In an ambiguous world, what we perceive is likely “our brain’s best guess” of the environment. Our brain constantly tunes our perceptions and beliefs, balancing our pre-existing knowledge, which we gain through our own experiences, with the reliability of the present sensory information. However “the way that we use prior knowledge to make those guesses […]
Immunopsychiatry offers insights into treatment of depression and psychosis
When we think of the immune system, we typically envision a system devoted to protecting our bodies from disease. This system innately responds to pathogens with first-line defense mechanisms, such as chemical barriers or inflammation. Over time, a healthy immune system will adapt to pathogens and activate a more specific response to each one, which […]
The CAPE-P15: lifesaver or timesaver?
It is crucial to identify those who are at ‘ultra high-risk’ for psychosis (UHR) before their first psychotic episode. It’s always better to prevent than to cure, and early intervention is associated with better outcomes. Currently the most common way of detecting UHR individuals is with a semi-structured interview called the CAARMS. This is great […]
Autism and psychosis, evidence for a distinct subtype?
Despite the fact that people with an autism spectrum condition (ASD) are more likely than the general population to develop a psychotic disorder, very little is known about this group of patients. As part of her PhD at the Department of Psychiatry, Felicity Larson tried to identify the characteristics of individuals with diagnoses of both ASD […]