Division of Psychiatry's 12 papers for Christmas 2024

To keep you warm over the winter break, we have listed 12 research papers published this year by UCL Division of Psychiatry researchers for you to read over the festive period: 

1. Emma Anderson and Alice Carter on the MR assumptions

Mendelian randomization (MR) is a genetic epidemiological method used to infer causal relationships by using genetic variants as instrumental variables, which, under three core assumptions (relevance, independence, and no horizontal pleiotropy), provide valid causal estimates less prone to bias from confounding or reverse causality, and is increasingly used in disease research, drug discovery, and biomarker identification.

Read: Correct illustration of assumptions in Mendelian randomization

2. Emma Blundell’s paper on childhood BMI and depression

This study found that higher BMI at age 7 is associated with greater depressive symptoms at age 14 and greater body dissatisfaction at age 11, with body dissatisfaction explaining 43% of the association between BMI and depression in girls.

Read: Longitudinal pathways between childhood BMI, body dissatisfaction, and adolescent depression: an observational study using the UK Millennium Cohort Study

3. Elvira Bramon’s review on pharmacogenetic testing for anti-psychotics

This systematic review of 13 studies found mixed evidence on the impact of pharmacogenetic testing for antipsychotic treatment, with some studies favoring pharmacogenetics-guided prescribing, while others showed no significant difference compared to standard treatment, highlighting the need for larger randomized controlled trials to assess multigene panels and their effects on clinical and economic outcomes.

Read: A systematic review of pharmacogenetic testing to guide antipsychotic treatment

4. Ruth Cooper’s review on peer support for mental health

This umbrella review of 35 systematic reviews found mixed evidence on the effectiveness of paid peer support for mental health, with some benefits in depression symptoms, self-efficacy, and recovery, especially for perinatal populations; successful implementation depends on adequate training, supportive environments, and clear role definitions.

Read: The effectiveness, implementation, and experiences of peer support approaches for mental health: a systematic umbrella review

5. Rebecca Gould et al, paper on COMMEND trial

This randomized controlled trial found that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) plus usual care significantly improved quality of life in people with motor neuron disease compared to usual care alone, with a moderate and clinically meaningful effect at 6 months post-treatment.

Read: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus usual care for improving quality of life in people with motor neuron disease (COMMEND): a multicentre, parallel, randomised controlled trial in the UK

6. Quentin Huys on amygdala reactivity after antidepressant discontinuation

Increased amygdala reactivity after antidepressant discontinuation was linked to a higher risk of depression relapse, suggesting that amygdala reactivity could serve as a neurobiological marker for predicting relapse and informing clinical decisions regarding antidepressant discontinuation.

Read: Amygdala Reactivity, Antidepressant Discontinuation, and Relapse

7. James Kirkbride’s review on social determinants

This paper outlines a roadmap for addressing social determinants of mental health, emphasizing the need for primary prevention strategies to reduce inequalities and improve population mental health, especially among marginalized groups, and offers seven key recommendations for research, policy, and public health actions to address these challenges from a social justice perspective.

Read: The social determinants of mental health and disorder: evidence, prevention and recommendations

8. Karoline Kuckenbecker’s multi-ancestry paper

This multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of major depression, involving 88,316 cases and 902,757 controls from diverse populations, identified 53 novel loci and 205 associated genes, highlighting the importance of global diversity in genetic research for improving the transferability of findings and advancing our understanding of depression across different ancestries.

Read: Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of major depression aids locus discovery, fine mapping, gene prioritization and causal inference

9. Alexandra Pitman’s paper on depression + substance misuse & suicide

This study found that suicide-bereaved individuals showed a higher risk of depression but a lower risk of substance use compared to those bereaved by other causes, suggesting that improving depression treatment could help reduce suicide risk in this group.

Read: The role of depression and use of alcohol and other drugs after partner suicide in the association between suicide bereavement and suicide: cohort study in the Danish population

10. Penny Rapaport et al paper on DREAMS START

The DREAMS START multicomponent intervention significantly reduced sleep disturbance in people with dementia compared to usual treatment, with an adjusted mean difference in Sleep Disorders Inventory scores of -4.70 at 8 months, supporting its effectiveness as a non-pharmacological intervention.

Read: Clinical effectiveness of DREAMS START (Dementia Related Manual for Sleep; Strategies for Relatives) versus usual care for people with dementia and their carers: a single-masked, phase 3, parallel-arm, superiority randomised controlled trial

11. Nicola White’s systematic review on financial insecurity at the end of life

This systematic review analyzed the impact of financial insecurity on the physical and psychological well-being of people with terminal illness, finding that 23% of participants reported high financial insecurity, which was linked to negative outcomes in both physical (48% of studies) and psychological well-being (69% of studies), highlighting the need for targeted financial support for this population.

Read: A systematic review on the impact of financial insecurity on the physical and psychological well-being for people living with terminal illness

12. The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia

The 2024 update of the Lancet Commission on dementia highlights promising evidence on prevention, intervention, and care, emphasizing the role of reducing vascular damage and addressing risk factors like untreated vision loss and high LDL cholesterol, while underscoring the importance of prevention strategies to lower dementia incidence, particularly as global life expectancy increases.

Read: Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission