frequencies in order to stimulate nerve cells or modulate and impacting brain activity.

Use in research: By directly influencing brain activity, these various brain stimulation techniques aim to correct neural dysfunctions underlying various mental health conditions. Research in this area will better understand their mechanisms of the developing brain, optimise brain stimulation applications, and expand their therapeutic uses.

Eye-tracking Suite

Eye trackers are another non-invasive method to explore underlying mechanisms of the brain and mental disorders. They monitor eye movements and gaze patterns to understand visual stimuli, attention and cognitive processes.

Use in research: Eye-tracking is used to study attentional biases, social cognition deficits, and emotional processing in disorders such as autism, depression, and anxiety.

Credit: Tobii

Data Capture Suite (including 3D printer)

The Data Capture Suite will use state-of-the art computing equipment, software and e-Health to build purpose-built digital tools, apps and investigate health data (including patient records).

Use in research: The data capture room infrastructure will be able to manage, analyse, and interpret large and complex datasets, leading to a deeper understanding of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders that will enable clinicians and researchers to work towards effective interventions and treatments. It will allow information and data to play a vital role in clinical priorities such as prevention, reducing digital harms, health monitoring and targeted interventions.

Mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Functional MRI (fMRI)

The Mobile MRI is a portable brain imaging system that combines an ultra- low-field magnetic resonance with artificial intelligence. Unlike conventional MRI systems, it does not require extensive shielding and is small enough to be portable, which allows researchers to conduct brain-imaging studies in alternate settings (such as in clinical rooms or bedside), thus making them more accessible.

The high-powered functional MRI (fMRI) machine measures changes in blood flow in order to detect brain activity associated with cognitive processes, emotions, and mental health disorders.

Use in research: These imaging techniques help identify structural and functional abnormalities in mental health disorders and evaluate the effects of interventions on brain activity.

Credit: Hyperfine

Sound Research Lab

The Sound Research Lab refers to up to three specially equipped clinical consultation rooms installed with dedicated sound recording equipment and one that will be acoustically treated with sound insulation. This allows researchers to capture interviews and speech recordings to be analysed using specialist software and artificial intelligence.

Use in research: Sound research contributes to understanding auditory processing in different conditions and potentially provides indicators and biomarkers for clinicians via voice recognition.

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Professor Janet Treasure appears on BBC’s The Life Scientific

Professor Janet Treasure appears on BBC’s The Life Scientific

by | Jul 11, 2024 | News, Pears Maudsley Centre

Professor Janet Treasure appears on BBC’s The Life Scientific

One of our leading clinical academics appeared on BBC Radio 4’s prestigious ‘The Life Scientific’ to talk about her groundbreaking career researching and treating eating disorders.

Professor Janet Treasure, scientist at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, was interviewed by The Life Scientific host Jim Al-Khalili on Tuesday 9 July. 

Professor Treasure spoke about how she came to be one of the leading researchers looking into the causes and treatments of eating disorders and her work at the IoPPN and the Maudsley. 

Treasure’s career has been dedicated to helping understand the root causes of eating disorders, understanding them as rooted in biology and genetics instead of just treating them as psychological disorders. She is also passionate about removing stigma in treatment, and spoke to Al-Khalili about how working with students has inspired her. 

Treasure went on to discuss her groundbreaking study of twins with eating disorders, how the MEAD (Medical emergencies in eating disorders) guidelines for medical professionals are changing treatment in the UK, and her study into how ketamine may be an effective treatment for those with eating disorders.

Our experts, such as Professor Treasure, lead the world in approaches to mental health. Together, we host the largest group of mental health scientists and clinical academics in Europe – there is no other collaboration in the world with this breadth of skills and ambition. Through this unique partnership, clinicians and researchers will collaborate even more closely to find new ways to predict, prevent and treat mental health disorders. This will benefit children locally, nationally and across the globe.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds 

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A preview of the new Pears Maudsley Centre

A preview of the new Pears Maudsley Centre

by | Jun 20, 2024 | Events, News, Pears Maudsley Centre

A preview of the new Pears Maudsley Centre

The new Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People opened its doors to a very special audience of supporters, young people, families, donors, academics and clinicians.

