OUR PROJECTS

PHARMACOGENETICS OF OPIOID SUBSTITUTION TREATMENT RESPONSE (POST) STUDY

The POST study aims to determine how treatment response differs based on genetic differences. Participants are recruited from opioid addiction treatment centres in Ontario, Canada. Further, the role of cannabis in treatment outcomes is explored through phenotypic data and biological samples.

BRAVE for Bipolar

Behavioural activation is a form of therapy that has shown promise in depression, and may also have benefits in treatment of bipolar disorder. Using a randomized controlled trial design, this project aims to investigate whether this form of treatment implemented in a group format, in a hospital setting improves symptoms and quality of life for patients with bipolar disorder.

GENETICS OF OPIOID ADDICTION (GENOA)

The GENOA study is a cross-sectional study aims to characterize the demographic and health characteristics of individuals with opioid addiction attending opioid substitution treatment. We also aim to assess the occurrence of opioid addiction in families, test for associations between genes and behavioural phenotypes and drug metabolism within the opioid use disorder population.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CANNABIS USE AND PHYSICAL HEALTH: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY (CAP)

The CAP study is a case-control cross-sectional study that aims to investigate the effect of cannabis use on physical, cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes in patients with psychiatric disorders. We are also exploring whether legalization of cannabis has any impact on the prevalence of use and type of cannabis used in this population.

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER & TRANSITIONAL OBJECTS STUDY

We are investigating the relationship between individuals who live with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and transitional objects through diagnostic and qualitative interviews with inpatients at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (West 5th campus). Additionally, we collect information on childhood trauma through the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).

BRIEF INTERVENTION AND CONTACT (BIC)

The BIC study aims to explore if having Brief Intervention and Contact will help to reduce suicidal behaviour in those admitted to hospital and have had suicidal behaviours. Our interest lies in whether this type of intervention is helpful in reducing subsequent suicide attempts and completed suicides over 6 months following hospital discharge, and whether there are any differences between intervention and control groups in changes in depressive symptoms.

DISCOVER

The purpose of the DISCOVER study is to determine the important factors that may lead someone to consider ending their lives. Conventional risk factors such as age, sex, and psychiatric history are unable to fully capture or explain the risk of suicidal behaviour, therefore this study seeks to investigate the role of biological and behavioural aspects, known as emergent factors, in the prediction of suicide.

TRANSDIAGNOSTIC COHORT STUDY

We seek to answer research questions related to long term outcomes of psychiatric disorders.

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We believe it is important to know the trajectories of common psychiatric disorders by:

1. Identifying course, time to event

2. Understanding determinants of treatment outcomes

3. Establishing core treatment outcome criteria to incorporate patient-centred approaches

4. Understanding intended and unintended mortality (for example suicide and opioid overdose)

5. Characterizing psychopathology overlap among psychiatric disorders

6. Identifying clusters of comorbidities

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We are positioned to address these questions by establishing a psychiatric cohort (onset 2010)

with study participants spanning a full range of real-life sampling frame: community settings, hospital inpatient and outpatient settings, and specialized community-based clinics. Our project is supported by richness and depth of data collected, transdiagnostic approach, biological samples, ability to have record linkage to add big data to the existing cohort from other sources.