Overview
Background
Carmen is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research. Her research seeks to understand why young people start using substances and develop strategies that advance public health.
Her work spans four key areas:
(1) Youth vaping and social media, where she examines trends and the influence of social media on youth vaping; (2) Cannabis and regulation, investigating industry marketing practices and compliance with regulatory guidelines; (3) International comparisons and equity - developing culturally appropriate prevention and harm reduction strategies to address substance use in diverse contexts; (4) Substance use and mental health - exploring the links between substance use and mental health conditions.
Through her research, Carmen aims to generate evidence that informs policy, guides prevention and harm reduction efforts, and support healthier futures for young people. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers in addiction and mental health (Google Scholar: >10K citations, h-index = 43, 31% output in top 10% citation percentile).
Carmen holds qualifications in biostatistics, public health and epidemiology. She has experiences in teaching and mentoring students from diverse demographic and cultural background, and welcomes self-driven, curious students with interest in public health, psychology, epidemiology, or statistics to join her team.
Availability
- Dr Carmen Lim is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Psychology, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
Substance Use
-
Harm reduction
-
Mental health
-
Digital advertising
-
Biostatistics
Research impacts
My research focuses on why young people start using substances such as e-cigarettes, cannabis, and alcohol, and how we can reduce the harms that follow. By combining survey data with innovative tools like social media analysis, I provide early evidence that helps communities, schools, and policymakers respond to emerging challenges.
This work has informed national discussions and inquiries on youth vaping, contributed to World Health Organization reports, and supported the development of harm reduction program internationally.
Beyond academia, I share findings widely through media outlets like The Conversation and national radio interviews, making evidence accessible to the broader community and ensuring it reaches those who can use it to drive change.
Works
Search Professor Carmen Lim’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Conference Publication
What vaping products can you pick up from online cryptomarkets?
Lim, Carmen, Cheng, Branden, Leung, Janni, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason, Gartner, Coral, Scheurer, Roman and Chan, Gary (2020). What vaping products can you pick up from online cryptomarkets?. 2020 NIDA International Forum, Conference: 2020 NIDA International Forum, 19-21st June 2020.
2020
Journal Article
Association between mental disorders and subsequent medical conditions
Momen, Natalie C., Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Agerbo, Esben, Benros, Michael E., Børglum, Anders D., Christensen, Maria K., Dalsgaard, Søren, Degenhardt, Louisa, de Jonge, Peter, Debost, Jean-Christophe P. G., Fenger-Grøn, Morten, Gunn, Jane M., Iburg, Kim M., Kessing, Lars V., Kessler, Ronald C., Laursen, Thomas M., Lim, Carmen C. W., Mors, Ole, Mortensen, Preben B., Musliner, Katherine L., Nordentoft, Merete, Pedersen, Carsten B., Petersen, Liselotte V., Ribe, Anette R., Roest, Annelieke M., Saha, Sukanta, Schork, Andrew J., Scott, Kate M., Sievert, Carson ... McGrath, John J. (2020). Association between mental disorders and subsequent medical conditions. New England Journal of Medicine, 382 (18), 1721-1731. doi: 10.1056/nejmoa1915784
2020
Conference Publication
The economic burden of mental disorders: a systematic review
Christensen, Maria, Lim, Carmen, Saha, Sukanta, Cannon, Danielle, Presley, Finley, Iburg, Kim and McGrath, John (2020). The economic burden of mental disorders: a systematic review. Congress of the Schizophrenia-International-Research-Society (SRIS), Florence, Italy, 4-8 April 2020. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa029.713
2020
Journal Article
The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the World Mental Health Surveys
Glantz, Meyer D., Bharat, Chrianna, Degenhardt, Louisa, Sampson, Nancy A., Scott, Kate M., Lim, Carmen C. W., Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura Helena, Cardoso, Graca, De Girolamo, Giovanni, Gureje, Oye, He, Yanling, Hinkov, Hristo, Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lasebikan, Victor, Lee, Sing, Levinson, Daphna, McGrath, John, Medina-Mora, Maria-Elena, Mihaescu-Pintia, Constanta, Mneimneh, Zeina, Moskalewicz, Jacek, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Posada-Villa, José, Rapsey, Charlene, Stagnaro, Juan Carlos ... Kessler, Ronald C. (2020). The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the World Mental Health Surveys. Addictive Behaviors, 102 106128, 106128. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106128
2020
Conference Publication
Availability of substances for use in personal vaporisers on three online cryptomarkets
Lim, C., Cheng, B., Leung, J., Hall, W., Connor, J., Gartner, C., Scheurer, R. and Chan, G. (2020). Availability of substances for use in personal vaporisers on three online cryptomarkets. 2020 NIDA International Forum , Online, June 2020. Online:
2019
Journal Article
The epidemiology of drug use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the WHO's World Mental Health Surveys
