By Jess Leighton
The stereotypical neurologist and psychiatrist couldn’t be more different- one looking down a microscope at brains and nerves and the other asking questions about childhood traumas. However the two fields are coming crashing together to ensure patients receive the best possible care.
To ensure trainee psychiatrists are up to date with the biomedical science behind disorders of the brain, the Gatsby Foundation and Wellcome Trust have funded a review of the curriculum, and Professor Wendy Burn (consultant old age psychiatrist) and Dr Gareth Cuttle (Project Manager of the Gatsby/Wellcome Neuroscience Project) will be talking about this project and its progress so far.
Research at Newcastle is at the forefront of this innovative approach, with the Institute of Neuroscience having a research strand on Neurodegenerative, Cerebrovascular and Psychiatric Disorders. The Northern Centre for Mood Disorders has a particular focus on the essence of this project- improving clinical care, cutting edge research, and education of health professionals.
The future of psychiatry- from mood disorders to dementia- must consider both the brain and the mind, and the Gatsby/Wellcome project will lead this unification.
Prof Burn and Dr Cuttle will be speaking on Thursday 16th November from 3-4pm in the David Shaw Lecture Theatre.
