UK mental health expert calls for next-gen treatments to address modern psychiatric challenges
In a strong appeal to pharmaceutical companies and policymakers, Marjorie Wallace, founder and CEO of UK-based mental health charity SANE, has warned that millions of people suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are being treated with medications developed over 50 years ago.
While mental illness rates are rising globally, the pace of innovation in psychiatric medicine has stalled, leaving many patients with limited, outdated options and significant side effects.
Why This Matters
- Most psychiatric drugs in use today were discovered in the 1950s–70s, including tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotics.
- These medications often take weeks to show effects and may not work at all for a large subset of patients.
- Side effects such as weight gain, sedation, and cognitive dulling frequently lead to poor adherence.
Call for Research and Reform
Wallace emphasized the urgent need for:
- Modern clinical trials focused on next-generation therapies like esketamine, psychedelic compounds, and CBD-based medications.
- Greater pharmaceutical investment in psychiatric research and early-phase drug development.
- Government-backed funding for mental health innovation to reduce the burden on public health systems.
She also stressed that many patients are being prescribed multiple medications simultaneously without long-term studies on drug interactions—an issue she says highlights the need for more precise, personalized treatments in psychiatry.
Source inspiration: Financial Times – Mental health patients stuck with outdated drugs, warns SANE CEO
