Learn more about the mental health conditions we study.
We have developed a range of information on a number of diagnoses, including symptoms, treatments and helpful advice for individuals and their families.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is mainly diagnosed in childhood, though sometimes it is not recognised until adulthood.
Mood disorders in pregnancy and childbirth
A wide variety of mood and psychotic disorders occur in relationship to pregnancy and childbirth. Collectively, these conditions are sometimes known as perinatal mood disorders.
Sleep problems
Around one in three of us will experience occasional sleep problems at some point in our lives. Longer lasting sleep problems are also common and affect around one in every ten people.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
PMDD is directly linked to the menstrual cycle – however, it is not a result of a hormone imbalance but is believed to be a severe negative reaction to the natural fluctuations of oestrogen and progesterone that occur in the cycle.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder, often shortened to PTSD, is the name given to a set of symptoms that some people develop after experiencing major traumatic events.
Bipolar disorder
People with bipolar disorder have problems with their moods, experiencing extreme highs and lows. If you have bipolar disorder you will experience periods or ‘episodes’ of highs known as mania or hypomania and usually, periods of depression.
Anxiety and panic attacks
It is normal to feel anxious or worried in situations that we see as threatening. Anxiety becomes a problem when it lasts a long time, becomes overwhelming, or affects the way we live our day to day lives.
Autism
Autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are terms for a neurodevelopmental condition that affects specific aspects of a person’s development with lifelong impacts.
Depression
It’s normal to feel sad or miserable sometimes. But if your low mood persists for weeks at a time, keeps returning, or interferes with your life, it could be a sign of depression.
Self-harm
Self-harm is when someone intentionally damages or injures their body.
Learning disability, mental health and challenging behaviour
When a person’s problems with learning and intelligence are more severe it may be considered a learning disability.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders are mental illnesses that can present as unhealthy thoughts and feelings about food and eating, leading to drastic changes in behaviour.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects thinking, experiences, feelings and behaviour. It affects around 1% of the population at some point in their lives.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for some types of severe mental illness that have not responded to other treatments.
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD)
Grief is the profound sadness and sense of loss that follows the death of someone you care about.