23 February 2005 - Glasgow - Diet, Nutrition and Behaviour

Speakers:

Alex Richardson

Dr Alex Richardson is a Senior Research Fellow at the University Lab of Physiology and Mansfield College, Oxford, and Co-Director of the charity Food and Behaviour Research (www.fabresearch.org). Her research centres on the role of nutrition in brain function but is multi-disciplinary, involving collaborative studies in genetics, brain imaging and biochemistry as well as physiology and psychology. Following early studies of omega-3 fatty acid treatment in adult psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia, her latest work is focused on childhood developmental and psychiatric conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders, and includes controlled trials of nutritional treatments in these conditions.

Marion Ross BSc, MSc, SRD, CChem MRSC

Marion Ross is a Research Affiliate at the University Lab of Physiology, Oxford, researching the links between nutrition, biochemistry and neurodevelopmental disorders affecting behaviour, learning and mood. She is also the Co-Director of a Scottish-based charity (FAB Research), set up both to support research and to provide reliable scientific information in this area for the public and professionals. Marion is a member of the British Dietetic Association and Royal Society of Chemistry with many years experience in biochemical research in both psychiatry and nutrition.

Eva Cyhlarova

Dr Eva Cyhlarova is a Research Scientist at the University Lab of Physiology, Oxford. Her doctoral studies at Oxford's Dept of Experimental Psychology involved research into individual differences in personality, laterality and cognitive abilities in children and adults with psychiatric disorders. Her current research is focused on the role of nutrition in brain development and function, and the implications of this for early intervention and effective management of behavioural and learning difficulties. For several years she has worked closely with Alex Richardson on experimental studies and treatment trials of dietary supplementation in children and adults with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and related conditions.

Bernard Gesch

Bernard Gesch is a Senior Research Scientist at the University Lab of Physiology, Oxford and Director of the research charity Natural Justice, which investigates causes of criminal antisocial behaviour. In the late eighties he established a successful programme combining nutrition and social approaches to offending which Courts used as an alternative to imposing custodial sentences on persistent juvenile offenders. With the co-operation of the Home Office, Bernard and colleagues conducted a clinical trial to test empirically if better nutrition could significantly improve the behaviour of maximum-security prisoners. It did! Their work has attracted in excess of 200 positive press articles worldwide. He is co-ordinating attempts to replicate these findings and is honoured to collaborate with eminent colleagues from several institutions, including the Medical Research Council, the Institute of Psychiatry, the US National Institute of Health and the Dutch Ministry of Justice.


PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

09.15-09.40 Registration & coffee

09.40-09.45 Introduction by ACPP Scotland Chair: Mrs Maureen Smillie

09.45-10.00 The role of diet in children's behaviour, learning and mood: An overview
Dr Alex Richardson, Senior Research Fellow, University Lab of Physiology and Mansfield College, Oxford

10.00-10.15 The brain requires nutrition too: dietary influences on behaviour, learning and mood.
Marion Ross, Research Affiliate, University Lab of Physiology, Oxford

10.15-11.00 Omega-3 fatty acids and psychiatric disorders
Dr Eva Cyhlarova, Research Scientist, University Lab. of Physiology, Oxford

11.00-11.30 Refreshment Break

11.30-12.15 Nutritional treatments for childhood developmental disorders; Research evidence and clinical implications
Dr Alex Richardson

12.15-12.45 Oxidative stress in psychiatric and developmental disorders: Dietary implications.
Marion Ross

12.45- 1.00 Speakers' Panel - Questions and Discussion

1.00-2.00 Lunch

2.00-3.00 Nutrition as a modifiable causal factor in antisocial behaviour.
Bernard Gesch, Senior Research Scientist, University Lab of Physiology, Oxford.

3.00-3.15 Break

3.15-3.45 Nutrition as a modifiable causal factor in antisocial behaviour (continued) Bernard Gesch

3.45-4.15 Speakers' Panel - Questions and Discussion