Last week, the new Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People opened its doors to a very special audience of supporters, young people, families, donors, academics and clinicians.

Based at the heart of the world leading Maudsley Hospital site in south London, this pioneering new Centre will open fully in 2025, bringing together clinical and scientific expertise to transform the mental health of children and young people for generations to come.

Guests were treated to an exclusive preview of the almost-completed Centre, which was made possible thanks to the generosity of more than 60 donors and supporters raising almost £30m, in addition to £11m from Research England.

The Centre is a unique partnership between the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and Maudsley Charity: collectively known as the King’s Maudsley Partnership. Together, these organisations host the largest group of mental health scientists and clinical academics in Europe.

More than a building

The new Pears Maudsley Centre will care for some of the UK’s most vulnerable young people experiencing conditions like anxiety, depression, OCD, self-harm, eating disorders, trauma and autism.

The Centre was co-designed with children, young people and families, ensuring it provides a beautiful and welcoming space tailored to diverse needs.

As well as providing world class inpatient and outpatient facilities, the Centre will allow researchers and clinicians to work side by side to find new ways to predict, prevent and treat mental health disorders in children and young people.

Watch this video to learn more about the Centre.

Tours of terraces, tech and teaching spaces

The exclusive preview of the Centre included a chance to see the new dedicated learning spaces of the Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School, where young people can continue their education alongside their treatment. Guests were also introduced to a world-leading new Clinical Research Facility that will house state-of-the-art neuro-imaging equipment designed especially for children.

Guests heard from clinicians and scientists who will soon move into the new Centre, as well as from David Bradley, CEO of SLAM; Professor Shitij Kapur; and Rebecca Gray, CEO of Maudsley Charity.

“To me this is the culmination of a dream. It is a testament to ambition and persistence. It’s a celebration of generosity. It’s a marker of success. And it’s the blossoming of a promise. I want to leave you all today with a promise: We, who are the lucky recipients of your support, owe to you, and to our community: To use the opportunities of the research and collaboration here to move the frontiers of care. And to share this knowledge with the world beyond us.”
Professor Shitij Kapur

Vice Chancellor, King’s IoPPN

Some of our special guests shared their experiences on social media:

Sean Fletcher, Journalist and TV Presenter:

“The mental health services for young people at the Maudsley Hospital in South London saved my family when they treated our son who has OCD. It was one of the few lights at a very dark time for us.

And now the hospital, alongside King’s College London @KingsIoPPN @kingsmaudsley @nhs_maudsley @maudsleycharity, is shining that light much brighter. Last night I was at the preview of the new Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People.

Apart from having amazing views over London, the Centre will redefine how we understand, prevent and treat mental ill health for the next generation.

The other big thing the new centre will do is train many more clinicians who can offer what the Maudsley offered my family, around the UK, and the world. Sounds a bit corny, but it’s true, and it’s crucial, because if I had a pound for every parent who contacted me saying they can’t get access to good treatment in their area, I’d be a rich man by now.” Full post here.

Crispin Truman, Director of the Rayne Foundation, who funded the Centre’s welcome space:

“So lovely to see the new children & young people’s mental health centre, its world-leading design and facilities and to hear about the amazing collaboration between clinicians and researchers it will host.”

Changing the story on children’s mental health: What’s next?

The Pears Maudsley Centre will officially open in 2025. To celebrate, we’ll bring together those who made it happen and raise a toast to the difference it will make for generations to come. In the meantime, the Centre’s virtual doors are open; our clinicians and researchers welcome interest from potential collaborators across mental health research, engagement and more.

The people who made it possible

More than 60 generous donors contributed to make the Pears Maudsley Centre a reality. Recognising this huge impact, everyone who gave more than £250 towards the Centre’s build will be recognised on a stunning donor wall in its main entrance. We extend a huge thanks to all who supported this project, including:

