Every medication and therapy used in the NHS today must be thoroughly researched first both for safety and effectiveness. The only way new treatments can become available to us is through research.
Mental health research can improve our understanding, find effective evidence-based treatments and even prevent mental health problems from developing in the first place.
Types of Research
Academic Research
Many Universities are at the forefront of mental health research. It is here that professors and academics generate research new ideas about mental health conditions. They design the methods though which the questions can be answered. NHS patients are then asked to take part in the research. Most mental health research in the NHS is done in collaboration with universities. CWP is currently collaborating with the Universities of Oxford, Liverpool, York, Birmingham, Warwick and University College London on research projects in schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, psychosis and learning disabilities.
Pharmaceutical Research
As its name says, this type of research is done by commercial Pharmaceutical companies who wish to test the effectiveness of new drugs and therapies. All new drugs and therapies must be thoroughly tested before being licenced for human use. Pharmaceutical research is very carefully monitored, and patient safety is closely supervised at all times. Patients often take part in this type of research as it gives them chance to access new ground-breaking treatments and therapies.
Charities
Many charities which focus on a particular health condition will take part in research or fund research undertaken by universities and the NHS. Research is a very expensive process. For example, the costs of researching and developing a newly licensed drug for cancer will be approximately $1billion. An academic university research study in mental health will cost approximately £800,000 per year. Charities, the NHS and Universities will often work in collaboration to fund research projects.