
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
2017
Journal Article
Association Between Psychotic Experiences and Subsequent Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: A Cross-National Analysis From the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys.
Bromet, Evelyn J., Nock, Matthew K., Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen, Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Borge, Guilherme, Bruffaerts, Ronny, Degenhardt, Louisa, de Girolamo, Giovanni, de Jonge, Peter, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep M., He, Yanling, Hu, Chiyi, Karam, Elie G., Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lee, Sing, Lepine, Jean-Pierre, Mneimneh, Zeina, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Ojagbemi, Akin, Posada-Villa, José, Sampson, Nancy A., Scott, Kate M., Stagnaro, Juan C., Viana, Maria C. ... for the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Collaborators (2017). Association Between Psychotic Experiences and Subsequent Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: A Cross-National Analysis From the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys.. JAMA Psychiatry, 74 (11), 1136-1144. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.2647
2017
Journal Article
Could lithium in drinking water reduce the incidence of dementia?
McGrath, J. J. and Berk, M. (2017). Could lithium in drinking water reduce the incidence of dementia?. JAMA Psychiatry, 74 (10), 983-984. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.2336
2017
Other Outputs
Causal associations between risk factors and common diseases inferred from GWAS summary data
Zhu, Zhihong, Zheng, Zhili, Zhang, Futao, Wu, Yang, Trzaskowski, Maciej, Maier, Robert, Robinson, Matthew R., McGrath, John J., Visscher, Peter M., Wray, Naomi R. and Yang, Jian (2017). Causal associations between risk factors and common diseases inferred from GWAS summary data. doi: 10.1101/168674
2017
Journal Article
Developmental vitamin D deficiency alters multiple neurotransmitter systems in the neonatal rat brain
Kesby, James P., Turner, Karly M., Alexander, Suzanne, Eyles, Darryl W., McGrath, John J. and Burne, Thomas H.J. (2017). Developmental vitamin D deficiency alters multiple neurotransmitter systems in the neonatal rat brain. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 62 (C), 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.07.002
2017
Journal Article
Common mental disorders and recent physical activity status: findings from a National Community Survey
Suetani, Shuichi, Saha, Sukanta, Milad, Adam, Eakin, Elizabeth, Scott, James G. and McGrath, John J. (2017). Common mental disorders and recent physical activity status: findings from a National Community Survey. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52 (7), 795-802. doi: 10.1007/s00127-016-1307-3
2017
Journal Article
The association between psychotic experiences and disability: results from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys
Navarro-Mateu, F., Alonso, J., Lim, C. C. W. , Saha, S. , Aguilar-Gaxiola, S. , Al-Hamzawi, A. , Andrade, L. H., Bromet, E. J., Bruffaerts, R., Chatterji, S., Degenhardt, L., de Girolamo, G., de Jonge, P., Fayyad, J., Florescu, S., Gureje, O., Haro, J. M., Hu, C., Karam, E. G., Kovess-Masfety, V., Lee, S., Medina-Mora, M. E., Ojagbemi, A., Pennell, B. -E., Piazza, M., Posada-Villa, J., Scott, K. M., Stagnaro, J. C., Xavier, M. ... McGrath, J. J. (2017). The association between psychotic experiences and disability: results from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 136 (1), 74-84. doi: 10.1111/acps.12749
2017
Journal Article
The role of genetic liability in the association of urbanicity at birth and during upbringing with schizophrenia in Denmark
Paksarian, D., Trabjerg, B. B., Merikangas, K. R., Mors, O., Børglum, A. D., Hougaard, D. M., McGrath, J. J., Pedersen, C. B., Mortensen, P. B. and Agerbo, E. (2017). The role of genetic liability in the association of urbanicity at birth and during upbringing with schizophrenia in Denmark. Psychological Medicine, 48 (2), 1-10. doi: 10.1017/S0033291717001696
2017
Other Outputs
The iPSYCH2012 case-cohort sample: New directions for unravelling genetic and environmental architectures of severe mental disorders
Pedersen, Carsten Bøcker, Bybjerg-Grauholm, Jonas, Pedersen, Marianne Giørtz, Grove, Jakob, Agerbo, Esben, Bækvad-Hansen, Marie, Poulsen, Jesper Buchhave, Hansel, Christine Sæholm, McGrath, John J., Als, Thomas Damm, Goldstein, Jacqueline I., Neale, Ben M, Daly, Mark J, Hougaard, David M., Mors, Ole, Nordentoft, Merete, Børglum, Anders D., Werge, Thomas and Mortensen, Preben Bo (2017). The iPSYCH2012 case-cohort sample: New directions for unravelling genetic and environmental architectures of severe mental disorders. doi: 10.1101/146670
2017
Journal Article
Vitamin D and the brain: genomic and non-genomic actions
Cui, Xiaoying, Gooch, Helen, Petty, Alice, McGrath, John J. and Eyles, Darryl (2017). Vitamin D and the brain: genomic and non-genomic actions. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 453 (C), 131-143. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.05.035
2017
Journal Article
The association between adolescent psychopathology and subsequent physical activity in young adulthood: a 21-year birth cohort study
Suetani, S., Mamun, A., Williams, G. M., Najman, J. M., McGrath, J. J. and Scott, J. G. (2017). The association between adolescent psychopathology and subsequent physical activity in young adulthood: a 21-year birth cohort study. Psychological Medicine, 48 (2), 269-278. doi: 10.1017/S0033291717001660
2017
Journal Article
Mortality in individuals with disruptive behavior disorders diagnosed by specialist services – a nationwide cohort study
Scott, James G., Giortz Pedersen, Marianne, Erskine, Holly E., Bikic, Aida, Demontis, Ditte, McGrath, John J. and Dalsgaard, Soren (2017). Mortality in individuals with disruptive behavior disorders diagnosed by specialist services – a nationwide cohort study. Psychiatry Research, 251, 255-260. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.02.029
