ACAMH Chair, Professor Stephen Scott talks to Professor Sir Robin Murray about his research into the causes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and developing better treatments for these disorders. There will be a particular focus on the topic of adolescent drug use and its link to psychosis, as this forms the basis for Sir Robin’s Memorial Lecture at the 2018 Emanuel Miller Conference.

Check out the podcast recording or watch the full webinar:

About the speakers

Professor Stephen Scott CBE FRCPsych FMedSci, Chair of ACAMH

Professor Stephen Scott is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in the CAMHS Adoption and Fostering Service and the Conduct Problems Service at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He is also a Professor of Child Health and Behaviour at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London and the Director of the National Academy for Parenting Research, London. In the 2014 New Year’s Honours list, Stephen was made Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen, for services to families.

Professor Sir Robin Murray FMedSci FRS

Sir Robin Murray is a psychiatrist concerned with finding the causes of psychosis, and improving its treatment. His work challenged the prevailing view of schizophrenia as an adult-onset brain disease, instead demonstrating that it is in part a neurodevelopmental disorder fuelled by insults to the brain during early life.

He has identified that environmental and social factors are of great importance in determining susceptibility to psychosis. Robin also identified an increased risk of schizophrenia following heavy use of cannabis, particularly in adolescence. He currently researches the molecular effects of THC, the main psychotogenic ingredient of cannabis, and another component known as CBD, which appears to partly block the effects of THC; the high THC/CBD ratio in modern skunk cannabis carries more risk than traditional marijuana. (biography courtesy of The Royal Society)