15 June 2006 - Diet and Depression - Camden, London

About the conference

Depression has increased twenty-fold since 1945 and is predicted to be the second highest cause of the global disease burden by 2020. The costs to the individual sufferer, society and economy are profound.

This national conference examines the links between diet, nutrition and mental and emotional health. It will focus on the latest research into the effects of diet and environment on mild to moderate depression, and provides practical solutions by leading award-winning clinicians on how to manage symptoms within an integrated, holistic framework.

Aims of the conference

The conference aims to:

• Present the latest scientific evidence on how diet, lifestyle and environment can influence mood and behaviour
• Show how dietary intervention has been successfully employed in improving some mood disorders
• Demonstrate cost-effective new ways in which nutritonal and lifestyle strategies can be successfully implemented by carers and health care services as a viable add-on treatment to traditional drug regimes
• Encourage discussion between participants and presenters and develop networking opportunities between the private and public sectors

Programme

Chair: Dr Alex Richardson, Senior Research Fellow, Dept of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford and Director of Food and Behaviour Research

Feeding Minds - The impact of food on mental health - Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive, Mental Health Foundation

The effects of micro and macronutrients on mood - Professor David Benton, Department of Psychology, University of Wales, Swansea

Keynote Presentation: The complex interplay between gut function and mental health - Michael Ash, Nutritionist, Osteopath, Naturopath, Director Eldon Health Clinic

Parallel Plenary Sessions:

Food as therapy - Dr Natasha Campbell McBride, Cambridge Nutrition Clinic

Green exercise as therapy - Joanna Peacock, Researcher in Green Exercise, Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Essex

The role of omega-3 fatty acids on behaviour, learning and mood - Dr Alex Richardson, Senior Research Fellow, Dept of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford and Director of Food and Behaviour Research

Eat Yourself Happy: Nutritional Therapy in practice at Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust - Based on work carried out with Professor Malcolm Peet, Consultant Psychiatrist - Caroline Stokes, Research Scientist, Medical Research Council