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October 3, 2016
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October 11, 2016
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Webpage:http://www.medicine.tcd.ie/psychiatry/research/projects/depression-neurobiology.php

Research Field
  • genetics, genomics and molecular biology
  • neuroscience and mental health
  • epidemiology/population health research
  • Other - please suggest keyword(s):
My WorkDepression is a common and debilitating mental illness afflicting 12% of the people during their lifetime. At worst, it is life-threatening due to severe self-neglect and up to 6% will die by suicide. According to the WHO, depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide. The Depression Neurobiology Research Group is a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, research fellows, and postgraduate students. Our research on depression encompasses clinical assessment, neuropsychology, randomised controlled trials, meta-analysis, and molecular biology methods.

Recent Publications
Martha Finnegan M, Ryan K, Shanahan E, Harkin A, Daly L, McLoughlin DM (2016) Ketamine for depression relapse prevention following electroconvulsive therapy: protocol for a randomised pilot trial (the KEEP-WELL trial). Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2:38. DOI 10.1186/s40814-016-0080-0

Semkovska M, Landau S, Dunne R, Kolshus E, Kavanagh A, Jelovac A, Noone M, Carton M, Lambe S, McHugh C, McLoughlin DM (2016) Bitemporal versus high-dose unilateral twice-weekly electroconvulsive therapy for depression (EFFECT-Dep): a pragmatic, randomised, non-inferiority trial. Am J Psychiatry Apr 1; 173(4): 408-17.

O’Donovan S, Dalton V, Harkin A, McLoughlin DM (2014) Effects of brief pulse and ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive stimulation on rodent brain and behaviour in the corticosterone model of depression. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 17(9):1477-86.
Outline of Potential Research projectsBecause of its transnational nature, our research activities complement the training needs for future clinician-scientists in the field of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. Clinician PhD students will join a multidisciplinary team based in both St Patrick's University Hospital and also our wet lab space in Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN). We have weekly preclinical and clinical research meetings and journal clubs and are also part of the wider Depression Interest Group in TCIN that has monthly scientific meetings.

Suitable PhD projects can be developed through discussion and meetings with Prof Declan McLoughlin and tailored to meet individual interests and training requirements. It is most likely that projects will extend from our current research activities, which include: clinical trials of ketamine for depression relapse prevention as well as for acute depressive episodes; molecular biomarkers (e.g. DNA telomere length, micrRNAs, mRNA, plasma proteins) for depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders; animal models of depression; and molecular mechanisms of action of ECT.

Examples of some recently successfully completed clinical and translational PhD projects inlcude:
- Electroconvulsive therapy for depression: optimising treatment and exploring molecular mechanisms
- The effects of depression and electroconvulsive therapy on retrospective memory and general cognition: a longitudinal study.
- High dose right unilateral versus moderate dose bilateral ECT for major depression: time to re-orientation, physical functioning, quality of life and attitudes.
- The molecular, cellular and behavioural effects of electroconvulsive stimulation in the rodent brain.
- Long-term outcomes following electroconvulsive therapy for treatment-resistant depression.