PROJECTS
Fentanyl Observational Cohort Study
It is critical to understand the current situation among patients and identify both risk and protective factors to help the system of care adapt to this changing situation. Due to the high potency of fentanyl, the current range of treatment options focusing on detoxification and rehabilitation or OAT needs need to evolve significantly to be able to properly support PWUD.
Youth as Partners
Given the unique perspectives and knowledge of youth on current challenges and priorities of their demographic, they should be considered necessary stakeholders in health-related research. This moves away from the traditional view that youth should be restricted to positions as patients or research participants. Youth engagement models encourage youth to play an active role in research and healthcare.
Psychedelic-assisted therapies
Recently, psychedelics are re-emerging in research as a therapeutic option for treatment resistant depression. Emerging evidence suggests that psilocybin has a therapeutic benefit for treating mood disorders such as depression. However, there is little consensus over the exact mechanism in which psilocybin elicits these antidepressant effects. In light of the growing role of psilocybin as an effective treatment for depression, this systematic review summarizes the existing evidence of the mechanism of action with which psilocybin alleviates depressive symptoms.
Clinical Program Evaluations
Creating appropriate and sustainable treatment plans for patients with mental health and addictions presents a challenge to physicians. With the high prevalence of concurrent mental health and substance use disorders in vulnerable- populations in Canada, it becomes increasingly important to research and advocate for improved clinical programming. The topics for these projects range from child psychiatry COMPASS program to the ADHD Mindspace program and everything in between.
Personality Attributes
Understanding of pessimism and optimism have been varied and improperly applied through time. There are specific subcategories where optimism and pessimism can be applied, most notably in the domains of personalization, permanence, and pervasiveness. It is important to investigate whether there are associations between pessimism and optimism and sociodemographic indicators of faith and race. This study looks at existing literature in preparation for an observational cohort study.
Ketamine Assisted Therapy
Ketamine's psychedelic effects are showing benefits for patients with a variety of diagnoses when combined with psychotherapy. It is used off-label to treat PTSD and depression and is described as the single most important advance in the treatment of depression in over fifty years. These studies explores the Roots to Thrive Ketamine assisted Therapy (KAT) programs. Analysis of pre and post KAT session scores from past years will be conducted including evaluation of validated scales testing.