  • Maudsley Charity
  • Pears Foundation
  • The Rayne Foundation (Welcome Space)
  • Julia & Hans Rausing Trust (Outpatients Unit)
  • Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust (Learning Zone in The Maudsley & Bethlem School)
  • Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust (Lorna Lewis Outdoor Learning Zone)
  • The Wolfson Foundation (Neuroimaging Suite)
  • Garfield Weston (Intensive Treatment Programme Suite – eating disorders)
  • Kuok Group (Staff Wellbeing Terrace)
  • Dorset Foundation in memory of Harry M Weinrebe (Observation Suites)
  • Elizabeth and Daniel Peltz OBE (Peltz Community Hall)
  • Dove Self Esteem Project (Group Therapy Room in Maudsley Adolescent Unit/Inpatients)
  • Prudence Trust (Eye Tracking Suite)
  • Stephen Riady Foundation (Riady Sensory Room)
  • UKRI Research England (neuroimaging equipment and Collaboration Zone fit out) – this support was made possible thanks to philanthropic contributions doubling the amount contributed by UKRI.

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Self-harm and digital technology overuse in young people with lived mental health experience

Self-harm and digital technology overuse in young people with lived mental health experience

by | May 22, 2024 | News, Pears Maudsley Centre

Self-harm and digital technology overuse in young people with lived mental health experience

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, in partnership with YoungMinds – the UK’s leading children’s mental health charity – has found high levels of problematic mobile phone use, disturbed sleep, and self-harm among young people with mental health conditions.

The research, published in PLOS ONE, is the first prospective study of its kind, and provides the basis for a comprehensive resource that will allow researchers to investigate the mental health impact of digital technology use in young people.

365 young people aged between 13 and 25 years old who are currently or have recently accessed secondary mental health services were recruited from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Using innovative study design, co-produced with young people with lived experience, and sourcing data from participants’ electronic health records, smartphones and social media accounts, researchers were able to build an accurate picture of each participant’s behaviour. Participants provided data over the course of 6 months to establish how patterns of social media and smartphone use can be associated with self-harm and mental health.

More than 80% of the participants had self-harmed at least once, and high levels of depression, anxiety, and disturbed sleep were all prevalent. 54% reported using social media after midnight on a weekday, and 59% reported using their smartphones after midnight on a weekday.

“While there has been extensive debate about the relationship between social media and smartphone use and rates of self-harm, studies up to this point have largely been limited by their design, and have only been able to demonstrate associations rather than providing any insight into the relative timings of different behaviours or underlying mechanisms. Our comprehensive approach will allow us to properly investigate the impact of digital technology on youth mental health.”
Dr Rina Dutta

Reader in Suicidology and Psychiatry and the study’s senior author, King’s IoPPN

Among those studied, nearly a quarter reported using social media for more than 5 hours a day on weekdays and more than 40% used their smartphone above this threshold.

Despite spending excessive amounts of time online and about a third of participants reporting they had recently been the victim of bullying, researchers found that traditional methods of bullying, such as social exclusion, were more common than cyberbullying.

“The high prevalence of self-harm in our sample of young people with prior interactions with mental health services serve as a reminder that there needs to be increased investment in prevention and early intervention services for those at risk.”
Dr Amanda Bye

King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People Translational Research Fellow and the study’s first author, Kings Maudsley Partnership

Hannah Kinsey, Head of Training and Service Design at YoungMinds said, “We are hugely proud to be part of this research and the work that has gone into ensuring that young people’s voices are central at every stage of the study. The findings reveal that more needs to be done to stop the harmful impacts of social media on young people, especially those who have already struggled with their mental health.”

Dr Angela Hind, Chief Executive at the Medical Research Foundation, said, “Smartphones and social media are ubiquitous among young people, yet we know little about the impact on their mental health. This research reveals some important insights into how digital technology is being used by young people with lived experience of mental health conditions, and lays the foundation for future studies in this area – which are much-needed. Ultimately, we hope these findings will lead to better support for young people who are struggling with their mental health.

This study was possible thanks to funding from the Medical Research Foundation and the Medical Research Council. This work was also part supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and King’s College London, and the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) South London.

Cohort profile: The Social media, Smartphone use and Self-harm in Young People (3S-YP) study – a prospective, observational cohort study of young people in contact with mental health services (DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0299059) (Amanda Bye, Ben Carter, Daniel Leightley, Kylee Trevillion, Maria Liakata, Stella Branthonne-Foster, Samantha Cross, Zohra Zenasni, Ewan Carr, Grace Williamson, Alba Vega Viyuela, Rina Dutta) was published in PLOS ONE.

