Research Roundup for April-May 2025 | Our blog

The Research Delivery team supports delivery of commercial and portfolio studies in the Trust, and provides support to other NIHR and academic studies. The team offers specialist input to ensure studies meet their recruitment targets. A recent success story was a study exploring sexual and reproductive health in people with serious mental illness, earlier this year. The team provided strategic guidance and promoted the study within their networks of staff, Research Champions and service user groups. To get in touch with the team and to find out how they can support your study, please contact researchdeliveryteam@slam.nhs.uk

Take Part in Research   

F eatured study : RaISE Trial: Non-invasive Neuromodulation for Young People with Anorexia Nervosa  

The RaISE trial is exploring a new type of brain-directed treatment called theta burst stimulation (TBS), for young people with anorexia nervosa. Find out more about taking part in RaISE here.  

News and Blogs  

"Significant gaps" in ADHD research post 2020 hindering development of effective policy  

A lack of reliable data tracking the prevalence and incidence of ADHD post-2020 has resulted in significant gaps in an evidence base to develop realistic health policy, according to new research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (King’s IoPPN ).  

The influence of digital media on young people: experts comment on issues raised in Netflix's "Adolescence"  

In this blog, experts look at the themes from the TV series Adolescence , featuring Professor Rina Dutta , Consultant Psychiatrist in National Affective Disorders , South London and Maudsley.  

Talking about homelessness: new report highlights how everyday language perpetuates stigma  

New research underpins the Centre for Homelessness Impact report and guidance, highlighting how mindful use of everyday language can support efforts to end homelessness . The article also features a checklist for people writing and speaking about homelessness.  

Experts call for urgent action on childhood verbal abuse at House of Commons  

In the UK, 2 in 5 (41%) children experience verbal abuse by adults with lifelong consequences to their mental health and wellbeing. Leading experts gathered at the House of Commons to call for urgent national action to tackle childhood verbal abuse – now recognised as the most prevalent form of child maltreatment .  

HIV diagnosis often missing in mental health records  

Research led by South London and Maudsley and King’s IoPPN has found nearly a third of people living with HIV who access secondary mental health services in South London do not have their HIV diagnosis recorded in their mental health records .  

Specialist mental health training at King's: G uide to commissioned programmes  

The King’s Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is part of a broader group of specialist educational courses funded by NHS England and designed to meet national workforce demands in healthcare and psychological therapies - ten of these courses are based at King’s IoPPN. T hese programmes are a fantastic choice for those looking to advance their careers in mental health and psychological therapies and make an impact on mental health services across the UK.  

In the News  

NY Times Magazine, 13 April 2025  

‘Have we been thinking about ADHD all wrong?    

‘We have a clinical definition of A.D.H.D. that is increasingly unanchored from what we’re finding in our science.’ - Professor Edmund Sonuga -Barke, Professor of Developmental Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King’s IoPPN , comments in a long-read on ADHD, scientific studies and medication.  

  BBC Radio 4, 5 May 2025  

The Autism Curve  

In this series, presenter Michael Blastland explores the rapid increase in autism diagnoses, and speaks to a number of experts to explore this topic including Professor Francesca Happé , Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience , King’s IoPPN .  

‘It cannot provide nuance’: UK experts warn AI therapy chatbots are not safe  

Experts provide commentary on AI therapy chatbots, saying such tools may give dangerous advice and more oversight is needed. Features comment from Professor Dame Til Wykes, Head of School of Mental Health & Psychological Sciences, King’s IoPPN and consultant clinical psychologist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.