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Mood and Anxiety
Dr. Sidney
Kennedy, Head  Members of the Mood and Anxiety Program conduct
research activities in seven areas across four Clinical Units.
Genetics
In collaboration with Dr. James Kennedy, several
investigators have received funding to investigate, and have published
on, genetic aspects of depression, OCD and bipolar disorder.
Epidemiology & Health Systems
In collaboration with the Health Systems Research
Unit at CAMH, Dr. Sagar Parikh has focused on health care utilization
across Ontario. Dr. William Gnam continues his research on the economics
of mental health issues with special emphasis on the impact of psychiatric
disorders on the workplace and the labour market. Dr. Robert Cooke continues
to investigate "Quality of Life" issues across the bipolar
and other clinical populations.
Functional Imaging
Several investigators hold CIHR funding for PET
studies. Dr. Jeff Meyer has continued to use PET to study the relationship
between psychiatric symptoms in depression and abnormalities in serotonin
and dopamine receptors. Recently, using a novel serotonin transporter
ligand developed by Dr. Alan Wilson at the PET Centre, Dr. Meyer and
collaborators have completed studies involving antidepressant effects
on the serotonin transporter. Drs. Helen Mayberg, Zindel Segal and Sidney
Kennedy are investigating changes in brain metabolism following successful
antidepressant medication and cognitive therapy. Drs. Mayberg and Michael
Bagby continue to investigate the influence of personality dimensions
on brain metabolism.
Psychopharmacology
During the past year a number of investigator-initiated
and industry-initiated trials involving Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder
and Major Depressive Disorder have been completed.
Psychological Mechanisms & Treatments
A series of CIHR-funded studies are continuing.
Dr. Segal has received funding to evaluate the role of mood-linked cognitive
changes in predicting prospective relapse/recurrence following either
cognitive therapy or pharmacotherapy for depression. Dr. Segal is also
collaborating with colleagues in the UK in an NIMH-funded randomized
trial to evaluate a prophylactic intervention designed to reduce this
type of mood-linked cognitive processing.
Drs. Mark Lau and Neil Rector are funded to
study the roles of cognitive inhibition and rumination in mediating
the patient's
ability to benefit from treatment. In addition, Drs. Rector, Peggy
Richter, Michael Gemar and Eilenna Denisoff were funded to examine
cognitive
factors that predict successful treatment response and relapse potential
in ocd. Dr. Martin Katzman continues to draw industry support for
researching novel pharmacological
interventions for anxiety. Dr. Parikh continues to evaluate cognitive-behaviour
therapy and psychoeducation in people with bipolar disorder.
Psychobiological Studies
Dr. Robert Levitan has received ongoing funding
from a number of federal and provincial agencies to study cortisol in
adult and infant populations. Dr. Roger McIntyre has received funding
to study underlying mechanisms of weight gain following treatment with
antipsychotic and anticonvulsant agents and is focusing his research
activity on the roles of leptin and reproductive hormone changes. Dr.
McIntyre is also collaborating with Dr. James Kennedy to identify candidate
genes that increase the risk for weight gain.
IPT
Drs. Carolina Cristi and Bagby have received
funding from omhf to investigate patient dimensions as predictors of
outcome following several antidepressant treatments. The Clinic continues
to develop a database for future ipt and related research.
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