
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
2013
Journal Article
Psychosis prevalence and physical, metabolic and cognitive co-morbidity: data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis
Morgan, V. A., McGrath, J. J., Jablensky, A., Badcock, J. C., Waterreus, A., Bush, R., Carr, V., Castle, D., Cohen, M., Galletly, C., Harvey, C., Hocking, B., McGorry, P., Neil, A. L., Saw, S., Shah, S., Stain, H. J. and Mackinnon, A. (2013). Psychosis prevalence and physical, metabolic and cognitive co-morbidity: data from the second Australian national survey of psychosis. Psychological Medicine, 44 (10), 2163-2176. doi: 10.1017/s0033291713002973
2013
Journal Article
Socio-economic disadvantage and delusional-like experiences: A nationwide population-based study
Saha, S., Scott, J. G., Varghese, D. and McGrath, J. J. (2013). Socio-economic disadvantage and delusional-like experiences: A nationwide population-based study. European Psychiatry, 28 (1), 59-63. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2011.09.004
2013
Journal Article
Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease
Eyles, Darryl, Burne, Thomas H. J. and McGrath, John J. (2013). Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 34 (1), 47-64. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2012.07.001
2012
Journal Article
Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
Vos, Theo, Flaxman, Abraham D., Naghavi, Mohsen, Lozano, Rafael, Michaud, Catherine, Ezzati, Majid, Shibuya, Kenji, Salomon, Joshua A, Abdalla, Safa, Aboyans, Victor, Abraham, Jerry, Ackerman, Ilana, Aggarwal, Rakesh, Ahn, Stephanie Y., Ali, Mohammed K., Alvarado, Miriam, Anderson, H. Ross, Anderson, Laurie M., Andrews, Kathryn G., Atkinson, Charles, Baddour, Larry M., Bahalim, Adil N., Barker-Collo, Suzanne, Barrero, Lope H., Bartels, David H., Basanez, Maria-Gloria, Baxter, Amanda, Bell, Michelle L., Benjamin, Emelia J. ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2012). Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 380 (9859), 2163-2196. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61729-2
2012
Journal Article
Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
Lozano, Rafael, Naghavi, Mohsen, Foreman, Kyle, Lim, Stephen, Shibuya, Kenji, Aboyans, Victor, Abraham, Jerry, Adair, Timothy, Aggarwal, Rakesh, Ahn, Stephanie Y., Alvarado, Miriam, Anderson, H. Ross, Anderson, Laurie M., Andrews, Kathryn G., Atkinson, Charles, Baddour, Larry M., Barker-Collo, Suzanne, Bartels, David H., Bell, Michelle L., Benjamin, Emelia J., Bennett, Derrick, Bhalla, Kavi, Bikbov, Boris, Bin Abdulhak, Aref, Birbeck, Gretchen, Blyth, Fiona, Bolliger, Ian, Boufous, Soufi Ane, Bucello, Chiara ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2012). Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 380 (9859), 2095-2128. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61728-0
2012
Journal Article
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
Murray, Christopher J. L., Vos, Theo, Lozano, Rafael, Naghavi, Mohsen, Flaxman, Abraham D., Michaud, Catherine, Ezzati, Majid, Shibuya, Kenji, Salomon, Joshua A., Abdalla, Safa, Aboyans, Victor, Abraham, Jerry, Ackerman, Ilana, Aggarwal, Rakesh, Ahn, Stephanie Y., Ali, Mohammed K., Alvarado, Miriam, Anderson, H. Ross, Anderson, Laurie M., Andrews, Kathryn G., Atkinson, Charles, Baddour, Larry M., Bahalim, Adil N., Barker-Collo, Suzanne, Barrero, Lope H., Bartels, David H., Basanez, Maria-Gloria, Baxter, Amanda, Bell, Michelle L. ... Lopez, Alan D. (2012). Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 380 (9859), 2197-2223. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61689-4
2012
Journal Article
A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
Lim, Stephen S., Vos, Theo, Flaxman, Abraham D., Danaei, Goodarz, Shibuya, Kenji, Adair-Rohani, Heather, Amann, Markus, Anderson, H. Ross, Andrews, Kathryn G., Aryee, Martin, Atkinson, Charles, Bacchus, Loraine J., Bahalim, Adil N., Balakrishnan, Kalpana, Balmes, John, Barker-Collo, Suzanne, Baxter, Amanda, Bell, Michelle L., Blore, Jed D., Blyth, Fiona, Bonner, Carissa, Borges, Guilherme, Bourne, Rupert, Boussinesq, Michel, Brauer, Michael, Brooks, Peter, Bruce, Nigel G., Brunekreef, Bert, Bryan-Hancock, Claire ... Ezzati, Majid (2012). A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 380 (9859), 2224-2260. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61766-8
2012
Journal Article
Common values in assessing health outcomes from disease and injury: disability weights measurement study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
Salomon, Joshua A., Vos, Theo, Hogan, Daniel R., Gagnon, Michael, Naghavi, Mohsen, Mokdad, Ali, Begum, Nazma, Shah, Razibuzzaman, Karyana, Muhammad, Kosen, Soewarta, Farje, Mario Reyna, Moncada, Gilberto, Dutta, Arup, Sazawal, Sunil, Dyer, Andrew, Seiler, Jason, Aboyans, Victor, Baker, Lesley, Baxter, Amanda, Benjamin, Emelia J., Bhalla, Kavi, Bin Abdulhak, Aref, Blyth, Fiona, Bourne, Rupert, Braithwaite, Tasanee, Brooks, Peter, Brugha, Traolach S., Bryan-Hancock, Claire, Buchbinder, Rachelle ... Murray, Christopher J. L. (2012). Common values in assessing health outcomes from disease and injury: disability weights measurement study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 380 (9859), 2129-2143. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61680-8
2012
Journal Article
