From Depression to True Joy by Tope Ogundare
In his third contribution, psychiatrist, poet and pianist Tope Ogundare reviews Nigerian Public Relations mogul, Chude Jideonwo’s memoir, How Depression Saved My Life, for the April edition of Muses.…

In his third contribution, psychiatrist, poet and pianist Tope Ogundare reviews Nigerian Public Relations mogul, Chude Jideonwo’s memoir, How Depression Saved My Life, for the April edition of Muses.…

The RCPsych Article of the Month for March is ‘‘Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the management of depression in women with breast cancer: evidence and gaps“.…

The March edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – features a piece by Muses Commissioning editor Dami Ajayi, reflecting on a psychiatric hospital’s experiment to reduce social stigma in Lagos, Nigeria.…

The RCPsych Article of the Month for January is ‘Associations of mental disorders in children with parents’ subsequent mental disorders: nationwide cohort study from Finland and Denmark‘.…

In the February 26 edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – Dr Tim McInerny, Pictures Editor, BJPsych International, introduces Cathy Freeman, the artist whose work is on the cover of the February 2026 edition of BJPsych International.…

We kick off 2026 with an artist’s statement and original art by frequent contributor Dr Lakshmi Sravanti. Like her previous contributions, she presents conceptual art heavily influenced by psychiatry and inspiring hope and healing.…

The RCPsych Article of the Month for December is ‘Enhancing the quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses‘ and the blog is written by authors Rebecca Strawbridge, Deepika Sharma, Steve Kisely, Ioana A.…

The RCPsych Article of the Month for December is ‘Gambling, suicide and mental health treatment utilisation in Wales: case–control, whole-population-based study‘ and the blog is written by authors Matthew Jones, Pippa Boering, Kishan Patel, Daniel Leightley and Simon Dymond and the article is published in BJPsych Open.…

This edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – features a review of feature film Abang Adik by Kit-Aun Tan, PhD, faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).…

The RCPsych Article of the Month for November is ‘Mind–body treatments for children with functional gastrointestinal disorders’. The blog is written by author Kate Stein and the article is published in BJPsych Advances.…

In the November 25 edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – Dr Tim McInerny, Pictures Editor, BJPsych International, introduces Frances Richardson, the artist whose work is on the cover of the latest edition of BJPsych International.…

The RCPsych Article of the Month for October is ‘Experiences and support needs of psychiatrists under investigation‘ and the blog is written by authors Dr Swapna Kongara and Dr Rachel Gibbons and the article is published in BJPsych Bulletin.…

The RCPsych Article of the Month for September is ‘A better future for mental health science‘ and the blog is written by author Niall Boyce and the article is published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.…

In the October 25 edition of Muses features the poetic prose of psychiatrist Bahjat Najeeb, whose encounter with the monumental Basilica Cistern in Istanbul set his muse on a fine meditation on the fraught nature of Borderline Personality Disorders. …

Author: Marcos Leonardo Juarez Aguaysol In the September 25 edition of Muses – This month’s edition is a treat from Argentina.…

Author: Dr Tim McInerny, Pictures Editor, BJPsych International [tmcinerny@hotmail.com] In the August 25 edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – Dr Tim McInerny, Pictures Editor, BJPsych International, introduces Colin, the artist whose work is on the cover of the latest edition of BJPsych International.…
The RCPsych Article of the Month for August is ‘Feasibility and acceptability of a solution-focused approach to strengthen lay counselling for common mental disorders (DIALOG+) in Pakistan: mixed methods study‘, written by authors Saniya Saleem, Anayat Baig, Onaiza Qureshi, Sana Sajun, Victoria Bird, Stefan Priebe and Aneeta Pasha.…
The RCPsych Article of the Month for June is ‘Subjective, behavioural and physiological correlates of stress in women using hormonal contraceptives‘ and the blog is written by authors Zoé Bürger and the article is published in The British Journal of Psychiatry Despite their widespread use, we still know surprisingly little about how hormonal contraceptives affect the body’s response to stress.…

The RCPsych Joint Article of the Month for July is ‘Epilepsy and psychosis: navigating through a complex intersection‘. The blog is written by author Dr.…

The July edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – features a belated review of the multiple Emmy-nominated TV series, Adolescence, and an accompanying artwork painted by one of the authors, Dr Sravanti.…

It has been three years since Muses, the art blog of BJPsych International, was launched. Although time travels fast, reflection is an active process of slowing time down to take stock of what time has bequeathed us.

