Institute of Psychiatry feeds

A Born-Again Brain?– this house believes that modern science has demonstrated the implausibility of an afterlife. Speakers for the motion are Professor Lewis Wolpert and Professor Peter Atkins. Lewis Wolpert is professor of biology at University College London and is recognised as one of the pioneering thinkers of embryology. He is a former chairman of the Committee for the Public Understanding of Science and has presented science in books, on radio and on TV. He also writes a column for The Independent. Peter Atkins is professor of physical chemistry at Lincoln College, Oxford, and is an honorary associate of the National Secular Society. His research interests are in the field of theoretical chemistry, particularly magnetic resonance and the electromagnetic properties of molecules. He is the author of several world-famous chemistry textbooks and now spends virtually all his time writing, including books for more general audiences. Speakers against the motion are the Rev Dr John Polkinghorne and Dr Sean Spence. John Polkinghorne is a mathematical physicist and Anglican priest. He resigned as professor of mathematical physics at the University of Cambridge in 1979 to pursue theological studies, becoming a priest in 1982. Since then, his writings and lectures have applied scientific habits to Christianity, resulting in a ‘modern, new exploration of the faith.’ Sean Spence is reader in adult psychiatry at the University of Sheffield and honorary consultant psychiatrist to the homeless at Sheffield Care Trust. His research interests include the investigation of the cognitive neurobiology of higher executive function in humans in health and disease. The debate will be chaired by the IoP’s Professor Robin Murray.

25th Maudsley Debate Going down the tube? This House believes London's mental health services are in a state of permanent crisis. Supporting the motion: Angela Greatley, Director of Policy, The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and co-author of the King's Fund mental health report 2003 & Cliff Prior, Chief Executive, Rethink (formerly the National Schizophrenia Fellowship) - - Opposing the motion: Alan Cohen, Chair, London Development Centre for Mental Health & Stuart Bell, Chief Executive SLAM NHS Trust - - Chair: Professor Robin Murray, Professor of Psychiatry, IoP

24th Maudsley Debate Speaking in favour of the motion: Mr. Roger Warren-Evans (Barrister, Liberty member and secretary of the Angel Declaration calling for changes in drug laws), and Dr. John Marsden (Senior Lecturer, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry; replacing Eliot Albert, writer and activist from the Methadone Alliance) Speaking against the motion: Professor Griffith Edwards (National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry), and Dr. Andrew Johns (Senior Lecturer and Consultant Psychiatrist in Forensic Psychiatry). Dr. Johns replaced Julian Brazier, who we lost in the Tory reshuffle. Chaired by Dr Michael Farrell, Consultant, Maudsley hospital

Feelings ran high at this debate touching on gender issues within psychiatric services. The audience started the evening strongly behind the motion supporting gender-segregated in-patient services but with a number of voters waiting to be persuaded. The proposers of the motion centred their arguments on issues of women’s safety and were opposed by a counter-attack emphasising the importance of patient choice. We heard several women service users give heartfelt testimony to their experience of the vulnerability of women within mixed acute wards, in particular to sexual exploitation and violence. Although nobody denied that women had the right to safety as in-patients, it was argued that maybe a better solution lay in improving the general quality of in-patient care and giving careful consideration to ward architecture and staffing levels to allow safety for all. Would sex-segregation not be a move to benefit women and disadvantage men? Lynne Clayton spiritedly attacked this notion on the grounds that it was unreasonable to put women at risk so that they could act as ‘civilising’ influences for men. Interestingly, Dr Eleanor Cole’s overview of the literature showed that research into the proposed benefits of gender-separated services was equivocal. Should we not, therefore, take more time to reflect and research the issue before committing to change? Otherwise we might fail to learn from the past experience of segregated wards that was illustrated by Professor Peter Tyrer. At the end of it all, there were fewer people on the fence but the percentages barely changed. In terms of acute in-patient psychiatric wards at least, the feeling seemed to be that men were bad for women’s mental health and that these services ought therefore to be sex-segregated.

22th Maudsley Debate Supporting the motion: Dr David Healy and Mr Charles Medawar Opposing the motion: Dr Veronica O'Keane and Professor Lewis Wolpert Chair: Professor Robin M Murray

21st Maudsley Debate Boys will be boys: War is an expression of the psychopathology of the male brain.

20th Maudsley Debate Crime and illness: the thin blue line? This house believes that criminals need treatment not punishment Proposing the motion:Prof. John Gunn, Forensic Psychiatry, IOP and Prof. Christopher Cordess, Forensic Psychiatry, University of Sheffield. Opposing the motion: BRENDAN O'NEILL - Assistant Editor, SPIKED PHILIP BEAN - Director, Midlands Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice

19th Maudsley Debate This house believes that the problems of everyday life are being over-medicalised.

18th Maudsley Debate Supporting the motion that schizophrenia does not exist will be Professor Jim Van Os and Richard Bentall. Opposing the motion will be Dr. Peter McKenna & Professor Anthony David.

17th Maudsley Debates 'They all want to be doctors.'This house believes that nurses and psychologists should be allowed to prescribe.

For Mr Ben Shephard - Noted historian, journalist and commentator. Author of 'War of Nerves', the much praised history of the effect of war on the mind, and the often ineffective ways in which military psychiatry seeks to prevent this. Dr Derek Summerfield - Consultant Psychiatrist, SLAM Honorary Senior Lecturer, Institute of Psychiatry. Consultant to OXFAM. Principal Psychiatrist, Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture. Research Associate, Refugees Study Centre, Oxford University. Leading critique of the medicalisation of distress via the diagnosis of PTSD, and strong critic of western psychiatric aid programmes to those in other cultures exposed to the horrors of disaster or war. Against Doctor Chris Freeman - Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh. Director of the Colin Rivers Centre, PTSD clinic, Edinburgh and responsible for the Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy Unit, Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Chairman, Royal College Research Committee. Mr Andrew Buchan - Leading barrister for PTSD; Junior Counsel in the ground-breaking Walker stress case; Counsel in the Long v Mercury Mobile Communications: £327,500 for a first breakdown caused by bullying. Author of 'Personal Injury Practice' and 'Procedure and Personal Injury Schedules'. Authority on stress, bullying and PTSD cases, and has lectured on bullying and stress to IRS, IBC and Euroforum. Chair Simon Wessely - Professor of Epidemiological and Liaison Psychiatry (IoP); Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, King's and Maudsley Hospitals; Co-Director, Gulf War Illnesses Research Unit.

14th Maudsley Debate 'Human Rights Gone Mad?' This house believes that human rights standards do not protect the dignity Date: 19 March 2002 18:00

13th Maudsley Debate 'Method in Their Madness or Madness in Their Method?' This house believes that the public's reaction to terrorism is more irrational than the terrorists' motivation and behaviour Date: 23 January 2002 18:00

12th Maudsley Debate 12th Maudsley Debate Plan or Sham? This house believes that the NHS Plan will transform psychiatric care in England for the better Tuesday 13 November 2001 6pm

11th Maudsley Debate Who gives a puff? This house believes it is worth criminalising the majority to protect the vulnerable minority Supporting this motion were:- Dr Colin Drummond, Consultant Psychiatrist. St George's Medical School Professor Susan Greenfield, Director of the Royal Institution and Professor of Pharmacology, Oxford University Speaking against the motion were:- Dr Michael Farrell, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry Dr Leslie Iversen, Director of the Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases (King's College London)