Health states for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder within the Global Burden of Disease 2010 Study
Ferrari, Alize J., Saha, Sukanta, McGrath, John J., Norman, Rosana, Baxter, Amanda, Vos, Eric Theo and Whiteford, Harvey (2012). Health states for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder within the Global Burden of Disease 2010 Study. Population Health Metrics, 10 (1) 16, 16.1-16.7. doi: 10.1186/1478-7954-10-16
2012
Journal Article
Impairment in functional capacity as an endophenotype candidate in severe mental illness
Harvey, Philip D., McClure, Margaret M., Patterson, Thomas L., McGrath, John A., Pulver, Ann E., Bowie, Christopher R. and Siever, Larry J. (2012). Impairment in functional capacity as an endophenotype candidate in severe mental illness. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 38 (6), 1318-1326. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbr046
2012
Journal Article
The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia: Convergent clues from epidemiology and neuropathology
Piper, Michael, Beneyto, Monica, Burne, Thomas H. J., Eyles, Darryl W., Lewis, David A. and McGrath, John J. (2012). The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia: Convergent clues from epidemiology and neuropathology. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 35 (3), 571-584. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2012.06.002
2012
Journal Article
Prenatal Vitamin D deficiency induces an early and more severe experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the second generation
Fernandes de Abreu, Diana Andrea, Landel, Verena, Barnett, Adrian G., McGrath, John, Eyles, Darryl and Feron, Francois (2012). Prenatal Vitamin D deficiency induces an early and more severe experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the second generation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 13 (9), 10911-10919. doi: 10.3390/ijms130910911
2012
Journal Article
'Earning and learning' in those with psychotic disorders: The second Australian national survey of psychosis
Waghorn, Geoffrey, Saha, Sukanta, Harvey, Carol, Morgan, Vera A., Waterreus, Anna, Bush, Robert, Castle, David, Galletly, Cherrie, Stain, Helen J., Neil, Amanda L., McGorry, Patrick and McGrath, John J. (2012). 'Earning and learning' in those with psychotic disorders: The second Australian national survey of psychosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46 (8), 774-785. doi: 10.1177/0004867412452015
2012
Journal Article
People living with psychotic illness in 2010: The second Australian national survey of psychosis
Morgan, Vera A., Waterreus, Anna, Jablensky, Assen, Mackinnon, Andrew, McGrath, John J., Carr, Vaughan, Bush, Robert, Castle, David, Cohen, Martin, Harvey, Carol, Galletly, Cherrie, Stain, Helen J., Neil, Amanda L., McGorry, Patrick, Hocking, Barbara, Shah, Sonal and Saw, Suzy (2012). People living with psychotic illness in 2010: The second Australian national survey of psychosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46 (8), 735-752. doi: 10.1177/0004867412449877
2012
Journal Article
Marijuana and Madness, 2nd edition
McGrath, John J. (2012). Marijuana and Madness, 2nd edition. Psychological Medicine, 42 (8), 1785-1785. doi: 10.1017/S0033291712001237
2012
Journal Article
Cardiometabolic risk factors in people with psychotic disorders: The second Australian national survey of psychosis
Galletly, Cherrie A., Foley, Debra L., Waterreus, Anna, Watts, Gerald F., Castle, David J., McGrath, John J., Mackinnon, Andrew and Morgan, Vera A. (2012). Cardiometabolic risk factors in people with psychotic disorders: The second Australian national survey of psychosis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46 (8), 753-761. doi: 10.1177/0004867412453089
2012
Journal Article
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 and D 2 and non-clinical psychotic experiences in childhood
Tolppanen, Anna-Maija, Sayers, Adrian, Fraser, William D., Lewis, Glyn, Zammit, Stanley, McGrath, John and Lawlor, Debbie A. (2012). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 and D 2 and non-clinical psychotic experiences in childhood. PLoS One, 7 (7 Article No. e41575) e41575, e41575. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041575
2012
Journal Article
The early intervention debate provides a distraction from another 'unspeakable truth'
McGrath, John J. (2012). The early intervention debate provides a distraction from another 'unspeakable truth'. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46 (7), 681-682. doi: 10.1177/0004867412442023
2012
Journal Article
Vitamin D and health in adults in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement
Nowson, Caryl A., McGrath, John J., Ebeling, Peter R., Haikerwal, Anjali, Daly, Robin M., Sanders, Kerrie M., Seibel, Markus J. and Mason, Rebecca S. (2012). Vitamin D and health in adults in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement. Medical Journal of Australia, 196 (11), 686-687. doi: 10.5694/mja11.10301
2012
Journal Article
Social support and delusional-like experiences: a nationwide population-based study
Saha, S., Scott, J., Varghese, D. and McGrath, J. (2012). Social support and delusional-like experiences: a nationwide population-based study. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 21 (2), 203-212. doi: 10.1017/S2045796011000862
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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