The QuERBY Lab is collaborates on several projects.

Take a look below and what the lab is involved in.

Mental health and coping during COVID-19: Prospective prediction across the lifespan

[Co-Investigators: Dr. Jeremy Stewart, Emilia Sherifi, and the QuERBY Lab]

Description:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had pronounced negative psychosocial and mental health consequences during its acute stage. In light of the unprecedented stressors and challenges the pandemic has brought on for many, it is critical to understand its long-term impacts on functioning and well-being. The QuERBY Lab is part of an international consortium of more than 30 clinical scientists that is directed by Dr. Lauren Hallion at the University of Pittsburgh. We have pooled resources, and collectively, we have mental health data from more than 10,000 adults, adolescents, and children who participated in research studies before the pandemic. We are re-contacting this pool of respondents and collecting further information on their mental health and functioning, demographics, and stable individual characteristics (e.g., personality), as well as how COVID-19 has affected them (e.g., access to childcare). Our group’s flagship questions involve examining the trajectory of change in mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression, substance abuse) across different stages of the pandemic (e.g., pre-pandemic, peak of restrictions/lockdown orders, reopening). Among our interests are testing whether changes in psychopathology symptoms differ across traditionally defined social inequalities (e.g., race, SES, ethnicity, gender identity) and identifying factors that predict negative versus resilient psychological functioning trajectories.  

Given the wealth of information that this large-scale study will afford, we are also working with Dr. Christine Cha and Ilana Gratch at Columbia University on secondary analyses focused on suicide and risk-taking behaviours. We are particularly interested how interpersonal processes like social support, connectedness, pandemic-related related stressors (e.g., job loss, financial strain, COVID-19 risk and exposure for oneself and loved ones) are concurrently and prospectively associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours. See our OSF page for preregistrations describing our methods, planned analyses, and hypotheses.

Status:

This project is not enrolling new participants. People who participated in pre-pandemic research projects in labs across the world are being re-contacted to complete online questionnaires. Presently, there are three assessments planned spanning a year after the initial re-contacting phase (which is mostly complete).

Effectiveness of a Self-Stigma Therapy for Reducing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours in Early Psychosis

[Co-Investigators: Dr. Jeremy Stewart and the QuERBY Lab]

Description:

Suicidal thoughts and behaviours are relatively common among youth with psychosis and are associated with a poorer prognosis and higher mortality risk over time. However, interventions that explicitly target suicide risk among people with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are scarce. This project is led by Dr. Chris Bowie at Queen’s University and involves four treatment services across Canada. Dr. Bowie’s group has previously developed and tested a group interventions that combines cognitive and behavioural techniques with peer support from people with lived experience to reduce internalized stigma and improve quality of life in patients with psychosis. For this project, we have modified this intervention—which is called Be Outspoken and Overcome Stigmatizing Thoughts (BOOST)—to target cognitions and behaviours associated with suicide risk. In the study, suicidal thoughts and behaviours are assessed before throughout treatment and monitored over several follow-ups to determine if potential improvements are sustained.

Status:

Enrolling participants. This research is being conducted at four treatment sites across Canada.

Funding: (Awarded to Dr. Chris Bowie [Principal Investigator], Dr. Jeremy Stewart [Co-Investigator] and several other Co-Is)

• Mental Health Research Canada and the Institute for Advancement of Mental Health

Towards Identification of Neural Predictors of Adolescent Depression

[Collaborators: Dr. Jeremy Stewart and the QuERBY Lab]

Description:

Children of depressed parents are substantial more likely develop depression themselves than children of never-depressed parents. In this project directed by Dr. Randy P. Auerbach, non-depressed low-risk and high-risk (i.e., with a maternal history of major depressive disorder) adolescents aged 12-14 years complete a comprehensive assessment using state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques (e.g., EEG; functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI]) to identify neural markers that may potentially predict the first onset of depression in mid-adolescence. The study will particularly examine how potential neural vulnerabilities interact with, or are triggered, by major life stressors assessed repeatedly using a gold-standard interview procedure (the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule [LEDS]). The QuERBY Lab is lending its expertise in life stress assessment to the project, providing LEDS training, as well as data coding and analysis.

Status:

Enrollment closed. Some participants are completing the LEDS interview and other follow-up assessment measures remotely. Research is being conducted at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Funding: (All funding awarded to Dr. Randy P. Auerbach)

• Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation

• Dana Foundation: Clinical Neuroscience Research Grant

• Tommy Fuss Fund