The eyes have it - promising outlook for psychiatric test

The eyes have it - promising outlook for psychiatric test

A pioneering test to help diagnose mental health disorders is a step closer to being used in hospitals and clinics.

A simple eye test developed by researchers at the University of Aberdeen is now beginning the next phase of development before it can be used clinically.

The test uses a specialised, ultrafast camera to measure eye movement patterns and initial early results suggest that it is effective in detecting several mental health disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. 

This latest phase of the study will also consider whether the test is similarly effective in diagnosing people with personality problems and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Dr Phillip Benson, Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Professor David St Clair, Chair of Mental Health at the University of Aberdeen and a consultant psychiatrist at NHS Grampian, developed the test and are looking for volunteers to continue the research here in Aberdeen.

Members of the public are invited to a public meeting to find out more about the research and will have the opportunity to participate in this latest phase of development of the innovative test.

Professor David St Clair, Chair of Mental Health at the University of Aberdeen and a consultant psychiatrist at NHS Grampian will give a short talk describing the research behind the test and the stage it is now at.

A panel discussion will follow where the audience can ask questions about the research as well as broader questions about mental health in general. Other panel members will include Dr Moyra Guthrie NHS consultant psychiatrist and Rev Jim Simpson hospital chaplain.

Professor St Clair said: “The aim of the test is to help clinicians arrive at a correct diagnosis sooner. Patients can then in turn receive appropriate treatment sooner, helping them to resume a more normal life. We believe the test may also have the potential to identify individuals who are at risk of developing mental health problems before they arise.

“This test was designed and developed here in Aberdeen and which is the only centre in the world that is developing this technology for clinical and diagnostic use. We hope that as many people as possible come along to this open meeting to hear about what we are doing and what can be done to help with this new phase of the research.

“We are looking for individuals aged 18-60 years old who are willing to give up around 2 hours of their time.  We need help from both patients with psychiatric disorders and also those with no serious mental health problems.

“We are extremely grateful to volunteers who make this investment today which may help to make tomorrow better for a great many people.”

The meeting will take place at Suttie Centre, Foresterhill on Monday, November 2 from 6.30-7.30pm.  It is free to attend and no booking is necessary. The audience are encouraged to ask questions and may do so anonymously by emailing helen.lemmon@abdn.ac.uk.

 

 

ENDS

Search News

Browse by Month

2024

  1. Jan
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2024
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2024
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2024
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2024
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2024
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2024
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2024
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2024
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2024
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2024

2023

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2023
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2023
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2023
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2023
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2023
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2023
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2023
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2023
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2023
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2023
  12. Dec

2022

  1. Jan
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2022
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2022
  5. May
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2022
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2022
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2022
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2022

2021

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2021
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2020

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2020
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2020
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2020
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2019

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2019
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2018

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2018
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2018
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2018
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2018
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2018
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2018
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2017

  1. Jan
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2017
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2017
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2017
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2017

2016

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2016
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2016
  12. Dec

2014

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2014
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2012

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2012
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2012
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2012
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2012
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2012
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2012
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2012
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2012
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2012
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2012