Sally Osborn is a ceramic artist who lives and works in Berlin and Glasgow. Her art is compelling in its abstract structure and which requires great skill to create. The roughness of the unglazed ceramic adds beauty to its sensuous shape.

It was a grey, overcast day, and the steady rain outside seemed to reflect my own sense of unease as I walked through the dimly lit corridor into the main hall of Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Having recently relocated to this new country, every step felt like a mix of excitement and discomfort as I tried to adjust to the unfamiliar. I stopped beneath Sophie Cave's Expression installation

The RCPsych Joint Article of the Month for February is ‘Effect of improving food security on parenting practices and caregiver–adolescent relationships: qualitative findings of an income-generating agricultural intervention in rural Kenya‘.…

An analysis of the political, social and cultural factors behind extremism, racism and riots, and their profound effects on mental health across communities.

Our study explored the experiences of 21 individuals in the aftermath of the tragic March 15, 2019, terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Participants included bereaved family members, survivors, and community members. A qualitative approach 18-30 months after the attacks allowed us to gain a nuanced understanding of the impact of mass trauma in an ethnically-diverse, minority faith community - and how practitioners can enhance clinical practice.

I’ve heard many psychiatrists giving evidence. And, maybe hundreds of experts in multiple cases over a 45 year career as barrister and judge. Some experts are routine – the treating doctor in a road accident claim – while others are indispensable – the psychiatrist testifying that the murder accused did not know the nature and quality of their action.

Ahmed Emad Eldin is a digital artist, with a background in pharmacy and psychology, recognized globally for his work on Pink Floyd’s “The Endless River” album cover and listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2023.

When Fontane suggested an artistic collaboration portraying the struggles of identity in modern motherhood to Priya, Priya entered the words 'Bharatanatyam' and 'harp music' into an online search engine. The search result was unsatisfactory, hence the realisation of creating everything from scratch. A herculean task, it seemed. But isn't motherhood as well? From when a crying baby is placed in our hands, we fumble along the way, often uncertain of what we are doing.

Ikebana, a floral art tradition dating back to the 7th century in Japan, literally translates as "making flowers alive" in Japanese. With 25 years of teaching experience, Ikuyo has played a vital role in promoting Ikebana in the U.K. In 2007, she founded and became the Founding Director of the Sogetsu London Branch, currently serving as the Honorary Advisor. She holds the “Riji" highest teaching grade.

In the September edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – Dr Dami Ajayi reviews Nigerian writer Tukura John Daniel’s memoir about his lived experience with Bipolar Affective Disorder, How to Spell Bipolar.

There has been a rightful focus on equity in healthcare systems, and drives to co-produce services in a culturally informed manner with those who use them. In my experience, this has not been equal in approach, and a group, or groups of people, who remain particularly excluded are Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) communities.

This edition of Muses celebrates the artwork of visual artist and psychiatrist Lakshmi Sravanti’s Embrace Yourself: Nurture the Inner Sufferer. It is the second in her ongoing series contemplating the human condition as it pertains to mental illness.

Writing was refreshing to me because I was communicating again. However, I didn’t fully understand the extent until I watched Dead Poets Society, where the late Robin Williams delivered this moving monologue. He said, “We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

It is widely known that autistic children are frequently anxious. However, while a number of interventions exist in high-income countries, they remain scarce in South Asia. The inspiration for this work began at an international meeting of the North East England South Asia Mental Health Alliance (NEESAMA.org) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2019. During the meeting participants identified an unmet need for an intervention to support autistic children experiencing anxiety in South Asia.

When the editorial board of BJPsych International acceded to the launch of a web-based monthly arts blog, I volunteered as the commissioning editor. I did this partly because I already straddled the worlds of psychiatry and the creative arts. But also because it was an opportunity to be a part of something new.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ values and behaviours, Courage, Innovation, Respect, Collaboration, Learning and Excellence combine into the CIRCLE acronym. In the list under Excellence, a link takes you to core values for psychiatrists. One of those is humility.

