Dr Irene Peterson, Principal Research Associate at UCL, will give an overview of her own research into mental health using data from UK primary care databases (THIN and GPRD). She shall illustrate how these databases can be used to address a broad range of research questions about mental health that can be difficult to address by other means. This ranges from prescribing of psychotropic medication in pregnancy, parental depression, and recognition of depression in primary care to physical health of those with severe mental illnesses and adverse effects of prescribed medication.
Dr Petersen is Principal Research Associate (epidemiology and statistics) at UCL, Department of Primary Care and Population Health. She leads a team of epidemiologists, statisticians and PhD students working on a range of epidemiological studies using data from primary care databases. She has a particular interest in prescribed medicine in pregnancy and works together with clinical colleagues on a broad range of projects on mental health in primary care.