
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
Early expressions of psychopathology and risk associated with trans-diagnostic transition to mood and psychotic disorders in adolescents and young adults
Scott, Jan, Crouse, Jacob J., Ho, Nicholas, Iorfino, Frank, Martin, Nicholas, Parker, Richard, McGrath, John, Gillespie, Nathan A., Medland, Sarah and Hickie, Ian B. (2021). Early expressions of psychopathology and risk associated with trans-diagnostic transition to mood and psychotic disorders in adolescents and young adults. PLoS ONE, 16 (6 June) e0252550, 1-17. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252550
2021
Journal Article
Bidirectional associations between treatment-resistant depression and general medical conditions
Madsen, Kathrine Bang, Momen, Natalie C., Petersen, Liselotte Vogdrup, Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Haarman, Bartholomeus C. M., Drexhage, Hemmo, Mortensen, Preben Bo, McGrath, John J. and Munk-Olsen, Trine (2021). Bidirectional associations between treatment-resistant depression and general medical conditions. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 51, 7-19. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.04.021
2021
Journal Article
Factors that contribute to urban-rural gradients in risk of schizophrenia: Comparing Danish and Western Australian registers
Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Di Prinzio, Patsy, McGrath, John J., Mortensen, Preben B. and Morgan, Vera A. (2021). Factors that contribute to urban-rural gradients in risk of schizophrenia: Comparing Danish and Western Australian registers. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 55 (12) 00048674211009615, 1-9. doi: 10.1177/00048674211009615
2021
Journal Article
Vitamin D deficiency worsens maternal diabetes induced neurodevelopmental disorder by potentiating hyperglycemia-mediated epigenetic changes
Liang, Yujie, Yu, Hong, Ke, Xiaoyin, Eyles, Darryl, Sun, Ruoyu, Wang, Zichen, Huang, Saijun, Lin, Ling, McGrath, John J., Lu, Jianping, Guo, Xiaoling and Yao, Paul (2021). Vitamin D deficiency worsens maternal diabetes induced neurodevelopmental disorder by potentiating hyperglycemia-mediated epigenetic changes. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1491 (1), 74-88. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14535
2021
Conference Publication
Sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis: a randomised clinical trial
Scott, J. G., Baker, A., Lim, C., Foley, S., Dark, F., Gordon, A., Ward, D., Richardson, D., Bruxner, G., Beckmann, K., Hatherill, S., Stathis, S., Dixon, K., Ryan, A., McWhinney, B., Ungerer, J., Berk, M., Dean, O., Saha, S. and McGrath, J. J. (2021). Sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis: a randomised clinical trial. RANZCP 2021, Hobart, TAS Australia, 16-20 May 2021. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2021
Conference Publication
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MULTIPLE STRESSORS (INCLUDING RACISM) AND SLEEP HEALTH AMONG YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN
Jackson, Chandra, LaPorte, Frankie, Gaston, Symielle, Vines, Anissa, McGrath, John, Jackson, W. Braxton, Kubzansky, Laura, Harmon, Quaker and Baird, Donna (2021). ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MULTIPLE STRESSORS (INCLUDING RACISM) AND SLEEP HEALTH AMONG YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.