2017
Journal Article
The efficacy of sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis - CADENCE-BZ: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Ryan, Alex, Baker, Andrea, Dark, Frances, Foley, Sharon, Gordon, Anne, Hatherill, Sean, Stathis, Stephen, Saha, Sukanta, Bruxner, George, Beckman, Martin, Richardson, Drew, Berk, Michael, Dean, Olivia, McGrath, John and Scott, James (2017). The efficacy of sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis - CADENCE-BZ: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 18 (1) 165, 165. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-1908-5
2017
Journal Article
Years of potential life lost and life expectancy in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Hjorthoj, Carsten, Sturup, Anne Emilie, McGrath, John J. and Nordentoft, Merete (2017). Years of potential life lost and life expectancy in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry, 4 (4), 295-301. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30078-0
2017
Journal Article
SA57. Life Expectancy and Years of Potential Life Lost in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Hjorthøj, Carsten, Stürup, Anne E., McGrath, John and Nordentoft, Merete (2017). SA57. Life Expectancy and Years of Potential Life Lost in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 43 (suppl_1). doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbx023.056
2017
Journal Article
The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV Adult ADHD in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys
Fayyad, John, Sampson, Nancy A., Hwang, Irving, Adamowski, Tomasz, Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Andrade, Laura H. S. G., Borges, Guilherme, de Girolamo, Giovanni, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Maria Haro, Josep, Hu, Chiyi, Karam, Elie G., Lee, Sing, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, O'Neill, Siobhan, Pennell, Beth-Ellen, Piazza, Marina, Posada-Villa, Jose, ten Have, Margreet, Torres, Yolanda, Xavier, Miguel, Zaslavsky, Alan M., Kessler, Ronald C., on behalf of the WHO World Mental Health Survey Collaborators and McGrath, John J. (2017). The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV Adult ADHD in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. Adhd-Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 9 (1), 47-65. doi: 10.1007/s12402-016-0208-3
2017
Journal Article
Gestational vitamin D deficiency and autism spectrum disorder
Vinkhuyzen, Anna A. E., Eyles, Darryl W., Burne, Thomas H. J., Blanken, Laura M. E., Kruithof, Claudia J., Verhulst, Frank, White, Tonya, Jaddoe, Vincent W., Tiemeier, Henning and McGrath, John J. (2017). Gestational vitamin D deficiency and autism spectrum disorder. BJPsych Open, 3 (2), 85-90. doi: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.116.004077
2017
Journal Article
Vitamin D and mental health - the scrutiny of science delivers a sober message
McGrath, J. J. (2017). Vitamin D and mental health - the scrutiny of science delivers a sober message. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 135 (3), 183-184. doi: 10.1111/acps.12708
2017
Conference Publication
LIFE EXPECTANCY AND YEARS OF POTENTIAL LIFE LOST IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Hjorthoj, Carsten, Sturup, Anne E., McGrath, John and Nordentoft, Merete (2017). LIFE EXPECTANCY AND YEARS OF POTENTIAL LIFE LOST IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. 16th International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (ICOSR), San Diego Ca, Mar 24-28, 2017. OXFORD: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2017
Journal Article
Association of DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder with traumatic experience type and history in the World Health Organization World Mental Health surveys
Liu, Howard, Petukhova, Maria V., Sampson, Nancy A., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura Helena, Bromet, Evelyn J., De Girolamo, Giovanni, Haro, Josep Maria, Hinkov, Hristo, Kawakami, Norito, Koenen, Karestan C., Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lee, Sing, Medina-Mora, Maria Elena, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, O'Neill, Siobhan, Piazza, Marina, Posada-Villa, José, Scott, Kate M., Shahly, Victoria, Stein, Dan J., Ten Have, Margreet, Torres, Yolanda, Gureje, Oye, Zaslavsky, Alan M., Kessler, Ronald C., Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Al-Kaisy, Mohammed Salih ... Wojtyniak, Bogdan (2017). Association of DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder with traumatic experience type and history in the World Health Organization World Mental Health surveys. JAMA Psychiatry, 74 (3), 270-281. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.3783
2017
Journal Article
Risk of psychiatric illness from advanced paternal age is not predominantly from de novo mutations
Gratten, Jacob, Wray, Naomi R., Peyrot, Wouter J., McGrath, John J., Visscher, Peter M. and Goddard, Michael E. (2017). Risk of psychiatric illness from advanced paternal age is not predominantly from de novo mutations. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, 72 (2), 96-96. doi: 10.1097/01.OGX.0000512485.13448.C7
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
Contrasting the Expression of Psychotic Disorders in Ethnically Different Populations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Mowry
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The role of adult vitamin D deficiency in cognition and brain function in mice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Thomas Burne
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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 Thomas Burne, 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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