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• genetics, genomics and molecular biology
• neuroscience and mental health

• Medicine

• Neurology
• Neurophysiology
• Neuropsychiatry
• Physiology
• Psychiatry

Research in adult onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia (AOIFD). This work has been funded by: a Clinical Scientist Award from the Health Research Board of Ireland (CSA 2012-5), the European Foundation for Dystonia Research and Dystonia Ireland. We have a Dystonia Research Network in Ireland, a multidisciplinary collaboration with Prof Richard Reilly, Neural Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, and international collaborations.
IRISH DYSTONIA RESEARCH GROUP (UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2016)
WEBSITE: http://www.uat.dystoniaresearch.ie
Principal Investigator: Michael Hutchinson
Group Members: Research Fellows: Ines Beiser, Eavan McGovern.
Neurologists:
St Vincent's University Hospital: Michael Hutchinson, Sean O?Riordan,
Mater University Hospital, Dublin: Tim Lynch,
Beaumont Hospital: Fiona Molloy, Dan G Healy.
Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Dublin: Richard Walsh,
Cork University Hospital: Helena Moore.
Ophthalmologists:
Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, Dublin: Lorraine Cassidy, Paul Moriarty, Cork University Hospital: Gerard O?Connor.
Scientists: Department of Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin: Prof Richard Reilly, Rebecca Beck (Project Manager), John Butler, Shruti Narasimham, Brendan Quinlivan.
Instruments & Techniques: neurophysiology, neuropsychiatry, Epidemiology, MRI, VBM, EEG, temporal discrimination testing, fMRI, Head / neck movement studies. Covert attention techniques. Clinical Trials, neurogenetics, bio-banking.

Modd disorder in cervical dystonia patients and unaffected relatives
(i): We hypothesise that mood disorder is part of the primary pathogenetic process which causes cervical dystonia.. Abnormal temporal discrimination is found in patients with cervical dystonia and a proportion of their unaffected relatives. We hypothesise that mood disorder will be more prevalent in patients & unaffected relatives with abnormal temporal discrimination compared to relatives with normal temporal discrimination.
(ii): We aim to determine the prevalence, duration and severity of depression & anxiety in at least 150 patients with cervical dystonia.
(iii): We aim to examine, the prevalence, duration and severity of of depression & anxiety in age- & sex-matched unaffected first-degree relatives (of patients with cervical dystonia) with and without abnormal temporal discrimination (40 in each group).
(iv): Using an fMRI protocol we propose to examine the activation in the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain in response to cues signaling social reward or punishment in three study groups: 1) patients with cervical dystonia; 2) age- & sex-matched unaffected first-degree relatives with abnormal temporal discrimination and 3) age- & sex-matched unaffected first-degree relatives with normal temporal discrimination (the control group). All groups will be matched in relation to age, sex and scores on the measures of anxiety and depression.