§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted into the effects of hormonal treatments on women who are prone to(a) bipolar and (b) depressive illness; and if he will make a statement. [31075]
§ Yvette CooperNeither the Department nor the Medical Research Council (MRC) are currently supporting any research specifically into the effects of hormonal treatments on women who are prone to bipolar and depressive illness.
The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the MRC which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC have a significant amount of research into mental disorders, including depression and is also funding the WISDOM (Women's International Study of Long Duration Oestrogen after Menopause) trial which is looking at women on long term hormone replacement therapy.
The Department provides national health service support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and charities that take place in the NHS. 132W The Department is providing or has provided support for a number of projects on mental health in general. Details of research projects can be found on the National Research Register, which is available in the Library and most medical libraries on CD-ROM, or on the internet at www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm.