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WEBCHAT GUIDELINES: 1. One question per member plus one follow-up. 2. Keep your question brief. 3. Don't moan if your question doesn't get answered. 4. Do be civil/polite. 5. If one topic or question threatens to overwhelm the webchat, MNHQ will usually ask for people to stop repeating the same question or point.

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MNHQ

Webchat about depression and its treatment with Dr Edward Bullmore, Wednesday 2 May at 9pm

63 replies

RachelMumsnet · 30/04/2018 18:27

We’re running a webchat on Wednesday evening at 9pm with Professor Ed Bullmore about depression. Prof Bullmore’s book: The Inflamed Mind offers a breakthrough in our understanding of depression by presenting a link between depression and inflammation of the body and brain. He believes this new research will revolutionise the treatment of depression.

Worldwide, depression will be the single biggest cause of disability in the next 20 years, yet treatment for it has not changed much in the last three decades. Professor Bullmore’s breakthrough research challenges this and shows we need to look at new approaches to the treatment of depression.

Edward Bullmore is Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge. He is a world expert in neuroscience and mental health, who is leading the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs for depression in partnership with industry. Find out more about his background on the website, The Inflamed Mind

Join the webchat and put questions to Prof Bullmore on Wednesday evening between 9 and 10pm. If you’re unable to join us at that time, post questions in advance on this thread.

Webchat about depression and its treatment with Dr Edward Bullmore, Wednesday 2 May at 9pm

OP posts:

LanaorAna2 · 30/04/2018 18:50

Hi Dr Bullmore

Are you arguing that depression is an auto-immune disease, sort of? What would the new treatments be? It sounds fascinating, pls tell us more.

Tinlegs · 01/05/2018 17:55

I suffer from winter depression. I live quite far north so it seems to hit about mid September when I then take Sertraline (low dose) for about 5 months.

Anything I can do to get over this? I walk daily (weather permitting) and try to get sunshine in October overseas. I am pretty healthy but on HRT.

And advice? Or will I need medication every year?

MyRunMyPace · 01/05/2018 18:31

Can you please summarise the data that suggests that there's a link between inflammation and depression?

I'd also be interested to look at the primary literature, so it would be great if you could give one or two key references.

SilverHairedCat · 01/05/2018 19:06

I on low dose sertraline for moderate depression and high anxiety.

Should I consider taking ibuprofen daily as well, or should I see my GP before making that type of decision?

I'd be concerned about them not being aware of your research, so should I take details to an appointment if I want to explore this with them?

Ethelswith · 01/05/2018 19:52

I have psoriasis, so am probably have inflammation most of the time.

a) what shouid I look out for in terms of early, subtle manufestations?
b) what if anything can be done to reduce inflammation? Diet? Supplements? Exercise?

iVampire · 01/05/2018 19:56

How far does this apply to (what I think of as reactive) depression, following major adverse events? I’m thinking here specifically of living with cancer.

Also, how does your research fit with approaches such as mindfulness based cognitive therapy?

Notmybag · 01/05/2018 20:08

I started to take ssri medication for postnatal depression. A while later I was diagnosed with idiopathic urticaria - it was severe at times and made life difficult to cope with. It had no established cause or trigger. This was attempted to be treated with doxepin, montelukast, fexofenadine at higher and higher doses. The urticaria didn't budge and the depression was getting worse. The conditions became intertwined. After several years the urticaria went into remission and so did the depression.

I always felt there was a link. I will read your comments with interest.

Snog · 01/05/2018 21:05

Is diet the key that reducing inflammation in the body?

Cambam2010 · 01/05/2018 21:35

Can following a low carb high fat diet help to fight off depression? I have been silently battling with depression for about a year but it always peaks when I let my diet get out of control.

Vangoghsear · 01/05/2018 21:46

Interested to know if there is any evidence for the link between IBS and depression being the bowel problem causing the depression, rather than people with depression being more prone to suffer IBS.

pinkgirl1234 · 02/05/2018 05:18

Is there a correlation between depression and excess belly fat? Can reducing belly fat help depression? Thank you.