Degenhardt, Louisa, Bharat, Chrianna, Glantz, Meyer D., Sampson, Nancy A., Scott, Kate, Lim, Carmen C. W., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura H., Bromet, Evelyn J., Bruffaerts, Ronny, Bunting, Brendan, de Girolamo, Giovanni, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep Maria, Harris, Meredith G., He, Yanling, de Jonge, Peter, Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges E., Kiejna, Andrzej, Lee, Sing, Lepine, Jean-Pierre, Levinson, Daphna, Makanjuola, Victor, Medina-Mora, Maria Elena, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando ... Kessler, Ronald C. (2019). The epidemiology of drug use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the WHO's World Mental Health Surveys. International Journal of Drug Policy, 71, 103-112. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.03.002
2019
Journal Article
Protocol update and statistical analysis plan for CADENCE-BZ: a randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis
Lim, Carmen, Baker, Andrea, Saha, Sukanta, Foley, Sharon, Gordon, Anne, Ward, David, Dark, Frances, Burgher, Bjorn, Beckmann, Martin, Stathis, Stephen, Ryan, Alex, Bruxner, George, Richardson, Drew, Hatherill, Sean, Berk, Michael, Dean, Olivia, McGrath, John, Cadence Working Group, Scott, James and Suetani, Shuichi (2019). Protocol update and statistical analysis plan for CADENCE-BZ: a randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis. Trials, 20 (1) 203. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3232-8
2019
Journal Article
A comparison of DSM‐5 and DSM‐IV agoraphobia in the World Mental Health Surveys
Roest, Annelieke, de Vries, Ymkje Anna, Lim, Carmen C. W. and Witzchen, Hans-Ulrich (2019). A comparison of DSM‐5 and DSM‐IV agoraphobia in the World Mental Health Surveys. Depression and Anxiety, 36 (6) da.22885, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/da.22885
2019
Journal Article
Exploring comorbidity within mental disorders among a Danish national population
Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Pedersen, Carsten Bøcker, Holtz, Yan, Benros, Michael E., Dalsgaard, Søren, De Jonge, Peter, Fan, Chun Chieh, Degenhardt, Louisa, Ganna, Andrea, Greve, Aja Neergaard, Gunn, Jane, Iburg, Kim Moesgaard, Kessing, Lars Vedel, Lee, Brian K., Lim, Carmen C. W., Mors, Ole, Nordentoft, Merete, Prior, Anders, Roest, Annelieke M., Saha, Sukanta, Schork, Andrew, Scott, James G., Scott, Kate M., Stedman, Terry, Sørensen, Holger J., Werge, Thomas, Whiteford, Harvey A., Laursen, Thomas Munk, Agerbo, Esben ... McGrath, John J. (2019). Exploring comorbidity within mental disorders among a Danish national population. JAMA Psychiatry, 76 (3), E1-E12. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3658
2018
Journal Article
The association between psychotic experiences and health-related quality of life: a cross-national analysis based on World Mental Health Surveys
Alonso, Jordi, Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C. W., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Benjet, Corina, Bromet, Evelyn J., Degenhardt, Louisa, de Girolamo, Giovanni, Esan, Oluyomi, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep M., Hu, Chiyi, Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lepine, Jean-Pierre, Lee, Sing, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Posada-Villa, Jose, Sampson, Nancy A., Scott, Kate M., Stagnaro, Juan Carlos, Ten Have, Margreet, Viana, Maria Carmen, Kessler, Ronald C., McGrath, John J. and WHO World Mental Health Survey Collaborators (2018). The association between psychotic experiences and health-related quality of life: a cross-national analysis based on World Mental Health Surveys. Schizophrenia Research, 201, 46-53. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.04.044
2018
Journal Article
Corrigendum: The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys (Psychological medicine (2017) 47 10 (1744-1760))
Wardenaar, K. J., Lim, C. C. W., Al-Hamzawi, A. O. and Alonso, J. (2018). Corrigendum: The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys (Psychological medicine (2017) 47 10 (1744-1760)). Psychological Medicine, 48 (5), 878-878. doi: 10.1017/S0033291717002975
2018
Conference Publication
Randomised controlled trial of social cognition interaction training
Dark, Frances, Scott, James, Baker, Andrea, Parker, Stephen, Gordon, Anne, Newman, Ellie, Gore-Jones, Victoria, Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen and Penn, David (2018). Randomised controlled trial of social cognition interaction training. 6th Biennial Conference of the Schizophrenia International Research Society , Florence, Italy, 4-8 April 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press . doi: 10.1093/schbul/sby017.579
2018
Journal Article
CoMET: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial of co-commencement of METformin as an adjunctive treatment to attenuate weight gain and metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia newly commenced on clozapine
Siskind, Dan, Friend, Nadia, Russell, Anthony, McGrath, John J., Lim, Carmen, Patterson, Sue, Flaws, Dylan, Stedman, Terry, Moudgil, Vikas, Sardinha, Savio, Suetani, Shuichi, Kisely, Steve, Winckel, Karl and Baker, Andrea (2018). CoMET: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial of co-commencement of METformin as an adjunctive treatment to attenuate weight gain and metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia newly commenced on clozapine. BMJ Open, 8 (3) e021000, e021000. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021000
2018
Journal Article
