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
2002
Journal Article
'Mapping the environment' in order to generate candidate nongenetic risk factors for schizophrenia
McGrath, J (2002). 'Mapping the environment' in order to generate candidate nongenetic risk factors for schizophrenia. Australian And New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36 (6), A27-A27.
2002
Conference Publication
Low maternal vitamin D-3 disrupts foetal brain maturation
Eyles, D. W., Feron, F., Brown, J., Mackay-Sim, A. and McGrath, J. (2002). Low maternal vitamin D-3 disrupts foetal brain maturation. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 24 February 2002. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.
2002
Journal Article
Neuronal cell cycle is altered in schizophrenia: Evidence from olfactory neuroepithelial culture from adult patients
McCurdy, R, Feron, F, Perry, C, McLean, D, McGrath, J and Mackay-Sim, A (2002). Neuronal cell cycle is altered in schizophrenia: Evidence from olfactory neuroepithelial culture from adult patients. Schizophrenia Research, 53 (3), 267-268.
2002
Conference Publication
Vitamin D depletion during development markedly alters gene expression in the adult rat brain: Gene array assessment of a novel risk factor for schizophrenia
Feron, F., Mackay-Sim, A., Eyles, D., Brown, J. and McGrath, J. (2002). Vitamin D depletion during development markedly alters gene expression in the adult rat brain: Gene array assessment of a novel risk factor for schizophrenia. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 24 February - 1 March 2002. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00381-4
2002
Conference Publication
No association between the deficit syndrome in psychosis and summer birth in the Southern Hemisphere
Welham, J.L., Kirkpatrick, B., Chant, D., Castle, D.., El-Saadi, O., Saha, S. and McGrath, J. (2002). No association between the deficit syndrome in psychosis and summer birth in the Southern Hemisphere. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 24 February - 1 March, 2002. Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00381-4
2002
Journal Article
No significant association between prenatal exposure to poliovirus epidemics and psychosis
Cahill, Matthew, Chant, David, Welham, Joy and McGrath, John (2002). No significant association between prenatal exposure to poliovirus epidemics and psychosis. Australian And New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36 (3), 373-375. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.01006.x
2002
Journal Article
Readability of consent forms in schizophrenia research
Mathew, J and McGrath, J (2002). Readability of consent forms in schizophrenia research. Australian And New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36 (4), 564-565.
2002
Journal Article
An ecological study of maternal and child nutritional supplementation and schizophrenia birth rates in England and Wales
Saha, S, Boucher, B, Sham, P and McGrath, J (2002). An ecological study of maternal and child nutritional supplementation and schizophrenia birth rates in England and Wales. Schizophrenia Research, 53 (3), 227-227.
2002
Conference Publication
Finger and A-B ridge count, and fluctuating asymmetry in psychosis: A catchment area case-control study
Saha, S., El-Saadi, O., Welham, J., Chant, D., Fananas, L., Loesch, D. and McGrath, J. (2002). Finger and A-B ridge count, and fluctuating asymmetry in psychosis: A catchment area case-control study. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 24 February - 1 March, 2002. Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00381-4
2002
Journal Article
The 2000 Ogura Lecture: Olfactory neural cells: An untapped diagnostic and therapeutic resource
Perry, C., Mackay-Sim, A., Feron, F. and McGrath, J. (2002). The 2000 Ogura Lecture: Olfactory neural cells: An untapped diagnostic and therapeutic resource. Laryngoscope, 112 (4), 603-607. doi: 10.1097/00005537-200204000-00002
2002
Journal Article
Substance misuse in patients with schizophrenia: epidemiology and management
Kavanagh, D. J., McGrath, J. J., Saunders, J. B., Dore, G and Clark, D. C. (2002). Substance misuse in patients with schizophrenia: epidemiology and management. New Ethicals Journal (August 2002), 27-36.
2002
Conference Publication
The incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia: Preliminary results from a systematic review
El-Saadi, O., Welham, J., Saha, S., MaCaulay, C., Collingwood, L., Chant, D., Torrey, E.F. and McGrath, J. (2002). The incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia: Preliminary results from a systematic review. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 24 February -1 March, 2002. Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00381-4
2002
Conference Publication
Decreased perinatal sunshine duration is associated with increased non-affective but not affective psychosis birth rates
Welham, J., Chant, D., EI-Saadi, O., Saha, S. and McGrath, J. (2002). Decreased perinatal sunshine duration is associated with increased non-affective but not affective psychosis birth rates. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 24 February - 1 March, 2002. Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00381-4
2002
Journal Article
Age-at-first-registration in schizophrenia: a comparison of mental health registers from Australia and Brazil
Andreoli, SB, Gastal, FL, Leite, SO, Welham, J and McGrath, J (2002). Age-at-first-registration in schizophrenia: a comparison of mental health registers from Australia and Brazil. Schizophrenia Research, 54 (3), 277-279. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00174-8
2002
Journal Article
Minor physical anomalies and quantitative measures of the head and face in patients with psychosis
McGrath, J. J., El-Saadi, O., Grim, V., Cardy, S., Chapple, B., Chant, D., Lieberman, D. and Mowry, B. (2002). Minor physical anomalies and quantitative measures of the head and face in patients with psychosis. Archives of General Psychiatry, 59 (5), 458-464. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.59.5.458
2002
Conference Publication
Low maternal vitamin D as a risk factor for schizophrenia: a pilot study using banked sera
McGrath, J., Eyles, D., Mowry, B., Yolken, R. and Buka, S. (2002). Low maternal vitamin D as a risk factor for schizophrenia: a pilot study using banked sera. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 24 February 2002. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.
2002
Conference Publication
Disruption of pro-differentiating signals may underlie both loss of cerebral asymmetry and craniofacial features in schizophrenia
McGrath, J., Eyles, D., Feron, F., Mackay-Sim, A. and Lieberman, D. (2002). Disruption of pro-differentiating signals may underlie both loss of cerebral asymmetry and craniofacial features in schizophrenia. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, February 24–March 1, 2002. Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00381-4
2002
Conference Publication
The presence of quasi-psychotic phenomena is associated with minor physical anomalies and craniofacial measures in well controls
Saha, S., Chapple, B., Cardy, S., Chant, D., Mowry, B. and McGrath, J. (2002). The presence of quasi-psychotic phenomena is associated with minor physical anomalies and craniofacial measures in well controls. XIth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Davos, Switzerland, 24 February – 1 March, 2002. Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00381-4
2002
Journal Article
Working memory correlates of three symptom clusters in schizophrenia
Cameron, AM, Oram, J, Geffen, GM, Kavanagh, DJ, McGrath, JJ and Geffen, LB (2002). Working memory correlates of three symptom clusters in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research, 110 (1), 49-61. doi: 10.1016/S0165-1781(02)00036-7
2002
Journal Article
An on-line investigation of lexical ambiguity processing in schizophrenia
Copland, D, Chenery, H, Savage, G and McGrath, J (2002). An on-line investigation of lexical ambiguity processing in schizophrenia. Brain And Cognition, 48 (2-3), 324-327. doi: 10.1006/brcg.2001.1370
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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