BABCP

DISTINGUISHED biologist Professor Lewis Wolpert has agreed to become a BABCP Patron to help fight the stigma of depression.

Prof Wolpert, whose book 'Malignant Sadness: The anatomy of depression' was published to wide acclaim in 1999, describes himself as "an enormous evangelist for CBT".

His book, which later became the basis for three BBC2 TV programmes called "A Living Hell", has been praised for bringing mental health issues more into the open.

Prof Wolpert, Professor of Biology as Applied to Medicine in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at London's University College, says CBT helped him recover when he was admitted with severe depression to an NHS hospital 12 years ago.

He said: "I was taking Seroxat and was in the Royal Free when they first tried to give me CBT. But I was really in no condition at that time for it to be of any help.

"But three weeks later I tried again and it became an enormous help.

"When one is in depression one has automatically negative thoughts. My CBT therapist pointed out to me that my negative thoughts were simply not accurate.

"I also kept a diary about how I was feeling and that simple device helped me to realise, when I thought that I was never going to feel any better, that I had actually felt better just a few days earlier.

"The diary helped me get things into perspective. I had been very very suicidal, but CBT pulled me through. It was enormously helpful."

Prof Wolpert had also tried therapy with a psycho-analyst, but without success.

"He told me that I would never get better without his help - which at £94 a session, seemed to me very wrong.

"It's true that CBT doesn't necessarily delve into what happened to you in your childhood, it is about trying to deal with the here and now. For me, who was extremely depressed at that point in my life, CBT was hugely useful and important."

Prof Wolpert, a distinguished developmental biologist who is also a member of the Humanist association, says his main aim as a BABCP Patron will be to help reduce the stigma of depression.

He said: "I am very keen on doing anything I can about that. I would like to persuade those people who are in power - Members of Parliament for example - to talk more openly about their mental health problems.

"It would take a very brave politician to be so honest - but they must learn to be brave. It is very important that people speak openly about depression and mental health.

"People need to see that you can have very serious depression, but get better and still function.

"Bringing it into the open does encourage others and help end the stigma which still surrounds mental illness."

BABCP President David Veale added:"Prof Wolpert has been a passionate and high-profile advocate for CBT for many years - we are delighted that he is so enthusiastic about continuing this work as a Patron of the BABCP and we look forward to welcoming him to some of our events in the near future."

Lewis Wolpert is Professor of Biology as Applied to Medicine in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology of University College, London. His research interests are in the mechanisms involved in the development of the embryo. He was originally trained as a civil engineer in South Africa but changed to research in cell biology at King's College, London in 1955. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1980 and awarded the CBE in 1990. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1999. He has presented science on both radio and TV for five years, was Chairman of the Committee for the Public Understanding of Science. His book Malignant Sadness: The Anatomy of Depression was published by Faber in 1999. This book was the basis for three television programmes entitled 'A Living Hell' which he presented on BBC2. Principles of Development, of which he is principal author, was published by Faber Current Biology in 1998. Passionate Minds with Alison Richards, the second set of interviews with scientists, was published Oxford University Press in 1997. The Unnatural Nature of Science was published by Faber in 1992. The Triumph of the Embryo was published by Oxford University Press in 1991. A Passion for Science with Alison Richards, the first set of interviews with scientists, was published by Oxford University Press in 1988. He also writes a column for 'The Independent'.