Overview
Background
John McGrath AM, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRANZCP, FAHMS
John McGrath is a psychiatrist interested in discovering the causes of serious mental disorders. He is the Director of the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and conjoint Professor at the Queensland Brain Institute His research aims to generate and evaluate nongenetic risk factors for schizophrenia. He has forged productive cross-disciplinary collaborations linking risk factor epidemiology with developmental neurobiology. For example, John and his colleagues have made discoveries linking prenatal vitamin D and later risk of mental illness in the offspring. In addition, John has supervised major systematic reviews of the epidemiology of schizophrenia. He was awarded a John Cade Fellowship by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. In 2016 he was also awarded a Neils Bohr Professorship by the Danish National Research Foundation.
Availability
- Professor John McGrath is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Research interests
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The association between vitamin D status and brain outcomes
In collaboration with Darryl Eyles, we are measuring early life vitamin D status and exploring if this changes the risk of later developing serious mental illness. These studies are in collaboration with colleagues in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.
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The demographic and clinical correlates of psychotic-like experiences
Using two large surveys conducted in Australia in 1997 and 2007, our group have undertaken a suite of studies designed to understand the clinical relevance of isolated psychotic-like experiences. Over recent years we have published many papers on this topic, and have made important contributions with respect to how psychotic-like experiences are associated with (a) an increased risk of later psychotic disorders (based on the MUSP study), (b) depression, anxiety and substance use disorders, (c) a family history of mental illness, (d) exposure to trauma, (e) an increased risk of suicidal ideation and behaviour, (f) general physical health, and (g) help-seeking.
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The Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP)
Our group was one of seven sites involved in the design and administration of the second Australian Survey of psychotic disorders. In collaboration with a large national team, we continue to explore key issues related to the needs of people with psychosis in Australia.
Research impacts
The Epidemiology team are interested in the frequency measures related to serious mental disorders (e.g. incidence, prevalence, mortality, recovery/remission). We are also interested in the clinical and demographic correlates of adverse mental health outcomes – some of these may be modifiable risk factors and thus important from a public health perspective. We use large, community-based surveys, and birth cohorts. Our focus has been on psychotic disorders and psychotic-like experiences in the general population. In addition, we are examining the links between early life vitamin D status and risk of later mental illness, by directly measuring vitamin D (in collaboration with Darryl Eyles and many international collaborators).
Works
Search Professor John McGrath’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
Protocol and rationale: a 24-week double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of the efficacy of adjunctive Garcinia mangostana Linn. (mangosteen) pericarp for schizophrenia
Turner, Alyna, McGrath, John J., Dean, Olivia M., Dodd, Seetal, Baker, Andrea, Cotton, Susan M., Scott, James G., Kavanagh, Bianca E., Ashton, Melanie M., Walker, Adam J., Brown, Ellie and Berk, Michael (2019). Protocol and rationale: a 24-week double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of the efficacy of adjunctive Garcinia mangostana Linn. (mangosteen) pericarp for schizophrenia. Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience, 17 (2), 297-307. doi: 10.9758/cpn.2019.17.2.297
2019
Journal Article
Half the genetic variance in vitamin D concentration is shared with skin colour and sun exposure genes
Mitchell, Brittany L., Zhu, Gu, Medland, Sarah E., Renteria, Miguel. E., Eyles, Darryl W., Grasby, Katrina L., McGrath, John J. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2019). Half the genetic variance in vitamin D concentration is shared with skin colour and sun exposure genes. Behavior Genetics, 49 (4), 386-398. doi: 10.1007/s10519-019-09954-x
2018
Journal Article
Spatial fine-mapping for gene-by-environment effects identifies risk hot spots for schizophrenia
