The Lancet Psychiatry in conversation with

On Cannabis and Mental Health Jun 17, 2026 1802 What does the science actually say about cannabis and mental health? In this episode of In Conversation With, hosted by Dustin Graham (Deputy Editor, The Lancet Psychiatry), three leading researchers unpack a landmark collection of papers on cannabis and mental health published in the journal. Dr. Jack Wilson (University of Sydney) breaks down a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomised controlled

Tasdik Hasan on co-production of a Bangla mental health sign language bank Mar 19, 2026 2009 A Health Policy piece in our April issue by Tasdik Hasan and co-authors titled: Co-designing a Bangla Mental Health Sign Language Bank in Bangladesh https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00334-7/fulltext Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicalj

Emily Holmes on an imagery competing task for intrusive trauma memories Feb 18, 2026 1965 How can you stop traumatic flashbacks in just one session? Intrusive memories are so common after experiencing traumatic events and are one of the hallmark features of PTSD, but what if you could take away the power of those images without having to discuss them at length in therapy? In this episode, Emily Holmes talks about a new randomised controlled trial of an imagery-competing task, where pa

Mike Crawford on a brief intervention for personality disorder Feb 12, 2026 2057 Can personality disorder treatments be reduced to just a few months? The evidence base for personality disorder treatments, like dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) or mentalisation-based treatment (MBT), points towards treatments that last at least a year. Within the mental health field in general, though, in many countries there's a drive towards offering shorter treatments. But how short is

Ethelreda Nakimuli and Peter Jones on the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health Jan 21, 2026 2257 How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect mental health? Now that some years have passed since the pandemic's height, we can learn more from synthesising all the evidence about its shorter and longer term effects. In this episode, Ethelreda Nakimuli and Peter Jones talk about two new papers that gather the past 5 years of work on the pandemic and mental health and policy approaches. They talk about t

Ilaria Costantini and Francesca Solmi on young people’s body dissatisfaction and mental health Dec 10, 2025 2229 Body dissatisfaction has been rising among adolescents in recent years, and so have symptoms and diagnoses of mental disorders. To help us know what to do about increasing youth mental ill health, we need better understandings of what is driving it, but causal factors are hard to pin down. In this episode, Ilaria Costantini and Francesca Solmi talk about their new study that uses a longitudinal t

Melissa DelBello on metformin for youth with bipolar disorder Nov 11, 2025 1890 Weight gain is a typical side-effect of taking antipsychotics and can have a big impact on people. But for young people with bipolar disorder, metformin isn't commonly prescribed alongside an antipsychotic. In this episode, Melissa DelBello describes a huge randomised trial in the USA on metformin for young people with bipolar disorder taking antipsychotics, looking at its effects over a 2-year pe

Camilla Rosan on the COS-P perinatal mental health intervention Oct 7, 2025 2094 Up to 1 in 4 women and birthing parents experience perinatal mental health difficulties, but there isn't enough evidence around interventions that could help them, especially interventions that work with the parent-infant bond or that focus on a broad range of mental health difficulties rather than specific disorders. Camilla Rosan talks about what's needed in perinatal mental health services, an

Juan Carlos Bazo Alvarez and Claudia Cooper on antipsychotics and dementia Sep 16, 2025 1754 People living with dementia often have behavioural and psychiatric symptoms, such as agitation, and when these are severe, antipsychotics can be prescribed. Guidelines recommend prescribing antipsychotics at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time, but does this really happen in practice? Juan Carlos Bazo Alvarez and Claudia Cooper's research team looked at primary care data from

Kasia Machaczek, Scott Teasdale, and Joe Firth on lifestyle interventions Aug 12, 2025 2069 Why is physical health so important for people with mental illness? In this episode, we talk about a new paper on lifestyle interventions for people with mental illness, covering which aspects of those interventions are beneficial for physical and mental health, and looking at key recommendations for how to implement these interventions in mental health settings. Kasia Machaczek, Scott Teasdale,

Louise Glenthøj, Ditte Lammers, and Vibeke Andersen on virtual reality-based therapy for auditory hallucinations Jul 3, 2025 2442 What if you could see the voice inside your head? Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia are often distressing, as the voices are often malicious and unrelenting. In a new type of immersive virtual reality-based therapy, a 3D avatar of the voice is built by the patient and therapist, and it is then confronted together during the sessions. In this podcast, we discuss the randomised controlled t

