Andre Tomlin

André Tomlin is an Information Scientist with 20 years experience working in evidence-based healthcare. He's worked in the NHS, for Oxford University and since 2002 as Managing Director of Minervation Ltd, a consultancy company who do clever digital stuff for charities, universities and the public sector. Most recently André has been the driving force behind the Mental Elf and the National Elf Service; an innovative digital platform that helps professionals keep up to date with simple, clear and engaging summaries of evidence-based research. André is a Trustee at the Centre for Mental Health and an Honorary Research Fellow at University College London Division of Psychiatry. He lives in Bristol, surrounded by dogs, elflings and lots of woodland!

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More choice promised for NHS patients who need talking therapies

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Jul 20 2011

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Andre Tomlin

NHS patients will have more freedom to choose where they go for their healthcare from April 2012, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today. More choice will mean that when patients are referred for selected services, usually by their GP, they should be able to choose from a range of qualified providers who meet NHS quality, [read the full story…]

Government action to prevent suicide and better support the bereaved

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Jul 19 2011

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Andre Tomlin

A new consultation on preventing suicide has been launched today by the Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow. Bereaved families and experts in general practice, local government, transport, mental health and criminal justice will all help to inform a new strategy to be published in the New Year following a 3-month consultation phase. One person dies [read the full story…]

Community treatment orders for people with severe mental illness: do they work?

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Jul 19 2011

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Andre Tomlin

There is controversy as to whether compulsory community treatment (known in the UK as community treatment orders) for people with severe mental illnesses reduces health service use, or improves clinical outcome and social functioning. Given the widespread use of such powers it is important to assess the effects of this type of legislation. Researchers from [read the full story…]

A practical guide for line managers who support staff with mental health conditions

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Jul 19 2011

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Andre Tomlin

shutterstock_62103313 frustrated businesswoman

Stress, anxiety and depression cause more working days lost than any other health problem. The financial cost to British business of mental ill health is an estimated £26 billion per year – that’s equivalent to £1,035 for every employee – and some place it as high as £40 billion. This new guide published by Devon [read the full story…]

Bright light treatment helps elderly people with non-seasonal depression

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Jul 18 2011

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Andre Tomlin

Major depressive disorder is a prevalent and debilitating condition in elderly patients. It is accompanied by circadian rhythm disturbances associated with impaired functioning of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the biological clock of the brain. Circadian rhythm disturbances are common in the elderly. Suprachiasmatic nucleus stimulation using bright light treatment may, therefore, improve mood, sleep, and hormonal [read the full story…]

‘No health without mental health’ briefings from the Mental Health Strategic Partnership

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Jul 15 2011

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Andre Tomlin

shutterstock_46800979 young business people discussing

Following the publication of the Government’s mental health strategy, No Health without Mental Health in February 2011, the Mental Health Strategic Partnership has published two briefings aimed at general practice and community organisations. The Mental Health Strategic Partnership brings together seven national mental health voluntary sector organisations to work with the Department of Health to support [read the full story…]

Are people with low levels of education at greater risk of dementia?

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Jul 15 2011

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Andre Tomlin

shutterstock_43211983 old man reading book

The purpose of this systematic review was to explore the relationship between education and dementia. The authors from the University of Southern California searched PubMed and PsycInfo for published studies examining the relationship between education and dementia listed from January 1985 to July 2010. The inclusion criteria were a measure of education and a dementia [read the full story…]

Maintenance treatments for bipolar disorder: reducing the risk of manic, mixed or depressive relapse

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Jul 14 2011

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Andre Tomlin

Prescribing of medication for ADHD symptoms in young people with ASD is currently based on low quality evidence with a high risk of bias.

Many people with bipolar disorder have a range of therapies available to them nowadays, including mood stabilisers (or anticonvulsants), antipsychotics and various psychosocial interventions (including CBT, psychoeducation and family therapy). A research team from the University of Barcelona have published a meta-analysis that investigates the efficacy of drug maintenance treatments for bipolar disorder. They searched from [read the full story…]

Follow antidepressants with psychotherapy to reduce relapse and recurrence of depression

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Jul 14 2011

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Andre Tomlin

shutterstock_10088782 psychotherapist and patient

A research team from the University of Bologna in Italy have published a new meta-anlaysis that explores the sequential integration of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in reducing the risk of relapse and recurrence in major depressive disorder. They searched a range of databases for randomised controlled trials that tested the efficacy of the administration of psychotherapy after successful [read the full story…]

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