Supporting research into mental disorders in Wales
Imosphere worked with researchers at the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) in Cardiff to understand how Atmolytics can better support statistical analysis.
The data used is from the NCMH Cohort Study. The study recruits both child and adult participants via NHS services and from the general population, with a specific focus on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. The dataset contains information on approximately 6000 patients recruited and tracked over a long period, as part of the Bipolar Disorder Research Network.
The data includes:
- Phenotypic information (information about the various manifestations of mental ill health including the nature, timing and persistence of clinical symptoms and signs, as well as other psychological and biological variables)
- Biological samples linked to routine clinical NHS data
- The study participation details
- Medications and treatments
- Psychological status
- Social factors
- Medical status and substance use
- DNA samples
The centre’s general areas of research are the triggers and causes of mental health problems. This research project is looking at bipolar spectrum disorders. In particular, the relationship of mood disorders to childbirth and the identification and management of women at high risk of severe postpartum episodes.
The benefits
It is anticipated that the use of Atmolytics will benefit a number of activities within the center, including:
- Researchers analysing data from the NCMH cohort
- Operational overview of recruitment levels – monitoring joiners, leavers and overall recruitment levels to the studies
- Marketing and communication activities – dashboards for reporting to senior stakeholders and to produce things like the annual report averages