Fan, Chun Chieh, McGrath, John J., Appadurai, Vivek, Buil, Alfonso, Gandal, Michael J., Schork, Andrew J., Mortensen, Preben Bo, Agerbo, Esben, Geschwind, Sandy A., Geschwind, Daniel, Werge, Thomas, Thompson, Wesley K. and Pedersen, Carsten Bøcker (2018). Spatial fine-mapping for gene-by-environment effects identifies risk hot spots for schizophrenia. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 5296, 5296. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07708-7
2018
Journal Article
The association between neonatal vitamin D status and risk of schizophrenia
Eyles, Darryl W., Trzaskowski, Maciej, Vinkhuyzen, Anna A. E., Mattheisen, Manuel, Meier, Sandra, Gooch, Helen, Anggono, Victor, Cui, Xiaoying, Tan, Men Chee, Burne, Thomas H. J., Jang, Se Eun, Kvaskoff, David, Hougaard, David M., Nørgaard-Pedersen, Bent, Cohen, Arieh, Agerbo, Esben, Pedersen, Carsten B., Børglum, Anders D., Mors, Ole, Sah, Pankaj, Wray, Naomi R., Mortensen, Preben B. and McGrath, John J. (2018). The association between neonatal vitamin D status and risk of schizophrenia. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 17692, 17692. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-35418-z
2018
Journal Article
Erratum: Department of Error
GBD 2017 Causes of Death Collaborators, Maravilla, Joemer, Aminde, Leopold N., Charlson, Fiona J., Erskine, Holly E., Ferrari, Alize J., Lalloo, Ratilal, McGrath, John J., Santomauro, Damian Francesco, Scott, James G. and Whiteford, Harvey A. (2018). Erratum: Department of Error. Lancet (London, England), 392 (10160). doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32833-2
2018
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality and life expectancy, 1950–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Dicker, Daniel, Nguyen, Grant, Abate, Degu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abay, Solomon M, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbasi, Nooshin, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdela, Jemal, Abdelalim, Ahmed, Abdel-Rahman, Omar, Abdi, Alireza, Abdollahpour, Ibrahim, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abdurahman, Ahmed Abdulahi, Abebe, Haftom Temesgen, Abebe, Molla, Abebe, Zegeye, Abebo, Teshome Abuka, Aboyans, Victor, Abraha, Haftom Niguse, Abrham, Aklilu Roba, Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen ME, Accrombessi, Manfred Mario Kokou, Acharya, Pawan, Adebayo, Oladimeji M, Adedeji, Isaac Akinkunmi ... Murray, Christopher J L (2018). Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality and life expectancy, 1950–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 392 (10159), 1684-1735. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31891-9
2018
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Stanaway, Jeffrey D., Afshin, Ashkan, Gakidou, Emmanuela, Lim, Stephen S., Abate, Degu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbasi, Nooshin, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdela, Jemal, Abdelalim, Ahmed, Abdollahpour, Ibrahim, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abebe, Molla, Abebe, Zegeye, Abera, Semaw F, Abil, Olifan Zewdie, Abraha, Haftom Niguse, Abrham, Aklilu Roba, Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M. E., Accrombessi, Manfred Mario Kokou, Acharya, Dilaram, Acharya, Pawan, Adamu, Abdu A., Adane, Akilew Awoke, Adebayo, Oladimeji M., Adedoyin, Rufus Adesoji ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2018). Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 392 (10159), 1923-1994. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32225-6
2018
Journal Article
Population and fertility by age and sex for 195 countries and territories, 1950–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Murray, Christopher J. L., Callender, Charlton S. K. H., Kulikoff, Xie Rachel, Srinivasan, Vinay, Abate, Degu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abay, Solomon M., Abbasi, Nooshin, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abdela, Jemal, Abdelalim, Ahmed, Abdel-Rahman, Omar, Abdi, Alireza, Abdoli, Nasrin, Abdollahpour, Ibrahim, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abebe, Haftom Temesgen, Abebe, Molla, Abebe, Zegeye, Abebo, Teshome Abuka, Abejie, Ayenew Negesse, Aboyans, Victor, Abraha, Haftom Niguse, Abreu, Daisy Maria Xavier, Abrham, Aklilu Roba, Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M. E., Accrombessi, Manfred Mario Kokou, Acharya, Pawan ... Lim, Stephen S. (2018). Population and fertility by age and sex for 195 countries and territories, 1950–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 392 (10159), 1995-2051. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32278-5
2018
Journal Article
Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Lozano, Rafael, Fullman, Nancy, Abate, Degu, Abay, Solomon M., Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbasi, Nooshin, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdela, Jemal, Abdelalim, Ahmed, Abdel-Rahman, Omar, Abdi, Alireza, Abdollahpour, Ibrahim, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abebe, Nebiyu Dereje, Abebe, Zegeye, Abejie, Ayenew Negesse, Abera, Semaw F., Abil, Olifan Zewdie, Aboyans, Victor, Abraha, Haftom Niguse, Abrham, Aklilu Roba, Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen Me, Abyu, Gebre Y., Accrombessi, Manfred Mario Kokou, Acharya, Dilaram, Acharya, Pawan, Adamu, Abdu A. ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2018). Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 392 (10159), 2091-2138. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32281-5
2018
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Roth, Gregory A., Abate, Degu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abay, Solomon M., Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbasi, Nooshin, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdela, Jemal, Abdelalim, Ahmed, Abdollahpour, Ibrahim, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abebe, Haftom Temesgen, Abebe, Molla, Abebe, Zegeye, Abejie, Ayenew Negesse, Abera, Semaw F., Abil, Olifan Zewdie, Abraha, Haftom Niguse, Abrham, Aklilu Roba, Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal, Accrombessi, Manfred Mario Kokou, Acharya, Dilaram, Adamu, Abdu A., Adebayo, Oladimeji M., Adedoyin, Rufus Adesoji, Adekanmbi, Victor, Adetokunboh, Olatunji O., Adhena, Beyene Meressa ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2018). Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 392 (10159), 1736-1788. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32203-7
2018
Journal Article
The global burden of disease attributable to alcohol and drug use in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
GBD 2016 Alcohol and Drug Use Collaborators, Scott, James Graham, Ferrari, Alize, Charlson, Fiona, Santomauro, D., Erskine, Holly, Mantilla Herrera, Ana Maria, Whiteford, Harvey, Hall, Wayne, McGrath, John, Leung, Janni and Sartorius, Benn (2018). The global burden of disease attributable to alcohol and drug use in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5 (12), 987-1012. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30337-7
2018
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 359 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Kyu, Hmwe Hmwe, Abate, Degu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abay, Solomon M, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbasi, Nooshin, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdela, Jemal, Abdelalim, Ahmed, Abdollahpour, Ibrahim, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abebe, Molla, Abebe, Zegeye, Abil, Olifan Zewdie, Aboyans, Victor, Abrham, Aklilu Roba, Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M E, Accrombessi, Manfred Mario Kokou, Acharya, Dilaram, Acharya, Pawan, Ackerman, Ilana N, Adamu, Abdu A, Adebayo, Oladimeji M, Adekanmbi, Victor, Ademi, Zanfina, Adetokunboh, Olatunji O, Adib, Mina G ... GBD 2017 DALYs and HALE Collaborators (2018). Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 359 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 392 (10159), 1859-1922. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32335-3
2018
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
James, Spencer L, Abate, Degu, Abate, Kalkidan Hassen, Abay, Solomon M, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbasi, Nooshin, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdela, Jemal, Abdelalim, Ahmed, Abdollahpour, Ibrahim, Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi, Abebe, Zegeye, Abera, Semaw F, Abil, Olifan Zewdie, Abraha, Haftom Niguse, Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M E, Accrombessi, Manfred Mario Kokou, Acharya, Dilaram, Acharya, Pawan, Ackerman, Ilana N, Adamu, Abdu A, Adebayo, Oladimeji M, Adekanmbi, Victor, Adetokunboh, Olatunji O, Adib, Mina G, Adsuar, Jose C, Afanvi, Kossivi Agbelenko ... Murray, Christopher J L (2018). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 392 (10159), 1789-1858. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32279-7
2018
Journal Article
Global epidemiology and burden of schizophrenia: findings from the global burden of disease study 2016
Charlson, Fiona J., Ferrari, Alize J., Santomauro, Damian F., Diminic, Sandra, Stockings, Emily, Scott, James G., McGrath, John J. and Whiteford, Harvey A. (2018). Global epidemiology and burden of schizophrenia: findings from the global burden of disease study 2016. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 44 (6), 1195-1203. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sby058
2018
Journal Article
Increasing paternal age alters anxiety-related behaviour in adult mice
Foldi, Claire J., Eyles, Darryl W., McGrath, John J. and Burne, Thomas H. J. (2018). Increasing paternal age alters anxiety-related behaviour in adult mice. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 18 (2) e12522, e12522. doi: 10.1111/gbb.12522
2018
Journal Article
Associations of maternal and fetal vitamin D status with childhood body composition and cardiovascular risk factors
Miliku, Kozeta, Felix, Janine F., Voortman, Trudy, Tiemeier, Henning, Eyles, Darryl W., Burne, Thomas H., McGrath, John J. and Jaddoe, Vincent W. V. (2018). Associations of maternal and fetal vitamin D status with childhood body composition and cardiovascular risk factors. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 15 (2) e12672, e12672. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12672
2018
Journal Article
Smokin` hot: adolescent smoking and the risk of psychosis
Mustonen, A., Ahokas, T., Nordström, T., Murray, G. K., Mäki, P., Jääskeläinen, E., Heiskala, A., Mcgrath, J. J., Scott, J. G., Miettunen, J. and Niemelä, S. (2018). Smokin` hot: adolescent smoking and the risk of psychosis. Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica, 138 (1), 5-14. doi: 10.1111/acps.12863
2018
Journal Article
Socio-economic variations in the mental health treatment gap for people with anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys
Evans-Lacko, S., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Benjet, C., Bruffaerts, R., Chiu, W. T., Florescu, S., De Girolamo, G., Gureje, O., Haro, J. M., He, Y., Hu, C., Karam, E. G., Kawakami, N., Lee, S., Lund, C., Kovess-Masfety, V., Levinson, D., Navarro-Mateu, F., Pennell, B. E., Sampson, N. A., Scott, K. M., Tachimori, H., Ten Have, M., Viana, M. C., Williams, D. R., Wojtyniak, B. J., Zarkov, Z. ... Wojtyniak, Bogdan (2018). Socio-economic variations in the mental health treatment gap for people with anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. Psychological Medicine, 48 (9), 1560-1571. doi: 10.1017/S0033291717003336
2018
Journal Article
Urbanicity and risk of schizophrenia - new studies and old hypotheses
Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Pedersen, Carsten Bøcker and McGrath, John J. (2018). Urbanicity and risk of schizophrenia - new studies and old hypotheses. JAMA Psychiatry, 75 (7), 687-688. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0551
2018
Journal Article
Urbanicity and Risk of Schizophrenia New Studies and Old Hypotheses (vol 75, pg 687, 2018)
Plana-Ripoll, O., Pedersen, C. B. and McGrath, J. J. (2018). Urbanicity and Risk of Schizophrenia New Studies and Old Hypotheses (vol 75, pg 687, 2018). Jama Psychiatry, 75 (7), 759-759. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.1733
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor John McGrath is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Mental Disorders and Physical Activity: Epidemiological Analyses using Australian Datasets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Scott
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Harvey Whiteford
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The antecedents of schizophrenia, a birth cohort study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Gail Williams
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
AWARENESS OF MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS OF INSIGHT INTO SCHIZOPHRENIA: A COMPARISON OF PATIENTS WITH THEIR RELATIVES AND CLINICIANS
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The role of adult vitamin D deficiency in cognition and brain function in mice
Associate Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Contrasting the Expression of Psychotic Disorders in Ethnically Different Populations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Mowry
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Neurochemical and neurophysiological bases of executive control
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of developmental vitamin D3 deficiency on brain development, immune function and behaviour in the adult rat
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Darryl Eyles
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
The prevalence and correlates of psychotic-like experiences in the Australian community
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Graham Martin
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
Startle eyeblink modification: Associations with haloperidol, caffeine and nicotine in schizophrenia-spectrum and health individuals
Associate Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
INFORMATION PROCESSING AND PSYCHOSIS
Associate Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
THE ASSESSMENT OF THE DYSEXECUTIVE SYNDROME IN INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHOSIS
Associate Advisor
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2002
Doctor Philosophy
THE ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGY OF WORKING MEMORY IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
Associate Advisor
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2002
Doctor Philosophy
MOLECULAR CANDIDATES FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Mowry
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor John McGrath directly for media enquiries about:
- Brain development
- Neuroscience
- Schizophrenia
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