Bhathika Perera

Associate Professor UCL & Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist in intellectual disabilities NELFT

[Vaso Totsika @VasoTotsika]

Recruiting a post-doc at UCL! Using linked administrative data from health and education, the Research Fellow in Data Science with identify children with intellectual disability and investigate maternal mental health outcomes. Apply here: https://t.co/oEJ7h3yikB

[Bhathika Perera @bathika]

Interested in research in gambling and neurodivergence (ADHD, autism or learning disability)?
We’re looking for experts by experience to get involved!
DM for more details 💬
@ADHDFoundation_ @UKAAN @Autism @LdSenate @KenCourtenay @likahassiotis @VasoTotsika

[Angela Hassiotis ([email protected]) @likahassiotis]

£50 million boost for groundbreaking mental health research https://t.co/WpDilPqlpK @psychiatryofid must make sure pple w/#id will also be fully included in all of the plans going frw experience w/ the new 10 yr plan indicates vigilance

[Professor Rohit Shankar @haritsa1]

Our new paper @TheBJPsych highlights the omission of people with intellectual disability in the NHS Long term Plan. It examines critically the risk of this exclusion. We propose course correction to the Plan delivery to be inclusive FREE ACCESS/DOWNLOAD
https://t.co/JZfmzclFg3

[Niranga Karunaratne @Dr_NirangaK]

@slpa_uk @DrLadeSmith @RCPsychSASdocs @rcpsychOldAge @rcpsychTrainees @rcpsychGAP @rcpsychLiaison @TheBMA @bipa_uk @BPPA_Official @blackpsych_UK @bathika @dr_pratimasingh @subodhdave1 @TrudiSene1

[Niranga Karunaratne @Dr_NirangaK]

@RCPsychSASdocs @rcpsych @TheBMA @bathika

[Dr Sanil Rege FRANZCP | MRCPsych @sanilrege]

🧵SSRI Withdrawal Is Real But So Are Other Possibilities 🚨1/11

This slide shows the withdrawal (discontinuation) symptoms from SSRIs-based on the Horowitz & Taylor paper (2019).

It’s a helpful summary. Right?

But now imagine this:

Someone stops their SSRI... and these symptoms continue for months or even years.

Protracted withdrawal? Easy ? Not quite 👇

[Dr Sanil Rege FRANZCP | MRCPsych @sanilrege]

8/ We know people do get better with gradual / hyperbolic tapering / reinstatement.

That is one option 

But others stay stuck for years.

Calling it all ‘protracted withdrawal’ risks withholding treatment that could help.

[Dr Sanil Rege FRANZCP | MRCPsych @sanilrege]

6/ From a clinician’s (or problem-solver’s) perspective, this narrow framing is risky.

We risk ignoring other valid and treatable explanations:

• Relapse of illness ( may or may not look like the original) 
• New diagnosis (e.g., dysautonomia, PTSD, POTS)
• Hormonal or inflammatory drivers
• Pain reactivation 
• Coincidental medical issues
Agitated depression ….

[JAMA Psychiatry @JAMAPsych]

Systematic review and meta-analysis: Stopping antidepressants leads to slight symptom increases compared to placebo, but these symptoms are not clinically significant and do not include mood changes. https://t.co/zxtZH34uRu

[Angela Hassiotis ([email protected]) @likahassiotis]

👉🏻 🆕 The Mental Health Bill (2025) for England and Wales re #id and #autism here we go again ⁦@likahassiotis⁩ ⁦@haritsa1⁩ ⁦@bathika⁩ ⁦@regialexar⁩ et al thank you ⁦@PeterBeazley⁩ for coordinating this important statement https://t.co/4SJlOO0SMg

[Dr Luke Craddock @DrLukeCraddock]

Apparently this is the state of the doctors mess at Solihull hospital, a part of @uhbtrust.

Is there a reason you are currently growing a biohazard for your doctors to sit next to whilst they rest?

Completely unacceptable.

[Angela Hassiotis ([email protected]) @likahassiotis]

🆕 Congrats to my colleague @bathika @UCLPsychiatry for successfully leading a ROK-UK funded collab to develop smart clinical trial solutions for ppl w/ ID and #autistic ppl @NIHRresearch @VasoTotsika limnk 👉🏻 https://t.co/eZEXNe4fvG

[Jonathan Rogers @drjprogers]

Do side effects to clozapine occur at the same plasma concentration in smokers compared to non-smokers?

We think not. Take a look at our new paper to see what's going on...

[Angela Hassiotis ([email protected]) @likahassiotis]

I am super excited to welcome my new #NIHR doctoral fellow #SonyaRudra who is starting her PhD journey today at UCL #DivisionofPsychiatry her work will cover linked projects relating to outcomes of children of parents with intellectual disabilities.

[Bhathika Perera @bathika]

Last day with my office mate! amicable separation as he says 😌
Can’t sneak into his endless supply of snacks 🍫 without getting caught anymore!

@ProfRobHoward

[Bhathika Perera @bathika]

#adhd @ADHDFoundation @ADHDandAutism @rcpsychGAP @gmcuk @TheBMA

[Bhathika Perera @bathika]

Can ADHD be helpful in a medical career? Can it also cause problems for some? We screened doctors with mental health difficulties for ADHD. 1 in 3 doctors presenting with mental health problems screened positive for ADHD @rcpsych @UCLPsychiatry
https://t.co/yWmeuOgIr6

[Robert Howard @ProfRobHoward]

Results that will dismay the “critical” psychiatrists and their more aggressive outriders. But good news for lovers everywhere.

[Robert Howard @ProfRobHoward]

I assume he is referring to my UCL colleague here, since she does look (from this picture, anyway) as though she has been completely transformed by the money and prestige associated with her famous new book.