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.

The VAPE study aims to understand the perceptions and motivations for vaping in the opioid use disorder (OUD) population receiving medication assisted treatment. Using phone interviews, we aim to collect information on the perceptions of vaping and vaping behaviour patterns (i.e., reasons for vaping, type of substance, effect of vaping on health).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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 six months following hospital discharge, and whether there are any differences between intervention and control groups in changes in depressive symptoms.

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.

The BURNOUT study aims to determine if the current protocol using virtual peer support can help to reduce stress, burnout and depression among doctors in training and improve their wellbeing.

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