Mental Illness and Addictions Research Chair
Dr. Kathy Aitchison, the second Alberta Centennial Addiction and Mental Health Research Chair, is a Psychiatrist with a doctorate (PhD) who has been recruited to Alberta to provide research leadership in mental health and addictions research and to help improve the mental health of Albertans.
Having developed and led an Early Intervention in Psychosis Clinical Team, co-led a large European research project in depression, and currently being involved in a European multicentre study in suicide (http://www.stop-study.com), Dr Aitchison has relevant expertise and experience. She has published extensively in the fields of psychopharmacology, pharmacogenetics, psychiatric genetics and health care outcomes. She relocated from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, where she retains a visiting appointment as a Reader in Psychopharmacology and Pharmacogenetics.
The Chair mandate may be summarized as follows: Through promoting and strengthening working relationships with service providers in Alberta Health Services zones, and with relevant community agencies and policy-makers, the Chair will lead change and support evidence-based practice. Dr. Aitchison’s research will encompass:
Supporting the creation of an Alberta Addiction and Mental Health Research Network and the interaction between this and the Alberta Health Services Addiction and Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network.
Studying the interaction between adverse childhood experiences, recent adverse life events, genetic vulnerability and exposure to cannabis in individuals with psychotic illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder).
Identification of genetic factors associated with risk to mental illness and addictions and with response to treatments in order to enable appropriate health promotion and prevention strategies, including individually tailored treatments.
Investigation of factors involved in suicidal behaviours, in order identify risk factors and therefore appropriate prevention strategies.
Through knowledge gained in these areas, Dr. Aitchison’s research will help fulfill the Program goals by promoting evidence-driven changes in addiction and mental health practice.