UCD PROGRESS Psychosis Conference 12th September 2025
The UCD PROGRESS Psychosis Conference was held at St Vincent’s University Hospital on 12th September 2025. There were three sessions in the conference – focusing on (1) Physical Health, (2) Cognitive and (3) Difficult to Treat Psychosis.
Ms. Rita Bourke, a member of the PROGRESS PPI consultation panel, opened the conference with her story of recovery from psychosis and her resilience to overcome physical health complications, stigma and the impact psychosis can have on relationships with those close to her. Following this, Prof Jackie Curtis (MINDGarden, University of New South Wales – UNSW) and Prof Phil Ward presented on the ‘Keeping the Body in Mind’ programme, which has been successful in supporting people with a first episode of psychosis to prevent the typical antipsychotic induced weight gain that is often experienced. Dr David Shiers presented on the ‘Right to Smile’ programme, which aims to address oral health in people affected by severe mental illness, an area that has not received the attention that it warrants. Caroline Hynes-Ryan, a mental health specialist pharmacist at St John of God University Hospital presented on the development of clinical guidelines and resources to support evidence based prescribing for people affected by psychotic disorders.
In the session on Cognition (chaired by Prof John Lyne) Dr Paul Crowley, a psychiatry trainee, gave an overview of the work in Work Package 5 and the plans to develop a clinical guideline for the adjunctive use of nutritional supplements in psychotic disorders. Prof Kelly Allott, Orygen and the University of Melbourne, presented on how to screen and support young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis with cognitive challenges. Prof Gary Donohoe, Professor of Psychology at the University of Galway, presented on the PSYCHE research programme and the use of Cognitive Remediation Therapy within Early Intervention for Psychosis Services.
In the final session on Difficult to Treat Psychosis (chaired by Prof John Lally), Dr Oisin Conaty presented his work on reducing the barriers to initiation of clozapine with the use of point of care testing machines within the clozapine clinic and how clozapine has been successfully initiated in the community in Australia. Prof Fiona Gaughran presented on difficult-to-treat psychosis and how we need to consider the use of language and terminology in this area, as ‘treatment resistance’ is not reflective of the clinical situation when people respond to clozapine. Prof Gaughran provided an overview of treatment options available when an individual does not respond adequately to clozapine.
