Dr Paul A Keedwell BSc MB ChB MRCPsych
Mood Disorders
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| contact this person | |
| tel | 020 7848 0379 |
| address | Institute of Psychiatry |
| location | 7.40 Psychosis Centre, Institute of Psychiatry |
| departments | Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry |
biography
For a more extensive biography please visit drkeedwell.com.
I am a Consultant Psychiatrist and a Clinical Lecturer in mood disorders. I am the author of ’How Sadness Survived’, an account of the evolutionary function of depression. This controversial book, published by Radcliffe, explains how milder forms of depression might have beneficial functions which outweigh its costs. For more information on this book, or to order, please click here. Please note that there has been unexpected demand for this book, which is being reprinted, and so there might be a bit of a delay before you receive your copy. Copies will be available outside of the UK soon. Foreign translations will also be available soon. Contact Stephanie Ebdon for more details.
I am interested in promoting the public awareness of mental health sciences across all types of media. I am happy to be considered for interviews or written pieces on most subjects to do with mental health, but with a particular interest in depression and bipolar disorder.
For press enquries regarding ’How Sadness Survived’ and for comments on related issues please contact Rebecca Vickerstaff at Radcliffe on 01235 528820 or email: rvickerstaff@radcliffemed.com.
For enquiries regarding non-UK rights and sales and any future book projects please contact my literary agent, Stephanie Ebdon, at the Marsh Agency on 020 7297 4312; fax: 020 7495 8961; email: steph@patersonmarsh.co.uk.
For all other media enquiries please contact Louise Pratt on 020 7848 5377 or email: louise.pratt@iop.kcl.ac.uk.
For samples of Dr Keedwell’s TV News and radio appearances please click on the links below:
BBC World TV
BBC News 24
More Four News
BBC Today Programme Radio Four
Links to articles in the National Press:
Society Guardian
The Observer
The Daily Mail
activities and interests
The neurobiology of major depression. Evolutionary Psychology. Anhedonia and reward processing. The use of cannabis derivatives as therapeutic agents in psychiatry. Please visit: (http://www.drkeedwell.com/)
teaching activities
Royal College Examiner
I have examined contributions for the Royal College of Psychiatry’s Essay Prize.
MSc supervisor
I supervise a student in the preparation of a dissertation for an MSc in Mental Health Studies
Clinical Facilitator
The teaching and supervision of medical students and psychiatrists in training.
| Role | Course |
|---|---|
| Lecturer | Mental Health Studies » Masters (MSc) |
| Lecturer | Psychology » BSc (Intercalated) |
publications
A selection of recent publications:
Surguladze S , Keedwell P A, Phillips M. (2003) Neural systems underlying affective disorders. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 9, 446-455.
Keedwell P A (2004) Improving Practice. Drugs in Context: Primary Care, Part C, Neurology and Psychiatry, Schizophrenia - Olanzepine, April (1), pp. 139-148.
Surguladze, S., Brammer, M., Keedwell, P., Young, A., Andrew, C., Travis, M., Williams, S., Phillips, M.L. (2005). A differential pattern of neural response towards sad versus happy facial expressions in Major Depressive Disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 57, 201-209.
Keedwell P A, Andrew C, Williams S C R, Brammer M J, Phillips M L (2005) A double dissociation of ventromedial prefrontal cortical responses to happy and sad stimuli and depressed and healthy individuals. Biological Psychiatry, 58(6), 495-503.
Keedwell P A, Andrew C, Williams S C R, Brammer M J, Phillips M L (2005) The neural correlates of anhedonia in major depression. Biological Psychiatry, 58(11), 843-853.
Keedwell P A, Dominique Drapier, Williams Steve, Vincet Giampietro, Mick Brammer, Mary Phillips Perceptual bias in depression: dissociated visual cortical responses to sad and happy stimuli reverse following recovery. Journal of Psychopharmacology. In Press.
Keedwell P (2008) How Sadness Survived. Radcliffe. Oxford.
PRESS RELEASE
18th January 2008
Are there benefits to having depression? Specialist in Neuroscience and Emotion offers radical new approach to the condition.
Depression affects huge numbers of people. One in four of us will suffer from it at some point in our lives; one in ten will succumb in the next year, and about one in twenty of us is living with the condition right now. Dr Paul Keedwell argues that, although depression is unpleasant and sometimes unbearable, it can have some long term benefits both for individuals and possibly for us as a species.
In his new book “How Sadness Survived” Dr Keedwell, a specialist in depression at the Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, proposes that depression can lead to increased resilience, empathy and creativity of thought. Examples of brilliant and successful people who have suffered from the condition – from Michelangelo to Winston Churchill - are highlighted. Case examples support Dr Keedwell’s suggestion that depression is a defence rather than a defect. The condition may have persisted and evolved as an effective response to life challenges and could still represent a potentially successful strategy in today’s modern world. Paul Keedwell offers a new approach to the benefits of negative emotions, and how we might view depression in a more constructive way.
"An important and novel analysis of the possible advantages of having a depression."
Lewis Wolpert CBE, Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine
How Sadness Survived is now available from Radcliffe Publishing at £12.99:
http://www.radcliffe-oxford.com/books/bookdetail.aspx?ISBN=1846190134
Paul Keedwell is available for interview about How Sadness Survived. For print media, he is also available to write feature articles based around the book. To arrange this or to request a review copy, please contact Rebecca at the address below.
Notes to Editors: Radcliffe Publishing has an extensive portfolio of books, journals and resources for healthcare and have been awarded contracts from key organizations such as Department of Health and Royal College of General Practitioners.
Contact details:Rebecca VickerstaffPromotions Manager Radcliffe Publishing Ltd18 Marcham RoadAbingdonOxon. OX14 1AAUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)1235 528820Fax: +44 (0)1235 528830Email: rvickerstaff@radcliffemed.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
last updated: Sunday, March 02, 2008