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
2005
Journal Article
Behavioural characterization of Vitamin D receptor knockout mice
Burne, T. H. J., McGrath, J. J., Eyles, D. W. and Mackay-Sim, A. (2005). Behavioural characterization of Vitamin D receptor knockout mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 157 (2), 299-308. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2004.07.008
2005
Conference Publication
Developmental vitamin D deficiency and brain development: An informative animal mode of schizophrenia
Burne, T, McGrath, J. J., Mackay-Sim, A. and Eyles, D. W. (2005). Developmental vitamin D deficiency and brain development: An informative animal mode of schizophrenia. Joint CINP/ASPR Scientific Meeting, Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane, 7-9 Dec.. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
2004
Journal Article
Maternal vitamin D3 deprivation and the regulation of apoptosis and cell cycle during rat brain development
Ko, Pauline, Burkert, Rachel, McGrath, John and Eyles, Darryl (2004). Maternal vitamin D3 deprivation and the regulation of apoptosis and cell cycle during rat brain development. Developmental Brain Research, 153 (1), 61-68. doi: 10.1016/j.devbrainres.2004.07.013
2004
Conference Publication
The receptor for vitamin D and the enzyme responsible for its synthesis are widely distributed in human brain
Eyles, W, Smith, S, Kinobe, R, Hewison, M and McGrath, J (2004). The receptor for vitamin D and the enzyme responsible for its synthesis are widely distributed in human brain. 24th CINP Congress, Paris France, Jun 20-24, 2004. NEW YORK: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS.
2004
Journal Article
A systematic review of the incidence of schizophrenia: the distribution of rates and the influence of sex, urbanicity, migrant status and methodology
McGrath, John, Saha, Sukanta, Welham, Joy, El-Saadi, Ossama, MacCauley, Clare and Chant, David (2004). A systematic review of the incidence of schizophrenia: the distribution of rates and the influence of sex, urbanicity, migrant status and methodology. BMC Medicine, 2 (13) 13, 1-22. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-2-13
2004
Journal Article
Paternal and maternal age as risk factors for psychosis: findings from Denmark, Sweden and Australia
El-Saadi, Ossama, Pedersen, Carsten B., McNeil, Thomas F., Saha, Sukanta, Welham, Joy, O'Callaghan, Eadbhard, Cantor-Graae, Elizabeth, Chant, David, Mortensen, Preben Bo and McGrath, John (2004). Paternal and maternal age as risk factors for psychosis: findings from Denmark, Sweden and Australia. Schizophrenia Research, 67 (2-3), 227-236. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(03)00100-2
2004
Conference Publication
Vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life and risk of schizophrenia: A Finnish birth-cohort study
McGrath, JJ, Saari, K, Hakko, H, Jokelainen, J, Jones, PB, Jarvelin, MR, Chant, DC and Isohanni, M (2004). Vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life and risk of schizophrenia: A Finnish birth-cohort study. 12th Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos Switzerland, Feb 07-13, 2004. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV.
