Category Archives: News & updates

Medication – choice and managing problems Medication can play a key role in treating mental illness. Unfortunately, sometimes people have problems with taking this medication that make them feel that it’s not right for them. This section considers ways of … Continue reading →

This section covers: •How do mood stabilisers work? •Lithium •Valproate •Carbamazepine •Lamotrigine •Antipsychotics How do mood stabilisers work? It is not yet known exactly how mood stabilisers work. They appear to have the effect of stabilising swings between mania (feeling … Continue reading →

How do benzodiazepines work? When you are anxious, your brain becomes more active. It may then produce a chemical messenger (or ‘neurotransmitter’) called GABA (short for gamma-aminobutyric acid) that makes you feel calmer. GABA is the brain’s naturally occurring ‘calmer’. … Continue reading →

Antipsychotics are medicines that are mainly used to treat schizophrenia or mania caused by bipolar disorder. There are two main types of antipsychotics: atypical antipsychotics and older antipsychotics. Both types are thought to work as well as each other. Side-effects … Continue reading →

Education and Recovery An important aspect of recovery involves not only getting better, but also achieving a full and satisfying life. Education can accelerate your recovery process in that it broadens your intellectual, social and emotional horizons. When you go … Continue reading →

Introduction This leaflet is aimed at: •The carers of people with alcohol and drug problems (substance misuse) who provide continuing help and support, without payment, to a relative, partner or friend. •The addiction specialists and other professionals involved in the … Continue reading →

What is chronic tension-type headache and whom does it affect? Chronic tension-type headache is a condition where you have a tension-type headache on at least 15 days every month.Tension-type headache is the common type of headache that most people have … Continue reading →

Questions to ask the psychiatrist Carers need information and psychiatrists are busy. Carers may not always find out what they need to know about the person they are caring for. This checklist is designed to help you get all the … Continue reading →

SSRI antidepressants are used to treat depression and some other conditions. They can take 2-4 weeks to build up their effect to work fully. A normal course of antidepressants lasts at least six months after symptoms have eased. Side-effects may … Continue reading →

Antipsychotics are medicines that are mainly used to treat schizophrenia or mania caused by bipolar disorder. There are two main types of antipsychotics: atypical antipsychotics and older antipsychotics. Both types are thought to work as well as each other. Side-effects … Continue reading →