2021
Other Outputs
Accounting for age-of-onset and family history improves power in genome-wide association studies
Pedersen, Emil M, Agerbo, Esben, Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Grove, Jakob, Dreier, Julie W., Musliner, Katherine L., Bækvad-Hansen, Marie, Athanasiadis, Georgios, Schork, Andrew, Bybjerg-Grauholm, Jonas, Hougaard, David M., Werge, Thomas, Nordentoft, Merete, Mors, Ole, Dalsgaard, Søren, Christensen, Jakob, Børglum, Anders D., Mortensen, Preben B., McGrath, John J., Privé, Florian and Vilhjálmsson, Bjarni J. (2021). Accounting for age-of-onset and family history improves power in genome-wide association studies. doi: 10.1101/2021.04.20.440585
2021
Journal Article
Risk of early-onset depression associated with polygenic liability, parental psychiatric history, and socioeconomic status
Agerbo, Esben, Trabjerg, Betina B., Børglum, Anders D., Schork, Andrew J., Vilhjálmsson, Bjarni J., Pedersen, Carsten B., Hakulinen, Christian, Albiñana, Clara, Hougaard, David M., Grove, Jakob, McGrath, John J., Bybjerg-Grauholm, Jonas, Mors, Ole, Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Werge, Thomas, Wray, Naomi R., Mortensen, Preben Bo and Musliner, Katherine L. (2021). Risk of early-onset depression associated with polygenic liability, parental psychiatric history, and socioeconomic status. JAMA Psychiatry, 78 (4), 387-397. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4172
2021
Journal Article
Adjunctive Garcinia mangostana Linn. (Mangosteen) Pericarp for Schizophrenia: A 24-Week Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Efficacy Trial: Péricarpe d’appoint Garcinia mangostana Linn (mangoustan) pour la schizophrénie : un essai d’efficacité de 24 semaines, à double insu, randomisé et contrôlé par placebo
Turner, Alyna, Baker, Andrea, Dean, Olivia M., Walker, Adam J., Dodd, Seetal, Cotton, Susan M., Scott, James G., Kavanagh, Bianca E., Ashton, Melanie M., Brown, Ellie, McGrath, John J. and Berk, Michael (2021). Adjunctive Garcinia mangostana Linn. (Mangosteen) Pericarp for Schizophrenia: A 24-Week Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Efficacy Trial: Péricarpe d’appoint Garcinia mangostana Linn (mangoustan) pour la schizophrénie : un essai d’efficacité de 24 semaines, à double insu, randomisé et contrôlé par placebo. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 66 (4), 354-366. doi: 10.1177/0706743720982437
2021
Journal Article
Register-based metrics of years lived with disability associated with mental and substance use disorders: a register-based cohort study in Denmark
Weye, Nanna, Santomauro, Damian F., Agerbo, Esben, Christensen, Maria Klitgaard, Iburg, Kim Moesgaard, Momen, Natalie C., Mortensen, Preben Bo, Pedersen, Carsten Bøcker, Whiteford, Harvey A., McGrath, John J. and Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer (2021). Register-based metrics of years lived with disability associated with mental and substance use disorders: a register-based cohort study in Denmark. The Lancet Psychiatry, 8 (4), 310-319. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00029-8
2021
Journal Article
Co‐morbidity between mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C. W., Cannon, Danielle L., Burton, Lucinda, Bremner, Monique, Cosgrove, Peter, Huo, Yan and McGrath, John (2021). Co‐morbidity between mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Depression and Anxiety, 38 (3), 286-306. doi: 10.1002/da.23113
2021
Journal Article
Alcohol-attributed disease burden in four Nordic countries between 2000 and 2017: are the gender gaps narrowing? A comparison using the Global Burden of Disease, Injury and Risk Factor 2017 study
Agardh, Emilie E., Allebeck, Peter, Flodin, Pär, Wennberg, Peter, Ramstedt, Mats, Knudsen, Ann Kristin, Øverland, Simon, Kinge, Jonas Minet, Tollånes, Mette C., Eikemo, Terje A., Skogen, Jens Christoffer, Mäkelä, Pia, Gissler, Mika, Juel, Knud, Moesgaard Iburg, Kim, McGrath, John J., Naghavi, Mohsen, Vollset, Stein Emil, Gakidou, Emmanuela and Danielsson, Anna-Karin (2021). Alcohol-attributed disease burden in four Nordic countries between 2000 and 2017: are the gender gaps narrowing? A comparison using the Global Burden of Disease, Injury and Risk Factor 2017 study. Drug and Alcohol Review, 40 (3), 431-442. doi: 10.1111/dar.13217
2021
Journal Article
Perceived helpfulness of bipolar disorder treatment: findings from the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys
Nierenberg, Andrew A., Harris, Meredith G., Kazdin, Alan E., Puac-Polanco, Victor, Sampson, Nancy, Vigo, Daniel V., Chiu, Wai Tat, Ziobrowski, Hannah N., Alonso, Jordi, Altwaijri, Yasmin, Borges, Guilherme, Bunting, Brendan, Caldas-de-Almeida, José Miguel, Haro, Josep Maria, Hu, Chi-Yi, Kiejna, Andrzej, Lee, Sing, McGrath, John J., Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Posada-Villa, José, Scott, Kate M., Stagnaro, Juan C., Viana, Maria C., Kessler, Ronald C. and WHO World Mental Health Survey Collaborators (2021). Perceived helpfulness of bipolar disorder treatment: findings from the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. Bipolar Disorders, 23 (6), 565-583. doi: 10.1111/bdi.13066
2021
Journal Article
The evolution of psychiatric epidemiology: where to next?
Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Lasgaard, Mathias, Mneimneh, Zeina N. and McGrath, John J. (2021). The evolution of psychiatric epidemiology: where to next?. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 66 (9), 706743721996110-777. doi: 10.1177/0706743721996110
2021
Journal Article
Could polygenic risk scores be useful in psychiatry? a review
Murray, Graham K., Lin, Tian, Austin, Jehannine, McGrath, John J., Hickie, Ian B. and Wray, Naomi R. (2021). Could polygenic risk scores be useful in psychiatry? a review. JAMA Psychiatry, 78 (2), 210-219. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3042
2021
Journal Article
16Up: Outline of a study investigating wellbeing and information and communication technology use in adolescent twins
Mitchell, Brittany L., Kirk, Katherine M., McAloney, Kerrie, Wright, Margaret J., Davenport, Tracey A., Hermens, Daniel F., Scott, James G., McGrath, John J., Gillespie, Nathan A., Carpenter, Joanne S., O’Callaghan, Victoria S., Medland, Sarah, Christensen, Helen, Martin, Nicholas G., Burns, Jane M. and Hickie, Ian B. (2021). 16Up: Outline of a study investigating wellbeing and information and communication technology use in adolescent twins. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 23 (6) PII S1832427420000833, 1-13. doi: 10.1017/thg.2020.83
2021
Journal Article
Vitamin D and schizophrenia: 20 years on
Cui, Xiaoying, McGrath, John J., Burne, Thomas H. J. and Eyles, Darryl W. (2021). Vitamin D and schizophrenia: 20 years on. Molecular Psychiatry, 26 (7), 2708-2720. doi: 10.1038/s41380-021-01025-0
2021
Journal Article
Comorbidity between types of eating disorder and general medical conditions
Momen, Natalie C., Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer, Bulik, Cynthia M., McGrath, John J., Thornton, Laura M., Yilmaz, Zeynep and Petersen, Liselotte Vogdrup (2021). Comorbidity between types of eating disorder and general medical conditions. British Journal of Psychiatry, 220 (5) PII S0007125021001045, 1-8. doi: 10.1192/bjp.2021.104
2021
Journal Article
From basic science to clinical application of polygenic risk scores : a primer
Wray, Naomi R., Lin, Tian, Austin, Jehannine, McGrath, John J., Hickie, Ian B., Murray, Graham K. and Visscher, Peter M. (2021). From basic science to clinical application of polygenic risk scores : a primer. JAMA Psychiatry, 78 (1), 101-109. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3049
2020
Journal Article
Developmental vitamin D deficiency increases foetal exposure to testosterone
Ali, Asad Amanat, Cui, Xiaoying, Pertile, Renata Aparecida Nedel, Li, Xiang, Medley, Gregory, Alexander, Suzanne Adele, Whitehouse, Andrew J. O., McGrath, John J. and Eyles, Darryl Walter (2020). Developmental vitamin D deficiency increases foetal exposure to testosterone. Molecular Autisum, 11 (1) 96, 96. doi: 10.1186/s13229-020-00399-2
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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