Psychotic experiences and general medical conditions: a cross-national analysis based on 28 002 respondents from 16 countries in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys
Scott, Kate M., Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C. W., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Benjet, Corina, Bromet, Evelyn J., Bruffaerts, Ronny, Caldas-de-Almeida, José Miguel, de Girolamo, Giovanni, de Jonge, Peter, Degenhardt, Louisa, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep M., Hu, Chiyi, Karam, Elie G., Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lee, Sing, Lepine, Jean-Pierre, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Piazza, Marina, Posada-Villa, José, Sampson, Nancy A., Stagnaro, Juan Carlos, Kessler, Ronald C. and McGrath, John J. (2018). Psychotic experiences and general medical conditions: a cross-national analysis based on 28 002 respondents from 16 countries in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. Psychological Medicine, 48 (16), 1-10. doi: 10.1017/S0033291718000363
2018
Journal Article
The associations between psychotic experiences, and substance use and substance use disorders: Findings from the World Health Organisation World Mental Health Surveys
Degenhardt, Louisa, Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C. W., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura H., Bromet, Evelyn J., Bruffaerts, Ronny, Caldas-de-Almeida, José M., de Girolamo, Giovanni, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep M., Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lee, Sing, Lepine, Jean-Pierre, Makanjuola, Victor, Medina-Mora, Maria E., Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Piazza, Marina, Posada-Villa, José, Sampson, Nancy A., Scott, Kate M., Stagnaro, Juan C., Ten Have, Margreet ... WHO World Mental Health Survey Collaborators (2018). The associations between psychotic experiences, and substance use and substance use disorders: Findings from the World Health Organisation World Mental Health Surveys. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 113 (5), 924-934. doi: 10.1111/add.14145
2018
Journal Article
Psychotic experiences and religiosity: data from the WHO world mental health surveys
Kovess-Masfety, V., Saha, S., Lim, C. C. W., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Borges, G., de Girolamo, G., de Jonge, P., Demyttenaere, K., Florescu, S., Haro, J. M., Hu, C., Karam, E. G., Kawakami, N., Lee, S., Lepine, J. P., Navarro-Mateu, F., Stagnaro, J. C., Ten Have, M., Viana, M. C., Kessler, R. C., McGrath, J. J. and WHO World Mental Health Survey Collaborators (2018). Psychotic experiences and religiosity: data from the WHO world mental health surveys. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 137 (4), 306-315. doi: 10.1111/acps.12859
2018
Conference Publication
Randomised controlled trial of social cognition interaction training
Dark, Frances, Scott, James, Baker, Andrea, Parker, Stephen, Gordon, Anne, Newman, Ellie, Gore-Jones, Victoria, Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen and Penn, David (2018). Randomised controlled trial of social cognition interaction training. 6th Biennial Conference of the Schizophrenia-International-Research-Society (SIRS), Florence Italy, 4-8 April 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
2018
Book Chapter
Panic disorder and panic attacks
de Jonge, Peter, Roest, Annelieke M., Lim, Carmen C. W., Levinson, Daphna and Scott, Kate M. (2018). Panic disorder and panic attacks. Mental disorders around the world: facts and figures from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. (pp. 93-105) edited by Kate M. Scott, Peter de Jonge, Dan J. Stein and Ronald C. Kessler. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316336168.007
2018
Book Chapter
Psychotic experiences
McGrath, John J., Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C. W., Gureje, Oye and Florescu, Silvia (2018). Psychotic experiences. Mental disorders around the world: facts and figures from the WHO World Mental Health surveys. (pp. 286-296) edited by Kate M. Scott, Peter de Jonge, Dan J. Stein and Ronald C. Kessler. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316336168.019
2018
Book Chapter
Agoraphobia
Roest, Annelieke M., de Jonge, Peter, Lim, Carmen C. W., Stein, Dan J., Medina-Mora, Maria Elena and Scott, Kate M. (2018). Agoraphobia. Mental disorders around the world: facts and figures from the WHO World Mental Health surveys. (pp. 106-119) edited by Kate M. Scott, Peter de Jonge, Dan J. Stein and Ronald C. Kessler. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316336168.008
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Carmen Lim is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Social Media Advertising on Youth Perceptions of Vaping
This PhD project aims to assess how targeted advertising on social media platforms affects youth perceptions of vaping. A mixed-methods approach could be used to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Digital Deterrence: Exploring innovative social media interventions to curtail youth vaping
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Professor Coral Gartner
-
Doctor Philosophy
Population-level of substance use and health outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Leanne Hides, Associate Professor Janni Leung
-
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of social media upon alcohol use: An investigation of effects and mechanisms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Jason Connor
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Carmen Lim's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: