As well as conducting research, we also offer a second opinion service for a limited range of conditions delivered by our clinical academic team.
The Cardiff University Psychiatry Service (CUPS) is a referral-only clinical service that makes use of the world-leading clinical expertise within the university.
This service is provided jointly through Cardiff University and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
We provide second opinions in the areas of expertise of our team, which include:
- Treatment-resistant schizophrenia and psychosis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD
- Perinatal mental health, particularly postpartum psychosis
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in severe or treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders
- Neuropsychiatry
- Clinical Assessment for Resistant Depression (CARE) Clinic
- Treatment-resistant depression in the context of immune or inflammatory disorders
In addition, we provide a service with NHS genetics colleagues at the interface of mental health and genetics to provide information and assessment for patients and families.
Access our services
We can only accept referrals from mental health teams involved in the ongoing care of the person being referred.
Please note we are unable to accept self-referrals.
If you would like a second opinion from the CUPS, then you will need to discuss this with your clinical team.
Please address referrals to the individual clinician – click on the individual clinical academic staff below for a summary of the clinical areas in which they offer second opinions.
Please contact PsychMedCUPS@Cardiff.ac.uk for more information.
Professor Arianna di Florio
Professor Arianna Di Florio is the clinical lead for CUPS, clinical senior lecturer at Cardiff University and honorary consultant psychiatrist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
Her research studies why some women are more at risk than others of developing psychiatric disorders related to changes in sex hormones. The overarching aim of her research is to improve the current approach to women’s mental health.
Clinically, she provides UK-wide second opinions on the risk, diagnosis and management of severe psychiatric disorders associated with reproductive events such as the menstrual cycle, childbirth and transition to menopause. More broadly, she provides gender-sensitive second opinions on the diagnosis and management of bipolar disorder in women.
Professor Jonathan Bisson
Jonathan Bisson is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University.
He is also an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist in Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and Director of Traumatic Stress Wales.
His research interests relate to the impact of traumatic events and in particular intervention, development to prevent and treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD.
His clinical interest is in providing second opinions to facilitate the management of people with complex presentations related to traumatic events.
Referrals accepted from mental health teams involved in the ongoing care of the person being referred.
Professor James Walters
James is a Professor of Psychiatry at Cardiff University and an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
He researches how genetics influences the risk of developing mental health conditions with a particular interest in schizophrenia, psychosis and patient outcomes.
His clinical work focuses on the assessment and management of people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and psychosis.
He also runs a service with NHS genetics colleagues at the interface of mental health and genetics to provide information and assessment for patients and families.
Professor Jeremy Hall
Jeremy Hall is the Hodge Professor of Psychiatry at Cardiff University and an Honorary Consultant at Cardiff and Vale Health Board.
His research interests focus on using neuroscience techniques to understand how genetic and other risk factors affect the brain.
He is trained in general adult and liaison psychiatry and works clinically in the area neuropsychiatry (including Huntington’s Disease and autism) and psychosis.
Professor George Kirov
George Kirov is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University.
His clinical interest is in the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in severe or treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders.
He is the Clinical Lead for ECT at Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and provides second opinions for colleagues who are considering this treatment for their patients.
His research interests relate to the genetics of schizophrenia, esp. the role of large chromosomal deletions and duplications.
Neil Harrison is a Clinical Professor of Neuroimaging at Cardiff University and Honorary Consultant at Cardiff and Vale Health Board.
His research interests relate to how inflammation and immune activity act on the brain to impair mood, motivation and cognition and contribute to common mental illnesses, particularly depression.
Clinically, he provides second opinions to facilitate the management of people with treatment-resistant depression, particularly in the context of immune or inflammatory disorders.
Getting here
The clinic is based at the Hadyn Ellis Building. View our location on a map and get directions.
Limited parking is available for clinic users.
Get in touch
Please send referrals to:
CUPS Clinic Coordinator
Hadyn Ellis Building
Maindy Road
Cardiff
CF24 4HQ