28 Healthcare Innovations Specialist clinics


The new landscape of mental health


‘Health is more than just an absence of disease, but a process that has to be cultivated if it is to thrive’(1)


T


hese were the conclusions of the Peckham Experiment, conducted between 1926


and 1950, which Covid-19 has pain- fully brought to our attention once again. Tis is particularly true for mental health disorders — for which professionals are seeking to find novel treatments and effective preven- tive programmes. “It’s time for psychiatry to expand


beyond its remits and embrace scien- tific evidence produced outside our discipline,” says Dr Marco Catani, King’s College London. “Historically, psychiatrists feel nervous about deliv- ering a comprehensive mental health care package that involves aspects of nutrition,


physical health and


neurodiversity.” A recent study shows how greater


physical activity is associated with slower cognitive decline and brain volume loss(2)


. “We knew about the benefits of


reducing cardiovascular risk factors on brain ageing,” says Professor Catani, “but this is the first time that we see a direct effect of phys- ical activity on preventing the deposition of beta amyloid, one of the substances that clumps together to cause Alzheimer’s disease.” Tese are key findings


for conditions for which there’s no current cure, and serves to remind us of the tight link between mental and physical health. “While the flocks of joggers


that have been growing during the pandemic are a sign of people’s increased health aware- ness, it’s important that physical activity, like any other therapeutic intervention, is promoted safely and effectively. Covid-19 has given psychi- atrists an opportunity to face the new challenges in mental health,” says Professor Catani, who has teamed up with other health professionals to develop comprehensive treatment programmes for specific mental health conditions.


People who had Covid-19 may continue to experience significant chronic symptoms: brain fog, poor motivation, fatigue, breathing difficulties and low mood


MEET THE EXPERT


Professor Marco Catani, MD, PhD, director of the Catani Clinic I’m a medical doctor trained in neuropsychiatry and a neuroscientist. I’m particularly


Treating post-Covid-19 syndromes Recognition and treatment of post- Covid-19


syndromes is becoming


an urgent necessity. Recent studies indicate


that some people who


had Covid-19 continue to experi- ence significant chronic symptoms: brain fog, poor motivation, fatigue, breathing difficulties and low mood.


Te reasons why are still not entirely known, but doctors are seeing many similarities with other chronic disorders where peripheral inflam- mation is relayed into the brain (3) such as chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme disease. While post-Covid-19 syndromes affect a minority of the population,


the effects of social


mental health have been felt globally. Staying indoors has


isolation on forced people


interested in combining pharmacolog-


ical, cognitive and behavioural approaches to dopamine and noradrenaline modulation for the treatment of attention and memory deficits, mood dysregulation, impulsive and addictive behaviour, dyspraxia and language impairment. I have pioneered the use of a novel MRI method based on diffu-


sion tractography for the study of brain connections crucial for the development of language, visual memory, attention, fine motor skills, social behaviour and emotions. I’ve applied trac- tography to further our understanding of brain disorders like autism, attention deficit disorder, stroke, dementia, traumatic brain injury and brain tumours. The results of my research have contributed to a better understanding of the under- lying causes of these disorders and improved their diagnosis and treatment. I’m co-editor (neuroanatomy section) and author of the


42nd edition of Gray’s Anatomy (Elsevier 2020) and have co-au- thored several other books that have been awarded interna- tional prizes. I’m one of the four international members that comprise the


medical committee of the World Athletics Federation respon- sible for anti-doping regulation (therapeutic use exemption) and have provided expert opinion to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). I’m Professor of Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry at the


Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London where I coordinate the research activity of the NatBrainLab (natbrainlab.com). I also hold an honorary consultant psychiatrist position at the Adult ADHD Clinic, Maudsley Hospital and at the Low Grade Glioma Clinic, King’s College Hospital.


to reduce their physical activity and this has led to many putting on excess weight and developing negative meta- bolic changes, such as hormonal imbalance, vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance. Te direct consequences are both


physical (reduced lung capacity, altered immune response) and psycho- logical (poor self-image, increased anxiety and impulsive behaviour with food and social media).


Getting the right diagnosis Some categories are particularly vulnerable to social isolation, including young people with neurode- velopmental conditions. Professor


Promotional Content • Saturday 3 July 2021


Professor Marco Catani PHOTOGRAPH: ANDREW EASTWOOD


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