Katrina Kennedy and Rose Pollard Kaptchuk on health-care responses for trans and gender diverse people after interpersonal violence Jun 4, 2025 2005 Transgender and gender diverse people experience disproportionately high levels of interpersonal violence, but they also face multiple barriers to receiving quality post-violence care, with knock-on effects for their mental health. Katrina Kennedy and Rose Pollard Kaptchuk talk with Sophia Davis about the values and preferences of trans and gender diverse people around post-violence health sector

Andrea Iaboni on medications for anxiety in older adults May 14, 2025 1878 Which medications should be the first choice for prescribing for anxiety in older adults? Anxiety is common in older adults, but a lot of research on medication for anxiety is done in younger adults and doesn't take into account the different needs of and side-effects risks for older adults. Andrea Iaboni talks with Sophia Davis about her group's review of medications for anxiety in older adults,

Philipp Klein on a digital intervention for borderline personality disorder Apr 15, 2025 2373 Sophia Davis, senior editor at The Lancet Psychiatry, discusses research on a new digital therapy for borderline personality disorder with Philipp Klein from the University of Lubeck, Germany. This episode delves into the core experiences of borderline personality disorder, the innovative schema therapy-based digital intervention, and the results from the new study. Learn about the effectiveness,

Helene Speyer and Marte Ustrup on dissensus in lived experience research Mar 6, 2025 1757 Helene Speyer and Marte Ustrup talk with Sophia Davis about embracing dissensus in lived experience research. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00003-3?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com

Peter Fonagy on mentalisation-based treatment for antisocial personality disorder Feb 18, 2025 2218 Peter Fonagy talks with Sophia Davis about a trial of mentalization-based treatment for antisocial personality disorder in men on community probation. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00445-0/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https:/

Mikkel Højlund on antipsychotics polypharmacy Nov 12, 2024 1275 Sophia Davis talks to Mikkel Højlund about research into the prevalence and outcomes of antipsychotics polypharmacy. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https://youtube.com/thelancettv

Nguyen Tran and David Kinitz on conversion practices and mental health Sep 30, 2024 2612 Nguyen Tran and David Kinitz talk with Sophia Davis about conversion practices for people of sexual and gender minorities and their mental health. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00251-7/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://in

Marco Solmi, Manish Sood, and Nicholas Fabiano on eating disorders and electrolyte abnormalities Sep 17, 2024 2034 Marco Solmi, Manish Sood, and Nicholas Fabiano join Sophia Davis to discuss electrolyte abnormalities in people with eating disorders and their association with physical health outcomes and mortality. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00244-X/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us

Frank Padberg and Stephan Goerigk on child maltreatment and psychotherapy Aug 13, 2024 2145 Frank Padberg and Stephan Goerigk join Sophia Davis to discuss the effects of child maltreatment on psychotherapy for depression. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00209-8/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thela

Ryan Van Patten on cognition in functional seizures Jun 13, 2024 2651 Ryan Van Patten joins Sophia Davis to discuss cognitive performance in functional seizures. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https://youtube.com/thelancettv

Sebastian Wolf on exercise and mental health May 15, 2024 1800 Sebastian Wolf joins Sophia Davis to discuss a transdiagnostic exercise intervention for mental health. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00069-5/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://twitter.com/thelancet https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.

Jinah Park and Whanhee Lee on heat and emergency admissions Apr 15, 2024 1437 Jinah Park and Whanhee Lee join Sophia Davis to discuss the effects of increasing ambient temperature on hospital admissions for people with mental disorders and developmental disabilities. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00067-1/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at..

Vincenzo Oliva on medications for psychotic depression Feb 14, 2024 1468 Vincenzo Oliva joins Sophia Davis to discuss medications for psychotic depression. Read the full systematic review: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00006-3/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelan

Maike Richter and Nils Opel on narcissistic traits Nov 15, 2023 1654 Maike Richter and Nils Opel join Sophia Davis to discuss narcissistic traits and depressive symptoms in psychotherapy. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(23)00293-6/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup h

Lucy Stephenson, Astrid Gieselmann, and Matthé Scholten on self-binding directives Oct 18, 2023 2286 Lucy Stephenson, Astrid Gieselmann, and Matthé Scholten join Sophia Davis to discuss self-binding directives in psychiatric practice. Read the full Review: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(23)00221-3/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/

Gustavo Medeiros on brain-based correlates of antidepressant response to ketamine Sep 14, 2023 1849 Gustavo Medeiros joins Sophia Davis to discuss a review of brain-based correlates of antidepressant response to ketamine, using neuro-imaging studies. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(23)00183-9/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https

Felicity Waite on psychological therapy for sleep problems in young people at risk of psychosis Aug 16, 2023 1967 Felicity Waite joins Sophia Davis to discuss a psychological therapy for sleep problems in young people at ultra-high risk of psychosis. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(23)00203-1/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.co

