Psychiatry experts give insights into mental health issues

After 30 years of dealing with mental health problems on the streets as a police inspector, Wandsworth Mayor Jim Maddan described the “fascinating insight” he gained from two talks by experts who study and treat children and adults with mental health problems on the wards and in the outpatient clinics.

The talks, which took place on Tuesday 20 February in the Michael Heron lecture theatre at St George’s, University of London, were inaugural lectures given to mark the awarding of professorships to Mohammed Abou-Saleh and Jeremy Turk at St George’s.

Professor Mohammed Abou-Saleh, a specialist in addiction psychiatry, talked about his past research, revealing how his studies have shown that lithium is very useful in treating people with severe depression and how taking folic acid could help in the treatment of depression as well as helping prevent heart attacks and strokes.

He also reported that treatment of drug addicts helps to prevent them from contracting Hepatitis C viral infection.

His studies on mental health among women in a traditional Arab community have shown a higher rate of depression in women than men, which is related to their socially disadvantaged lives.

Professor Abou-Saleh, 56, from Sutton, paid tribute to those who had nurtured his career, including the late Arthur Crisp, also of St George’s, University of London, credited with founding the modern approach to treating eating disorders, and St George’s Professor Ghodse, well known for his work with the UN on international drugs control.

St George’s, University of London Principal, Professor Michael Farthing, said after the first talk: “It’s good to flag up the importance of strong mentors to guide us through our careers.”

Jeremy Turk, Professor of Developmental Psychiatry, Academic Child and Adolescent Mental Health, gave the audience of friends, family, academics and local dignitaries a fascinating look at the history of treatments used for young people with mental health problems.

As well as outlining major discoveries in treatment, including the recent revelation that melatonin could be beneficial for children with mental health problems, he “named and shamed” some bizarre past approaches — from suspending children with autism or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) by their heels and swinging them round in a bid to “kickstart their neurological processes” to experiments where children were “facilitated” in tapping out evidence of abuse on a keyboard.

Professor Turk, 48, from Forest Hill, was strong in his views on MMR, arguing that evidence of a link between the combined vaccine and autism had been “largely discredited”. He warned that Britain is already suffering the results of media scare stories on the topic. He said: “We are experiencing a rise, if not an epidemic, in measles, mumps and rubella as a result.”

Professor Farthing said: “It was a wonderful tour through philosophy, sociology, and psychology and we all go away with lightened hearts as well as informed brains.”

Wandsworth Mayor, Councillor Jim Maddan, attended the lecture. He said: “After my 20 or 30 years dealing with people with mental health problems as a police inspector, it was fascinating to hear about the professionals working with them on the other side. The two different approaches, from Professor Mohammed Abou-Saleh and Professor Jeremy Turk, each brought a fresh perspective and new insights to a complex and compelling area.”

The talks were followed by a wine and pancake reception.

Ends

Notes to Editors

PICTURE CAPTIONS: Professor Mohammed Abou-Saleh (with grey tie), Professor Jeremy Turk (with purple tie), the two professors together, and a group shot of Wandsworth Mayor Jim Maddan with Professor Mohammed Abou-Saleh and Professor Jeremy Turk.

For any further information or to arrange interviews, contact Tamsin Starr, communications manager for St George’s, University of London, on 0208 725 1139;07786 982028 or email tstarr@sgul.ac.uk.

St George’s, University of London is the only independently governed medical school in England and provides training to a wide range of healthcare students on one site. As well as providing courses in medicine and biomedical sciences, the Medical School also offers courses in midwifery, nursing, physiotherapy, radiography and social work in conjunction with Kingston University. The school is extremely active in research and has a high reputation in areas such as infection as well as diseases of the heart and circulation. Other areas of expertise include stroke rehabilitation, air pollution and addictions.