Geriatric Mental Health Program

Section Head

Dr. Benoit H. Mulsant

Contact 

Dr. Benoit H. Mulsant
Diella Miranda, Research Coordinator
Geriatric Mental Health Program
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8

Dr. Mulsant (416) 535-8501 ext. 3656
Diella Niranda (416) 535-8501 ext. 3120 

Research Objective

Research in the Geriatric Mental Health Program (GMHP) focuses on the etiology, assessment, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and addiction in late life. 

Building on its strong clinical services, the GMHP considers the development of a strong and focused research program as critical for its mission to improve the care of older persons with mental illness and addiction in Ontario. This budding research program focuses on three related areas:

1. Functional neuroimaging (in close collaboration with CAMH PET Centre)
2. Pharmacometrics (in close collaboration with CAMH Neuroscience Department)
3. Clinical research (in close collaboration with CAMH Clinical Research Department)

The overarching aim of the current work is to improve our understanding of treatment mechanisms and response variability, so that we may ultimately be able to personalize care with medication and other treatments and thereby enhance efficacy and reduce adverse experiences in the treatment of late life mental disorders.

Summary of Activities 

The Geriatric Mental Health Program is conducting several studies to improve the outcomes of late-life mental disorders.  Visit Research Studies and Recruitment for more details on the the following studies:

Cognition in euthymic older adults with bipolar disorders

The purpose of this study is to learn more about how bipolar disorder affects memory, attention, and other cognitive abilities in middle-aged and older adults. This study will also assess how these cognitive abilities are related to the ability to do everyday activities, such as using the telephone, paying bills, or balancing a cheque book. The study will include two groups of participants: participants who have bipolar disorder (cases) and participants without bipolar disorder (controls).

Acute pharmacotherapy of late-life mania 

The purpose of the study is to compare the efficacy and tolerability of two mood stabilizers, lithium and divalproex in older patients with bipolar disorder. We expect that new information about the benefits and side effects of these medications will guide the clinical care of many patients in the real world. 

D₂ dopamine receptor occupancy of risperidone and its relationship to extrapyramidal symptoms in older patients with a psychotic disorder: a pilot study

Older patients experience antipsychotic adverse effects more often and more severely than younger patients. The primary objective of this study is to try and discover the brain mechanism underlying this sensitivity. We will measure the effect of ongoing medication on brain dopamine D₂ receptors using PET imaging and relate it to clinical outcomes in older individuals with schizophrenia or related disorders. 

Treating refractory major depressive disorder with repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): a double-blind sham controlled longitudinal study 

The purpose of this study is to explore as a new potential treatment for those individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder who have not responded to medication treatment. TMS involves repetitive stimulation of the brain through a magnetic field and has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression. 

Serotonergic status in psychosis due to dementia-healthy controls: a pilot study 

Healthy individuals are studied to further the understanding how changes in brain chemistry lead to the symptoms of dementia. This may lead to more effective ways to treat psychosis when it occurs in patients with dementia.

A diffusion tensor imaging and genetics study of psychosis across the lifespan: a pilot study

The purpose of this study is to understand how the brain changes with age and to see if there are differences how parts of the brain are connected in healthy individuals compared to individuals with psychotic disorders. We hope that this study will improve the understanding of psychiatric disorders in general and psychosis in particular. We also hope that it will eventually lead to the development of better treatments.

• Print