Joelle Mak and Ligia Kiss on psychosocial interventions for survivors of human trafficking Jun 21, 2023 1625 Assistant Professor Joelle Mak and Dr Ligia Kiss join Sophia Davis to discuss a new review of psychosocial interventions for survivors of human trafficking. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(23)00105-0/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/

Rory O’Connor on premature mortality in people with mental illness Jun 1, 2023 2671 Professor Rory O’Connor joins Sophia Davis to discuss a paper on the Gone Too Soon project about premature mortality in people with mental illness or mental distress. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(23)00058-5/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_generic_lanpsy Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsk

Ian Wong on methylphenidate for children and adolescents with ADHD Mar 24, 2023 941 Professor Ian Wong joins Sophia Davis to discuss the research on methylphenidate for children and adolescents with ADHD. Read the full article: Long-term safety of methylphenidate in children and adolescents with ADHD: 2-year outcomes of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs Use Chronic Effects (ADDUCE) study Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelanc

Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar on drug use and treatment services in the Eastern Mediterranean Feb 24, 2023 1184 Professor Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar joins Sophia Davis to discuss the systematic review of drug use, drug use disorder, and treatment services in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Read the full article: Drug use, drug use disorders, and treatment services in the Eastern Mediterranean region: a systematic review Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.socia

Richard Morriss on cranial electrostimulation therapy for depression Jan 29, 2023 2295 Professor Richard Morriss joins Sophia Davis to discuss a trial into cranial electrostimulation therapy with Alpha-Stim AID for people with depression. Read the full article: Clinical effectiveness of active Alpha-Stim AID versus sham Alpha-Stim AID in major depression in primary care in England (Alpha-Stim-D) Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.soc

Protection or Paternalism? Dec 16, 2021 671 Deputy Editor Dustin Graham talks with Sally McManus and co-authors of a Comment piece about ethical review committees and who gets to decide which questions are too risky for research. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet h

Wellcome Global Monitor Oct 20, 2021 367 We talk with Professor Miranda Wolpert, Director of Mental Health at Wellcome, about the Wellcome Global Monitor report and its implications for the future of mental health science. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https

Cultural Competency Sep 23, 2021 853 Senior Editor Dustin Graham speaks with the authors of a newly published paper on the impact of race and ethnicity on patients' perspectives of their providers' cultural competency and what this means with clinical care. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00285-6/fulltext Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://the

ECT safety Jul 12, 2021 1244 Chief Editor Niall Boyce talks with Tyler Kaster about his groups' recent study looking at the safety and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy for adults hospitalised with depression. Read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00168-1/fulltext Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagra

Debbie Challis on helping children deal with the aftermath of COVID-19 May 20, 2021 853 Dustin Graham talks with Dr Debbie Challis about the Fading Rainbows project and helping children deal with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https://youtube.com/thelancettv

Erica Crompton on the importance of first-person stories Mar 10, 2021 660 Dustin Graham talks with Erica Crompton, journalist and mental health advocate, about the importance of publishing first-person stories from service users. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https://youtube.com/thelancett

Michael Wright on mental health in Aboriginal communities Feb 9, 2021 2020 Michael Wright discusses his groups efforts to work with Aboriginal communities in Western Australia to design better mental health services. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https://youtube.com/thelancettv

Kimberly Sue on increasing access to buprenorphine Jan 22, 2021 746 Dr Kimberly Sue discusses a new US policy making buprenorphine easier to prescribe for opioid addiction, and the challenges that remain for increasing access in practice. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https://youtube

Youth work environments Dec 11, 2020 654 Dustin Graham talks with Aaron Kandola about his group's recent Commission with the UK Wellcome Trust to understand how work environments can be improved for young workers' mental health. You can see the Commission at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychiatry/excessive-occupational-sitting-and-mental-health-young-people Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.soc

Off-radar youth Dec 9, 2020 1504 COVID-19 related lockdowns can exacerbate problems for children and young people at risk of abuse. Niall Boyce discusses this with Laura Fischer and Jane Chevous how we can improve outreach and empowerment, and help make sure at-risk youth stay on our radars. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://fac

If a patient dies by suicide Nov 19, 2020 1216 We talk with Dr Rachel Gibbons about the challenges that clinicians face in the wake of losing a patient to suicide, and the support we should provide. Continue this conversation on social! Follow us today at... https://thelancet.bsky.social/ https://instagram.com/thelancetgroup https://facebook.com/thelancetmedicaljournal https://linkedIn.com/company/the-lancet https://youtube.com/thelancettv

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