Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit (CPU)

The CPU researches the short and long-term effects of drugs on human cognition, behaviour, emotion and brain function.

We use classic behavioural and neuropsychological tools, clinical trials, epidemiological data and functional/structural neuroimaging to conduct our research.

Currently our projects include :

• the acute effects of cannabis and the associations of long-term cannabis use with mental health problems and cognition
• the causes and treatment of cannabis dependence
• memory reconsolidation manipulations  that could aid treatment of addiction and psychological trauma
• the use of ketamine as a psychiatric medicine, particularly in treating alcohol dependence
• relationships between cannabis and tobacco use
• drug use in night-life settings
• genetic influences on young people’s drug use

Our work has important public health implications and is regularly covered by the national media