Longitudinal data has the potential to transform early intervention in mental health. This is the focus of our new Mental Health Award. We're funding researchers to use longitudinal datasets to find early identifiers of anxiety, depression or psychosis. This could unlock innovative ways to diagnose these conditions sooner, so people can benefit from better-targeted interventions. The call is open to researchers at any career stage and based anywhere in the world. Awarded projects will receive up to £5 million for up to five years. Applications will open, and full details will be made available, on 23 April 2025. Find out more ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/exC2_9qP
Kevin Jimenez
1mo
Exceptional caution needed please. Early intervention deals with indicators which straddle normal behaviour and dysfunction. Also, longitudinal data relies on continuous patient compliance where most referrals are via clinical settings. However, there is a lower standard of scrutiny to establish valid consent at this first gateway prior to entry to research. How will studies safely recruit volunteers who receive a mental health diagnosis, which they disagree with, and who do not engage with services explicitly to avoid the threat of compulsion? There is an unseen but valuable cohort who would entertain a provisional diagnosis, but are unwilling to make themselves vulnerable. For example, I was diagnosed with psychosis by dozens of clinicians citing Wellcome funded research on ‘Duration of Untreated Psychosis’ (DUP). I refused medication every day for three months. I was detained and had forced injection authorised. After untold distress, I was unconditionally discharged by a judge. Better patient advocacy and non-discriminatory legislation benefits research, which must be the starting point, and it is worth funding as much as novel treatments.
Formerly Principal Research Fellow at Durham University and Head of Mathematics at Belfast Royal Academy
2moThis is a brilliant iniative - I know from family and from friends with mental health struggles that the roots of those struggles are often some considerable time before the struggle became evident. The stories are often complex, but understanding early identifiers could be a significant breakthrough.