Welcome from the Head of School, Academic Psychiatry, Professor Allan Young
Our School of Academic Psychiatry comprises of six clinical departments of psychiatry: Addictions, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Old Age Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine and Psychosis Studies.
These include more than 100 Principal Investigators, with research grants of £30-40 million. We have programmes covering the whole spectrum of psychiatry from public policy to molecular genetics, from peri-natal to old age and from psychological treatments to brain imaging. Our work covers the entire life span, healthy adults and children as well as of course people with physical and mental health conditions.
-
The Addictions department houses the National Addiction Centre which over the last 30 years has developed a body of research evidence that has informed the development of new treatment services for alcohol, smoking and drug problems in the UK.
-
The Department of Psychosis Studies is one of the world’s largest groups conducting research on psychosis and in 2013 launched the world’s first post-graduate course on early intervention in psychosis.
-
Research in the Department of Psychological Medicine is very diverse and focuses (for example) on the interface between psychiatry and medicine, psychiatry and work, psychiatry and the military and psychiatry in different settings. We are pioneering translational research into the integration of mental and physical healthcare.
-
75 per cent of mental health disorders start in childhood and the Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry is world-renowned for its basic and translational research in this field, in disorders such as autism, ADHD, antisocial behaviour, intellectual disability, trauma, mood and eating disorders.
-
The Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences is one of Europe’s largest research groups focusing on the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan and world leaders in brain imaging of infants and in relating differences in brain structure and function to social and cognitive development.
-
The Old Age Psychiatry department’s research into the basic biology of Alzheimer’s disease, the clinical features and aetiology of psychosis in later life and the conduct of randomised controlled trials in the elderly is internationally regarded and has changed the landscape of clinical care for psychiatric disorders in old age.
We are housed in the main IoPPN building on DeCrespigny Park, opened in 1967. The School is closely entwined with the National Health Service with each of the departments allied to its equivalent clinical academic group in the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in order to facilitate translation of research into clinical care.
The School of Academic Psychiatry teaches scientists and clinical practitioners. Each department offers PhD studentships and run a variety of Masters courses and other training programmes. The School also hosts numerous conferences, events and public debates.
Uniquely the School has a special role in the postgraduate training of doctors to become qualified psychiatrists, in partnership with allied NHS Trusts, but also by contributing to the medical curriculum at King’s College London, equipping all doctors with some knowledge and skills relevant to mental health.
The principles of equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the culture of the IoPPN and the School of Academic Psychiatry. For more information, please visit the IoPPN diversity and inclusion web pages.
The School is committed to providing and promoting a positive environment for all its students, staff and other members of its community which is free from all forms of prejudice, discrimination, harassment and bullying.
Needless to say we are very proud of the achievements of our School and are constantly looking to build on these for the greater good.
Professor Allan Young
Professor of Mood Disorders
Head of School, Academic Psychiatry