Department of Psychosis Studies

The Department of Psychosis Studies is one of the world's largest research groups focused on psychosis, comprising over 100 staff. These include leading academics with expertise in the application of genetics, epidemiology, psychopathology, neuroimaging, cognition, and psychopharmacology in this field.

The Department received the highest possible rating in the UK Research Assessment Exercise (5*and 4*) in the last two reviews 2001 and 2008, and attracts students and staff from all over the world. It currently holds approximately £15 million of research grant income, and collectively the Department produced over 400 publications and 15 books in the last five years.

Research in the Department is focused on understanding causes of psychosis and the mechanisms underlying psychosis, and includes work on all forms of psychosis, including subclinical symptoms, high risk groups, and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Direct integration of research activity with high quality clinical services for psychosis ensures that clinical practice is informed by the latest research findings, and that research and teaching reflect current clinical priorities. The overall research approach within the department is multidisciplinary, with an emphasis on the integration of data across different research modalities, including neuroimaging, electrophysiology, genetics, epidemiology, psychopathology, cognition, endocrinology, and psychopharmacology.

The IoP shares the same site as the world famous Maudsley Hospital, which is part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) - one of the largest mental health providers in Europe. King’s is committed to translational research and is proud to be the only university in the country to host three National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and six MRC centres. At the IoP we partner with SLaM to host the only specialist BRC for Mental Health in the UK working towards better treatment, earlier diagnosis and individualised healthcare. Students also have access to the largest library in Europe dedicated to psychiatry and related disciplines.