Dozer · 02/05/2018 07:23

Haven’t heard this theory and would be interested in the evidence.

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 02/05/2018 10:10

I would be interested to hear about the implications of this new approach in relation to post natal depression. Does it shed any light on the causes and/or duration of post natal depression?

MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 02/05/2018 11:24

Hi there, thanks for your questions so far. Just to clarify that although the webchat this evening is about mental health and its treatment, Professor Bullmore won't be able to diagnose any specific conditions during the webchat.

We hope you're able to join us this evening for what should be a very interesting webchat.

OP posts:

kateandme · 02/05/2018 13:06

whilst an inflamtion might make you pre disposed or more vunerable I think this is wrong.there are too many links too many intertwined reasons and triggers for depression.
so if someone has this inflammation maybe they wont cope as other might who don't with things that occur in life?
or do we get this inflamtion do you think to the depression occurring and then our body not working correctly.
because people get triggered with depression for all kinds of things.all different. the symptoms and outcomes might come across similar but not the cause.so I don't understand how we are putting a physical cause to it...

Putbiglighton · 02/05/2018 13:52

It's interesting to hear about a link between inflammation and depression. I have Ulcerative Colitis and Diabetes and really struggle with depression. Is there a connection between auto-immune disease and poor seratonin reuptake?

perfectparentintraining · 02/05/2018 16:16

Are there any storytelling ideas and books for sharing with my 9 and a half year old son about mental health and protecting and maintaining positive mental health?

EdBullmore · 02/05/2018 16:37

Yes, sort of...Auto-immune disorder means the immune system is attacking the body, rather than bacteria, viruses etc that are trying to invade the body. Auto-immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease are often associated with increased levels of inflammatory proteins (cytokines) in the blood. We now know that these inflammatory signals can cross the blood brain barrier, get into the brain, and change the way the brain works. This could explain the well-known increased risk of depression in people with auto-immune disorders

EdBullmore · 02/05/2018 16:40

Deb190ra · 02/05/2018 18:29

could there be a link with depression and the ability to conceive

Vangoghsear · 02/05/2018 20:05

I'd be interested in your view of SSRIs, which have many undesirable side effects, including reducing sexual pleasure, which seems to be largely ignored. It surprises me that there isn't anything better.

OpheliaStorm · 02/05/2018 20:29

The cure appears to be intake of anti inflammatory drugs.

So NSAIDS like Ibubrofen, aspirin, naproxen and so on are the cure now? But surely they bring their own problems elsewhere in the body.

I just don't know anymore.

MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 02/05/2018 20:59

Good evening. Thanks to everyone who has posted questions so far and welcome to Mumsnet Professor Ed Bullmore. Over to you...

OP posts:

EdBullmore · 02/05/2018 21:01

Hello!

Just to introduce myself, I am 57 years old and working as a scientist and psychiatrist at the University of Cambridge. Full disclosure: I also work for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT), a mental health service provider in the NHS, and for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a pharmaceutical company. What I will say on mumsnet tonight is my personal opinion…

I have always been interested in new ways of thinking about where mental health symptoms come from, and what to do about them. I am currently very interested in the idea that inflammation can cause depression. If this is true then it follows that treatments that reduce inflammation could have anti-depressant benefits. This is the story of my new book, “The Inflamed Mind”.

I live in Cambridge with my wife, our youngest son (16), a dog and two cats. We have two older sons (24 and 21) now living in London. My parents are both in their late 80s. My family, like all families IMO, has been touched by depression.

EdBullmore · 02/05/2018 21:01

@LanaorAna2

Hi Dr Bullmore

Are you arguing that depression is an auto-immune disease, sort of? What would the new treatments be? It sounds fascinating, pls tell us more.

Hi - Yes, sort of...Auto-immune disorder means the immune system is attacking the body, rather than bacteria, viruses etc that are trying to invade the body. Auto-immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease are often associated with increased levels of inflammatory proteins (cytokines) in the blood. We now know that these inflammatory signals can cross the blood brain barrier, get into the brain, and change the way the brain works. This could explain the well-known increased risk of depression in people with auto-immune disorders

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