
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
2021
Journal Article
Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Outcomes in People with Early Psychosis: The DFEND Randomized Clinical Trial
Gaughran, Fiona, Stringer, Dominic, Wojewodka, Gabriella, Landau, Sabine, Smith, Shubulade, Gardner-Sood, Poonam, Taylor, David, Jordan, Harriet, Whiskey, Eromona, Krivoy, Amir, Ciufolini, Simone, Stubbs, Brendon, Casetta, Cecilia, Williams, Julie, Moore, Susan, Allen, Lauren, Rathod, Shanaya, Boardman, Andrew, Khalifa, Rehab, Firdosi, Mudasir, McGuire, Philip, Berk, Michael and McGrath, John (2021). Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Outcomes in People with Early Psychosis: The DFEND Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 4 (12) e2140858, e2140858. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.40858
2021
Journal Article
Sensitive and robust LC-MS/MS assay to quantify 25-hydroxyvitamin D in leftover protein extract from dried blood spots
Boelt, Sanne Grundvad, Melgaard, Lars, Thorbek, Marta Jadwiga, MacSween, Nadia Sara Jensen, McGrath, John J. and Cohen, Arieh S. (2021). Sensitive and robust LC-MS/MS assay to quantify 25-hydroxyvitamin D in leftover protein extract from dried blood spots. International Journal of Neonatal Screening, 7 (4) 82, 82. doi: 10.3390/ijns7040082
2021
Journal Article
Perceived helpfulness of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: a World Mental Health Surveys report
Stein, Dan J., Kazdin, Alan E., Ruscio, Ayelet Meron, Chiu, Wai Tat, Sampson, Nancy A., Ziobrowski, Hannah N., Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Altwaijri, Yasmin, Bruffaerts, Ronny, Bunting, Brendan, de Girolamo, Giovanni, de Jonge, Peter, Degenhardt, Louisa, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep Maria, Harris, Meredith G., Karam, Aimee, Karam, Elie G., Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lee, Sing, Medina-Mora, Maria Elena, Moskalewicz, Jacek, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Nishi, Daisuke, Posada-Villa, José, Scott, Kate M., Viana, Maria Carmen ... Wojtyniak, Bogdan (2021). Perceived helpfulness of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: a World Mental Health Surveys report. BMC Psychiatry, 21 (1) 392, 392. doi: 10.1186/s12888-021-03363-3
2021
Journal Article
Navigating sociocultural disparities in relation to infection and antibiotic resistance-the need for an intersectional approach
Charani, Esmita, Mendelson, Marc, Ashiru-Oredope, Diane, Hutchinson, Eleanor, Kaur, Manmeet, McKee, Martin, Mpundu, Mirfin, Price, James R., Shafiq, Nusrat and Holmes, Alison (2021). Navigating sociocultural disparities in relation to infection and antibiotic resistance-the need for an intersectional approach. JAC - Antimicrobial Resistance, 3 (4) dlab123, 1-7. doi: 10.1093/jacamr/dlab123
2021
Journal Article
Developmental vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats does not induce preeclampsia
Ali, Asad, Alexander, Suzanne, Ko, Pauline, Cuffe, James S. M., Whitehouse, Andrew J. O., McGrath, John J. and Eyles, Darryl (2021). Developmental vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats does not induce preeclampsia. Nutrients, 13 (12) 4254, 4254. doi: 10.3390/nu13124254
2021
Journal Article
Previous disorders and depression outcomes in individuals with 12-month major depressive disorder in the World Mental Health surveys
Roest, Annelieke M., de Vries, Ymkje Anna, Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Ayinde, Olatunde O., Bruffaerts, Ronny, Bunting, Brendan, Caldas de Almeida, José Miguel, de Girolamo, Giovanni, Degenhardt, Louisa, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep Maria, Hu, Chiyi, Karam, Elie G., Kiejna, Andrzej, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lee, Sing, McGrath, John J., Medina-Mora, Maria Elena, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Nishi, Daisuke, Piazza, Marina, Posada-Villa, José, Scott, Kate M., Stagnaro, Juan Carlos, Stein, Dan J., Torres, Yolanda, Viana, Maria Carmen ... de Jonge, Peter (2021). Previous disorders and depression outcomes in individuals with 12-month major depressive disorder in the World Mental Health surveys. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 30 e70, e70-9. doi: 10.1017/s2045796021000573
2021
Journal Article