For more information, please contact Patrick O’Brien (IoPPN Media Manager)

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Day workshop in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effectively reduces depression in 16-18 year olds

Day workshop in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effectively reduces depression in 16-18 year olds

by | May 17, 2024 | Research

Day workshop in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effectively reduces depression in 16-18 year olds

The Brief Educational workshops in Secondary Schools Trial found a day-long CBT course is an effective means of improving young people’s mental health.

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that providing 16-18 year olds with a day-long course in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was both a clinically and cost-effective means of improving their mental health.

The trial, known as Brief Educational workshops in Secondary Schools Trial (BESST) and published in The Lancet Psychiatry, was successfully adapted from the DISCOVER program, which was designed to help adults manage their feelings of stress. The study has been funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Around one in 12 young people in England currently experience anxiety or depression. Despite this, the large majority remain untreated, and almost a quarter (24%) have no contact with specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

This study recruited 900 students from 57 schools in England. Half were provided with signposting to mental health services and the standard care their school would usually provide. The other half were invited to a day-long workshop on CBT coping techniques for managing mood, anxiety, and stress, and provided with follow up phone calls to help incorporate those skills into real-life situations.

Researchers found that participants who attended the workshop showed significant improvements in their depression, anxiety, wellbeing and resilience after a six-month follow up.

“More than half of adult mental disorders start before the age of 15, and when we approached schools, we found that there was overwhelming number of young people actively seeking support. There is clearly an urgent need for early intervention to ensure that symptoms of poor mental health don’t persist and worsen. Our study set out to establish if there was a clinically and cost-effective way to do that at scale.

Dr June Brown

Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and the study's lead author, King’s IoPPN

Dr June Brown said, “One of our main challenges was to adapt an adult therapeutic intervention which would be attractive and engaging for teenagers. In addition, previous studies have either been aimed at all students, some of whom aren’t necessarily in need of assistance, while others have taken a more targeted approach that potentially stigmatises those who might need support. Giving students the opportunity to self-refer means that we work with students who recognise that they’d like help.

“Our study shows that this intervention can be delivered at low cost by mental health professionals who can bridge the gap between schools and CAMHS.”

“Since the pandemic there is an increased need to support schools and adolescents with their mental health. While we found improvements in depression; anxiety; wellbeing; and resilience, the largest effect was seen in those students that had higher symptoms of depression at the start of the study, meaning that we reached and improved those students most vulnerable to depression.

Professor Ben Carter

Professor of Medical Statistics and the study's senior author, King's IoPPN

Professor Ben Carter, “The ultimate success of this has laid the groundwork for these workshops to be rolled out nationwide to provide an early intervention against depression and anxiety.” 

Karen Crowe, Senior Tutor for the Sixth Form & Curriculum Leader for Psychology at St Nicholas Catholic High School in Cheshire said, “Our school seeks to prioritise mental wellbeing and promote strategies that improve students’ mental health. We believe it is important to teach students how to become self-regulating individuals who can manage their own stress, which is why the school fully supported the BESST trial. We value techniques that provide students with skills to resolve problems, cope better with expectations, and build confidence, so the trial’s aims perfectly complement our school’s mission and ethos.”

Olivia Black, a student at St Nicholas Catholic High School who took part in the BESST trial said, “The study gave me new ways to manage my stress and remain productive during my studies. It was such a helpful process that allowed me to develop my personal strategies for maintaining good mental health. The skills and confidence gained from this trial motivated me to help start up our ‘breathing space’ initiative where sixth formers support younger students with their mental health.”

Can a brief accessible CBT programme in schools improve the mental health of 16–18-year-olds? Clinical and cost-effectiveness of a cluster randomised controlled trial in Brief Educational Workshops in Secondary Schools Trial (BESST) (DOI 10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00101-9) (June Brown, Kirsty James, Stephen Lisk, James Shearer, Sarah Byford, Paul Stallard, Jessica Deighton, David Saunders, Jynna Yarrum, Peter Fonagy, Timothy Weaver, Irene Sclare, Crispin Day, Claire Evans, Ben Carter) was published in Lancet Psychiatry. 

For more information, please contact Patrick O’Brien (Media Manager)

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