Clinical-Scientist Dr. Romina Mizrahi’s work is focused on preventing schizophrenia in young people.
Dr. Mizrahi, a Clinician-Scientist with CAMH’s Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, is part of a global team of researchers zeroing in on the precise biological factors that could make this happen.
“Working together is the only way we can make fast progress in understanding the development of this illness, and prevent it from occurring in this high-risk group,” says Dr. Mizrahi, who heads CAMH’s Focus on Youth Psychosis Prevention Clinic and Research Program. Her work is supported in part by the Meighen Family Directorate for High-Risk Youth.
Studies suggest people from this high-risk group are among the highest cost users of the mental health system. Dr. Claire de Oliveira, a Scientist and Health Economist in the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research at CAMH, is one of the first researchers in Canada to look at heavy users of mental health care whose needs are complex. She has found they differ substantially from heavy users of physical health care. She’s now developing models to identify mental health care users at the highest risk of future hospitalization.
Working together is the only way we can make fast progress in understanding the development of this illness, and prevent it from occurring in this high-risk group.”
“If we can identify individuals at risk, this may present an opportunity to provide earlier preventive health care and social services, such as high-support housing units,” she says.
Research by Dr. Lana Popova, a Senior Scientist in CAMH’s Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, is furthering our understanding of the harms associated with drinking during pregnancy.
Her recent study identified 428 distinct disease conditions co-occuring with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) — conditions that affect nearly every system of the body, including the brain, vision, hearing, cardiac, circulation, digestion, and musculoskeletal and respiratory systems.
“Improving the screening and diagnosis of FASD has numerous benefits that may prevent or reduce secondary outcomes that can occur among those with FASD, such as problems with relationships, schooling, employment, or with the law,” says Dr. Popova.
“It is important that the public receive a consistent and clear message — if you want to have a healthy child, stay away from alcohol when you’re planning a pregnancy and throughout your whole pregnancy.”