2004
Journal Article
Demographic and clinical correlates of comorbid substance use disorders in psychosis: multivariate analyses from an epidemiological sample
Kavanagh, David J., Waghorn, Geoffrey, Jenner, Linda, Chant, David C., Carr, Vaughan, Evans, Mandy, Herrman, Helen, Jablensky, Assen and McGrath, John J. (2004). Demographic and clinical correlates of comorbid substance use disorders in psychosis: multivariate analyses from an epidemiological sample. Schizophrenia Research, 66 (2-3), 115-124. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(03)00130-0
2004
Conference Publication
Behavioural outcomes of prenatal vitamin D deficiency in rats
Burne, T. H. J., Eyles, D. W., Becker, A., Brown, J., Mackay-Sim, A. and McGrath, J. J. (2004). Behavioural outcomes of prenatal vitamin D deficiency in rats. 12th Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 7-13 Feb 2004. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elseveir, Science BV. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2003.10.001
2004
Journal Article
Combined prenatal and chronic postnatal vitamin D deficiency in rats impairs prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle
Burne, T. H. J., Feron, F., Brown, J., Eyles, D. W., McGrath, J. J. and Mackay-Sim, A. (2004). Combined prenatal and chronic postnatal vitamin D deficiency in rats impairs prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle. Physiology & Behavior, 81 (4), 651-655. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.03.004
2004
Journal Article
Correlates of victimisation amongst people with psychosis
Chapple, B, Chant, D, Nolan, P, Cardy, S, Whiteford, H and McGrath, J. (2004). Correlates of victimisation amongst people with psychosis. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39 (10), 836-840. doi: 10.1007/s00127-004-0819-4
2004
Book Chapter
Schizophrenia, vitamin D, and brain development
Mackay-Sim, Alan, Feron, Francois, Eyles, Darryl, Burne, Thomas and McGrath, John (2004). Schizophrenia, vitamin D, and brain development. Disorders of Synaptic Plasticity And Schizophrenia. (pp. 351-380) edited by John Smythies. USA: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0074-7742(04)59014-1
2004
Journal Article
Vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life and risk of schizophrenia: a Finnish birth cohort study
McGrath, J, Saari, K, Hakko, H, Jokelainen, J, Jones, P, Jarvelin, MR, Chant, D and Isohanni, M (2004). Vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life and risk of schizophrenia: a Finnish birth cohort study. Schizophrenia Research, 67 (2-3), 237-245. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2003.08.005
2004
Conference Publication
Vitamin D-3 - implications for brain development
McGrath, John J., Feron, François P., Burne, Thomas H. J., Mackay-Sim, Alan and Eyles, Darryl W. (2004). Vitamin D-3 - implications for brain development. 12th Workshop on Vitamin D, Maastricht, The Netherlands, 06-10 July 2003. Oxford, U.K.: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.03.070
2004
Conference Publication
Prenatal vitamin D deficiency causes behavioural changes in adult offspring: Evidence of dopaminergic dysregulation
Rogers, F., Burne, T.H.J., Eyles, D.W. and McGrath, J.J. (2004). Prenatal vitamin D deficiency causes behavioural changes in adult offspring: Evidence of dopaminergic dysregulation. XIIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 7-13 February 2004 . Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2003.10.001
2004
Journal Article
Paradoxical association between smoking and olfactory identification in psychosis versus controls
McLean, D, Feron, F, Mackay-Sim, A, McCurdy, R, Hirning, M, Chant, D and McGrath, J (2004). Paradoxical association between smoking and olfactory identification in psychosis versus controls. Australian And New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 38 (1-2), 81-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1614.2004.01301.x
2004
Conference Publication
Prenatal vitamin D deficiency induces hyperlocomotion and impairs PPI in adult offspring - a role for dopamine?
Rogers, E., Burne, T., McGrath, J. and Eyles, D. W. (2004). Prenatal vitamin D deficiency induces hyperlocomotion and impairs PPI in adult offspring - a role for dopamine?. 24th CINP Congress, Paris, France, 20-24 June 2004. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1017/S1461145704004547
2004
Conference Publication
The distribution of the vitamin D receptor and the enzyme responsible for it's synthesis in human brain
Eyles, D., Kinobe, R., Smith, S., Hewison, M. and McGrath, J. (2004). The distribution of the vitamin D receptor and the enzyme responsible for it's synthesis in human brain. 12th Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 7-13 Feb 2004. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier Science Bv. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2003.10.001
2004
Journal Article
Lithium for schizophrenia revisited: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Leucht, S., Kissling, W. and McGrath, J. (2004). Lithium for schizophrenia revisited: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 65 (2), 177-186. doi: 10.4088/JCP.v65n0206
2004
Journal Article
An analysis of DTNBP1 (dysbindin) in Australian and Indian populations
Handoko, HY, Nyholt, DR, Thara, R, Srinivasan, TN, Nertney, DA, Smith, HJ, Filippich, CF, Hannah, DE, McGrath, JJ, Sujit, KJ, Giri, KP and Mowry, BJ (2004). An analysis of DTNBP1 (dysbindin) in Australian and Indian populations. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B-neuropsychiatric Genetics, 130B (1), 133-133.
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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