Perceived helpfulness of treatment for alcohol use disorders: findings from the World Mental Health Surveys
Degenhardt, Louisa, Bharat, Chrianna, Chiu, Wai Tat, Harris, Meredith G, Kazdin, Alan E, Vigo, Daniel V, Sampson, Nancy A, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura Helena, Bruffaerts, Ronny, Bunting, Brendan, Cardoso, Graça, de Girolamo, Giovanni, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep Maria, Hu, Chiyi, Karam, Aimee N, Karam, Elie G, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lee, Sing, Makanjuola, Victor, McGrath, John J, Medina-Mora, Maria Elena, Moskalewicz, Jacek, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Posada-Villa, José, Rapsey, Charlene, Stagnaro, Juan Carlos ... WHO World Mental Health Survey collaborators, The WHO World Mental Health Survey collaborators are Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola (2021). Perceived helpfulness of treatment for alcohol use disorders: findings from the World Mental Health Surveys. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 229 (Pt B) 109158, 109158. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109158
2021
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10-24 years, 1950-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Ward, Joseph L., Azzopardi, Peter S., Francis, Kate Louise, Santelli, John S., Skirbekk, Vegard, Sawyer, Susan M., Kassebaum, Nicholas J., Mokdad, Ali H., Hay, Simon I., Abd-Allah, Foad, Abdoli, Amir, Abdollahi, Mohammad, Abedi, Aidin, Abolhassani, Hassan, Abreu, Lucas Guimaraes, Abrigo, Michael R. M., Abu-Gharbieh, Eman, Abushouk, Abdelrahman I., Adebayo, Oladimeji M., Adekanmbi, Victor, Adham, Davoud, Advani, Shailesh M., Afshari, Khashayar, Agrawal, Anurag, Ahmad, Tauseef, Ahmadi, Keivan, Ahmed, Anwar E., Aji, Budi, Akombi-Inyang, Blessing ... Viner, Russell M. (2021). Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10-24 years, 1950-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet, 398 (10311), 1593-1618.
2021
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10-24 years, 1950-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
GBD 2019 Adolescent Mortality Collaborators, Mamun, Abdullah, Anderlini, Deanna, Lalloo, Ratilal, McGrath, John, Uddin, Riaz and Leung, Janni (2021). Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10-24 years, 1950-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet (London, England), 398 (10311), 1593-1618. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01546-4
2021
Journal Article
Comorbidity between mood and substance-related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C.W., Degenhardt, Louisa, Cannon, Danielle L., Bremner, Monique, Prentis, Finley, Lawrence, Zoe, Heffernan, Ed, Meurk, Carla, Reilly, John and McGrath, John J. (2021). Comorbidity between mood and substance-related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56 (7) 00048674211054740, 000486742110547-770. doi: 10.1177/00048674211054740
2021
Journal Article
Seven short reflections on the notion of schizophrenia
McGrath, John J. and Wray, Naomi R. (2021). Seven short reflections on the notion of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 242, 96-97. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.09.026
2021
Conference Publication
LEVERAGING THOUSANDS OF POLYGENIC SCORES, FAMILY HISTORY, AND AGE-OF-ONSET INFORMATION TO OPTIMIZE RISK PREDICTION FOR PSYCHIATRIC AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
Vilhjalmsson, Bjarni, Albinana, Clara, Pedersen, Emil, Agerbo, Esben, Borglum, Anders, Christensen, Jakob, McGrath, John, Mortensen, Preben Bo and Prive, Florian (2021). LEVERAGING THOUSANDS OF POLYGENIC SCORES, FAMILY HISTORY, AND AGE-OF-ONSET INFORMATION TO OPTIMIZE RISK PREDICTION FOR PSYCHIATRIC AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS. World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics (WCPG), Electr Network, Oct 11-15, 2021. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.07.077
2021
Conference Publication
ACCOUNTING FOR FAMILY HISTORY AND AGE OF ONSET IMPROVES POWER IN GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDIES
