Dr Vimal Sivasanker

Professional qualifications, accreditations and memberships

• MA (University of Cambridge)
• MBBS (St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine, University of London)
• FRCPsych (Royal College of Psychiatrists)

Professional experience

Dr Vimal Sivasanker is a distinguished Consultant Psychiatrist with a strong academic and clinical background. He studied medicine at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, and at St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatric training on the East London and Cambridge & East Anglia rotations, working across both inner-city and rural settings and gaining extensive experience in managing a wide range of psychiatric disorders.

Dr Sivasanker has been a Consultant Psychiatrist since 2008 and has a particular interest in neuromodulation and the use of novel psychoactive substances in the treatment of psychiatric illness. He is the lead consultant for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) in his NHS Trust and also works with patients receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and ketamine treatment.

He has held several national leadership roles, including serving as Vice Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Committee on ECT and related treatments. He is currently chair of the college’s ECT accreditation service, where he is involved in developing and revising national standards for ECT services and conducting peer reviews.

Dr Sivasanker is also deeply committed to quality improvement in mental health services. He is one of the Clinical Effectiveness Leads for depression in his Trust and currently chairs the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Combined Committee for Accreditation, part of the College’s Centre for Quality Improvement (CCQI), which oversees the accreditation processes for all 28 quality networks within the CCQI.

In addition to his clinical and leadership work, Dr Sivasanker has contributed to the academic field through book chapters and peer-reviewed articles. He has delivered lectures and training at local, national and international levels, including at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ International Congress.

Personal statement

Dr Vimal Sivasanker is a highly experienced Consultant Psychiatrist who takes a transparent and collaborative approach to care, working closely with individuals to co-produce treatment plans that set them on the path to recovery. He places great emphasis on clarity around diagnosis, recognising that for many, understanding their condition can be a source of relief. He ensures that any diagnosis is communicated in a meaningful, non-stigmatising way, always grounded in the individual’s own experiences.

Dr Sivasanker works as part of a multidisciplinary team, including psychologists and other mental health professionals, to offer holistic, person-centred treatment tailored to each individual’s needs. He treats a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and psychosis, and has a particular clinical interest in treatment-resistant depression.

His thoughtful, collaborative style and commitment to evidence-based, compassionate care underpin all aspects of his practice.

Additional information about research, publications and interests

Publications

1. Nasrine, N; Stevens, C; Tam, H-Y; Sivasanker, V: Using pharmacogenetic analysis in clinical management with clozapine; Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry Vol. 27 Iss. 4 2023
2. Medved, S; Žaja, N; Gazdag, G; Lengvenyte, A; Mörkl, S; Mucci, F; Ristić, I; Jerotić, S; Regente, JF; Ivanović, I; Purišić, A; Sasvary, F; Sivasanker, V; Ziblak, A; Lookene, M; Sienaert, P; Szczegielniak, A; Trančik, P; Bećirović, E; Koutsomitros, T; Grech, G; Tapoi, C; Radmanović, B; Ströhle, A; Bajs Janović, M; Sartorius, N: Preliminary Assessment of Pre–Electroconvulsive Therapy Evaluation Practices in European Countries: The Need for Guidelines; J ECT 2022 Apr 23 (PAP)
3. Letter: Sivasanker, V; Thompson, P; Baugh, C: ECTAS Response to ‘A second independent audit of electroconvulsive therapy in England, 2019:
   Usage, demographics, consent, and, adherence to guidelines and legislation’; Psychol Psychother. 2022 Jan 18; 00: 1-2.
4. Ferrier, IN; Waite, J; Sivasanker, V: Recent advances in electroconvulsive therapy and physical treatments for depression; BJPsych Advances (2021), vol. 27, 295–302.
5. Braithwaite, R; Chaplin, R; Sivasanker, V: Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on provision of electroconvulsive therapy; BJPsych Bull. 2021 May 12; 1-4. (In print: June 2022.)
6. Chapter: Sivasanker, V; Nnatu, I: Medical Training for Psychiatrists in ECT; The ECT Handbook 4th ed. (eds. Ferrier, IN and Waite, J); 168-172.
7. Hartland, E; Sivasanker, V: The role of ECT in depression; CEPiP, Winter 2018; 5: 130-135.

Special interests

Dr Vimal Sivasanker has a particular expertise and special interest in the assessment and treatment of treatment-resistant depression.