In the March 2024 edition of Magnify – the Journal Club blog from BJPsych – Dr Angharad de Cates and Dr Merryn Anderson chair a journal club in collaboration with Cornwall Partnership Trust, discussing ‘Suicide and other causes of death among working-age and older adults in the year after discharge from in-patient mental healthcare in England: matched cohort study’. They are joined by a group of early career psychiatrists who presented an appraisal of the paper, and who have written a blog post discussing their reflections on the process. An expert panel, including the senior author of the paper, also joined the discussions.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the youngest population of any region in the world with 70% under the age of 30 years. This youthful demographic profile can be both a blessing and a challenge. While the youth have the potential to drive economic development, meeting their educational, social, and health needs can over-stretch already limited human and material resources.

Alison Wilding has always been fascinated by deadly, beautiful things, either found in nature or when manufactured, and specifically in regard to the latter, the realm of the military machine.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is not classically the psychiatrists’ natural habitat; yet, psychiatrists are required to obtain and interpret ECGs in certain clinical scenarios.

Sue Morgan completed a doctorate in German philosophy and worked in the city as a corporate tax lawyer before being forced to retire in 1998 because of a diagnosis of schizo-affective disorder.

Puzzle was created during a admission It's a self-portrait, but the question is of what? Throughout my life, painting and the canvas have given me the the opportunity to let go and thus art has helped in my recovery.

The Akan people of Ghana, like many other collectivist cultures, have deeply engrained concepts of interdependence and support for each other. These concepts have been passed on for generations in the Adinkra symbols. Each symbol possesses an intrinsic meaning and represents virtues, values or beliefs critical to the Akan experience of life.

As Pictures Editor, I selected Peter Eddie's art for the August cover because of his intriguing drawings of faces and his enthusiastic use of any surface, here water cups. The rows of faces appear like an audience, looking out on us the viewer and reader of this journal.

Canada is debating expanding its medical assistance in dying law to include mental illness as the sole underlying condition. Initially planned for March 2023, the rollout has now been paused, yet the discussion continues.

The July 2023 edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – features an article by Dr Olasunkanmi Onifade, Oral Medicine Consultant, Nigeria.

BJPsych Bulletin is delighted to announce Dr Jonathan Monk-Cunliffe as the winner of the 2022 Praxis Editorial Award competition. Read his complementary blog post on his winning article: "How can we overcome health inequalities in psychiatry?"

My life as I knew it changed in the autumn of 2019. I started a new job in a new city in a new country. To further tip the scale, my aisle-destined engagement began to fail that summer, with unresolved conflicts sporadically rearing their heads in five cities on three continents. That summer, my laptop (and all my precious writing and dissertation) was stolen on a flight from London to Lagos.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for June is ‘Breaking out of the citadel: social theory and psychiatry' and the blog is written by authors Rob Poole and Catherine A. Robinson and the article is published in BJPsych Bulletin.

This research with a vulnerable clinical population, who are experiencing significant distress, gives us an important insight into whether music therapy may be helpful for patients and staff on NHS inpatient psychiatric dementia wards by reducing distress and improving wellbeing.

As pictures editor, I selected Peter Grundy's art for the February cover because of his striking designs that simply portray complicated issues. Peter Grundy is one of the world's leading information designers. Peter Grundy states his designs and illustrations aim to turn complex information into simple visual stories in a world of modern messiness.

The April edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – features an interview with Tunmise Kuku, a Nigerian radio broadcaster and mental health advocate who has been open about her diagnosis of Type II Bipolar Affective Disorder. Three years ago, she took a deliberate career break to write Living Mindfully: A Journey of Being, a memoir that draws from her experiences and stories. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

In the March edition of Magnify – the Journal Club blog from BJPsych – Dr Angharad de Cates and Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa chair a journal club in collaboration with the WPA, discussing ‘Efficacy of interventions to reduce coercive treatment in mental health services: umbrella review of randomised evidence’.

Anna Munks, Managing Editor of BJPsych Advances and BJPsych Open, speaks to us about the importance of peer review for the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych).

BJPsych Bulletin is delighted to announce Dr Simon Williamson as the winner of the 2021 Praxis Editorial Award competition. Read his complementary blog post on his winning article: “‘Is the biopsychosocial model dead?”.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for May is ‘Undergraduate psychiatric education: current situation and way forward’ and the blog is written by author Gaia Sampogna published in BJPsych International.

University College London People who had higher pre-pandemic levels of depression or anxiety have been more severely affected by disruption to jobs and healthcare during the pandemic, according to a new study co-led by UCL researchers.…

BJPsych Bulletin is delighted to announce Dr Daniel Romeu as the winner of the 2020 Praxis Editorial Award competition. Read his complementary blog post on his winning article: “Is the climate a mental health crisis?“.…

Researchers at King’s College London have found prevalent and harmful harassment and discrimination committed by and against NHS staff working in London trusts. Furthermore, women, Black ethnic groups and migrant NHS staff were more likely to experience harassment and discrimination.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for January is from The British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych) and is entitled ‘Antipsychotic and antidepressant prescribing for 704 297 children and young people with and without intellectual disabilities: record linkage study’ by Angela Henderson, Deborah Kinnear, Michael Fleming et al.

Recent policy campaign Personal tragedies, public crisis led by Autistica, the UK’s leading autism medical research charity, emphasises that investigating rates and causes of premature mortality in autistic people is of paramount importance.

This week at London’s Central Criminal Court, or the Old Bailey as it is known, I was asked by another expert why the judges all wear black robes instead of the colourful dress of other circuit judges and why they are addressed as ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’ instead of ‘Your Honour’.…

A new research study, published in BJPsych Open, finds that loneliness experienced during the UK lockdown increased the risk of depression in family caregivers.…

The RCPsych Article of the Month for October is from BJPsych Bulletin and is entitled ‘Placing poverty-inequality at the centre of psychiatry’ by Peter Byrne and Adrian James

In this book I mention the patient who first inspired me to become a psychiatrist. He was an elderly gentleman admitted to a vascular ward for an elective repair of his aortic aneurysm.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for September is from BJPsych Open and is entitled ‘A psychiatrist's perspective from a COVID-19 epicentre: a personal account’ Isabella Pacchiarotti, Gerard Anmella, Giovanna Fico, Norma Verdolini and Eduard Vieta

The RCPsych Article of the Month for August is from The British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych) and is entitled ‘Cardiac structure and function in schizophrenia: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study’ by Emanuele F. Osimo, Stefan P. Brugger, Antonio de Marvao et al.

This is not an easy time for many children and parents. We hope our book ‘So Young, So Sad, So Listen’ can help parents recognise depression in their children, work out why this is happening and what can be done about it.

For many years we have cared for people with severe eating disorders. Sometimes we’ve had to come to terms with tragic deaths, sometimes we’ve rejoiced to see patients and whole families enjoying renewed quality of life. All too often we’ve been frustrated to see that treatment might have been earlier, more effective or more equitable, if more of our professional colleagues better understood the nature of eating disorders.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for July is from BJPsych Advances and is entitled ‘Fluctuating capacity: the concept of micro- and macro-decisions’ by Martin Curtice.

A new study by King’s College London, published in The British Journal of Psychiatry has shown an association between increases in alcohol related hospital admissions and decreases in spending on alcohol services since they came under the responsibility of local authorities in 2012.

Worldwide suicide is most common in young people, and in many places rates of self-harm and suicide are rising, especially in girls. With this in mind, we wanted to explore the characteristics of suicide in young people, including gender differences and contacts with services that could play a part in prevention.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for June is from BJPsych Bulletin and is entitled ‘The Parliamentary Scholar Scheme: a way to engage doctors in healthcare policy and politics’ by Jen Perry, Paul Lomax, Fiona Taylor, Susan Howson and Kathleen McCurdy.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, new research from The British Journal of Psychiatry finds that past stressors and traumatic events increase vulnerability to mental illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD).

The British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych) has collaborated with the World Psychiatric Association to examine the mental health aspects of disasters and trauma, aiming to strengthen the contribution of psychiatrists to reduce distress, illness and suicidal behaviour among vulnerable populations.

What is Nidotherapy? Peter Tyrer Author of 'Nidotherapy: Harmonising the Environment with the Patient' tells us more.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for May is from BJPsych International and is entitled ‘Mental Health in Malawi’ by Philippa Lilford.