Pedersen, Emil, Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Grove, Jakob, Dreier, Julie W., Musliner, Katherine, Dalsgaard, Soren, Christensen, Jakob, Borglum, Anders, Mortensen, Preben Bo, McGrath, John, Agerbo, Esben, Prive, Florian and Vilhjalmsson, Bjarni (2021). ACCOUNTING FOR FAMILY HISTORY AND AGE OF ONSET IMPROVES POWER IN GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDIES. World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics (WCPG), Electr Network, Oct 11-15, 2021. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.07.161
2021
Journal Article
Antidepressant use in low- middle- and high-income countries: a World Mental Health Surveys report
Kazdin, Alan E., Wu, Chi-Shin, Hwang, Irving, Puac-Polanco, Victor, Sampson, Nancy A., Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura Helena, Benjet, Corina, Caldas-de-Almeida, José-Miguel, de Girolamo, Giovanni, de Jonge, Peter, Florescu, Silvia, Gureje, Oye, Haro, Josep M., Harris, Meredith G., Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lee, Sing, McGrath, John J., Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Nishi, Daisuke, Oladeji, Bibilola D., Posada-Villa, José, Stein, Dan J., Üstün, T. Bedirhan, Vigo, Daniel V., Zarkov, Zahari ... the WHO World Mental Health Survey collaborators (2021). Antidepressant use in low- middle- and high-income countries: a World Mental Health Surveys report. Psychological Medicine, 53 (4) PII S0033291721003160, 1-9. doi: 10.1017/s0033291721003160
2021
Journal Article
Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
GBD 2019 Under-5 Mortality Collaborators, Mamun, Abdullah A., Lalloo, Ratilal, Anderlini, Deanna, McGrath, John, Uddin, Riaz and Moni, Mohammad Ali (2021). Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet, 398 (10303), 870-905. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01207-1
2021
Journal Article
307Association between patterns of comorbid mental disorders and mortality-related estimates. A Danish register-based cohort study
Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer and McGrath, John J (2021). 307Association between patterns of comorbid mental disorders and mortality-related estimates. A Danish register-based cohort study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 50 (Supplement_1). doi: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.537
2021
Journal Article
741Life expectancy among persons with a disease: the Life Years Lost method and R-package ‘lillies’
Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer and McGrath, John J (2021). 741Life expectancy among persons with a disease: the Life Years Lost method and R-package ‘lillies’. International Journal of Epidemiology, 50 (Supplement_1). doi: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.538
2021
Journal Article
De novo variation in bipolar disorder
Goes, Fernando S., Pirooznia, Mehdi, Tehan, Martin, Zandi, Peter P., McGrath, John, Wolyniec, Paula, Nestadt, Gerald and Pulver, Ann. E. (2021). De novo variation in bipolar disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 26 (8), 4127-4136. doi: 10.1038/s41380-019-0611-1
2021
Journal Article
The Effect of Adjunctive Mangosteen Pericarp on Cognition in People With Schizophrenia: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Marx, Wolfgang, Skvarc, David R., Mohebbi, Mohammadreza, Walker, Adam J., Meehan, Alcy, Turner, Alyna, Baker, Andrea, Dodd, Seetal, Cotton, Sue M., Scott, James Graham, Kavanagh, Bianca E., Ashton, Melanie M., Brown, Ellie, McGrath, John J., Berk, Michael and Dean, Olivia May (2021). The Effect of Adjunctive Mangosteen Pericarp on Cognition in People With Schizophrenia: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12 626486, 1-8. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.626486
2021
Journal Article
Leveraging both individual-level genetic data and GWAS summary statistics increases polygenic prediction
Albiñana, Clara, Grove, Jakob, McGrath, John J., Agerbo, Esben, Wray, Naomi R., Bulik, Cynthia M, Nordentoft, Merete, Hougaard, David M, Werge, Thomas, Børglum, Anders D, Mortensen, Preben Bo, Privé, Florian and Vilhjálmsson, Bjarni J (2021). Leveraging both individual-level genetic data and GWAS summary statistics increases polygenic prediction. American Journal of Human Genetics, 108 (6), 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.04.014
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor John McGrath is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
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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