Understanding the basic science of our brain’s endogenous cannabinoid chemistry–the natural marijuana-like chemistry that regulates the brain’s other neurotransmitters—is the critical and essential foundation needed to understand cannabis.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for March is from BJPsych Open and is entitled ‘Social gradients in the receipt of medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and young people in Sheffield’ by Samuel Nunn.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for February is from BJPsych Bulletin and is entitled ‘Addressing shame: what role does shame play in the formation of a modern medical professional identity?’ by Sandy Miles.

Children with ADHD from the poorest areas are significantly more likely to receive medication as children with ADHD from the most affluent areas, according to the first UK study of its kind published in BJPsych Open.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for January is from The British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych) and is entitled ‘Clinical effectiveness of the START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) psychological intervention for family carers and the effects on the cost of care for people with dementia: 6-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial’

The RCPsych Article of the Month for December is from BJPsych International and is entitled ‘Headaches in Moria: a reflection on mental healthcare in the refugee camp population of Lesbos' by Tom Nutting.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for November is from BJPsych Advances and is entitled ‘Functional cognitive disorders: identification and management’ by Norman Poole, Sarah R. Cope, Cate Bailey and Jeremy D. Isaacs.

The Mental Capacity Act was always meant to be an enabling piece of legislation, providing carers, health and social care professionals, a legal umbrella to support what they have been doing for years when supporting individuals who lack capacity to make such decisions for themselves.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for October is from BJPsych Bulletin and is entitled ‘Personal resilience in psychiatrists: systematic review’ by Ranjita Howard, Catherine Kirkley and Nicola Baylis.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for September is from BJPsych Open and is entitled the 'Emerald Series'.

Patients, carers and advocates say better evidence is needed on the safety of ketamine for depression after long-term use, and that those prescribed it must be closely monitored.

We were delighted to welcome delegates to our Cambridge University Press/RCPsych Publishing stand during Congress where they were able to explore our impressive portfolio of books and journals and meet the Journal Editors-in-Chief and Managing Editors during “Meet the Editor” sessions.

In 2005, I received a phone call from Patricia Casey, Professor (now Emeritus) of Psychiatry at University College Dublin. Would I be interested in working on a new edition of Fish’s Clinical Psychopathology with her? I stood up at once - the gravity of the occasion clearly required this - and I answered with the most emphatic Yes that I have ever uttered (apart from my wedding vows, of course). Certainly, I would revise Fish with her. Could we start today?

The RCPsych Article of the Month for July is from BJPsych Advances and is entitled ‘Collaborative diagnosis between clinician and patient: why to do it and what to consider’ by Authors Corinna Hackmann, Jon Wilson, Amorette Perkins Hannah Zeilig.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for June is from BJPsych Bulletin and is entitled ‘Do patients get better? A review of outcomes from a crisis house and home treatment team partnership’ by Authors Mohsin Faysal Butt, David Walls, Rahul Bhattacharya.

Treatment-resistant depression is the most unfavourable outcome for patients suffering from depression: one-third of depressed patients do not respond to at least two different treatments and they continue to suffer from depression and its consequences, including social isolation, decline in work functioning and – in the worst case – suicide.

RCPsych Article of the Month for April is from The British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych) and is entitled ‘Involving patients with dementia in decisions to initiate treatment: effect on patient acceptance, satisfaction and medication prescription’ by Authors Jemima Dooley, Nick Bass, Gill Livingston and Rose McCabe.

The RCPsych Article of the Month for March is from BJPsych Open and is entitled ‘Discrediting experiences: outcomes of eligibility assessments for claimants with psychiatric compared with non-psychiatric conditions transferring to personal independence payments in England'

A major Australian study from BJPsych Open shows that most people who died of suicide dismissed expressing suicidal thoughts to health professionals, prompting calls to review the way treatment is managed and resourced.

New study from The British Journal of Psychiatry finds clear link between cultural engagement and lower risk.

Computers can ‘spot the difference’ between healthy brains and the brains of people with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as ‘multiple personality disorder’.

Research from King’s College London, published in The British Journal of Psychiatry suggests that reorganisation of mental health services can have a negative effect on the health of people with severe mental illness, due to the disruption of relationships between patients and carers.