Page 26 - UHN Centre for Mental Health Impact Report 2023

RESEARCH
Leading the Field
UHN at the Forefront of Psychedelic Research.
Psychedelic drugs have been held up as
a potential breakthrough treatment for a
range of mental illnesses, with their
benefits promoted by everyone from
celebrities to venture capitalists.
But medical research on their efficacy is
still in the preliminary stage.
UHN researchers are working to remedy
that and achieved a significant milestone
recently by obtaining two $1 million
grants from the Canadian Institutes of
Health Research (CIHR).
These grants were part of a special
competition to study the therapeutic
potential of psilocybin (the active
compound in “magic mushrooms”) in
combination with psychotherapy.
“It’s a testimony to the quality of work at
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UHN that we secured two of the possible
three grants available,” says Dr. Susan
Abbey, Program Medical Director, Centre
for Mental Health.
“We are taking the lead in this exciting
new field with our teams pioneering re-
search methodology and advancing pa-
tient safety protocols.”
The research teams aim to investigate the
effects of psilocybin on end-of-life care for
patients with advanced cancer (led by Drs.
Sarah Hales, Emma Hapke and Daniel
Rosenbaum) and treatment-resistant
depression (led by Dr. Joshua Rosenblat),
contributing to the advancement of
patient safety protocols and research
methodology in this emerging field.
Clinical trials are scheduled to commence
in early 2024.
Drs. Sarah Hales and Joshua Rosenblat
Innovative Research
Unique Lines of Inquiry Explored by UHN Psychiatrists.
SUICIDE’S IMPACT
Clinician-Researcher Dr. Zainab Furqan was co-author
of a study that explored the impact of patient suicide
on psychiatrists.
“We know that losing a patient to suicide has a major
impact on psychiatrists, with many calling it the most
significant event of their careers,” says Dr. Furqan.
Research revealed that psychiatrists often experience
guilt and self-doubt after such an event, compromising
their ability to assess suicide risk. Up to 80% of psych-
iatrists will have a patient die by suicide at some point
in their career, but many receive no training on how
to cope. The authors’ recommend urgent changes,
including pre-emptive training that identifies practical
strategies for supporting colleagues and grieving
families after a patient suicide. > learn more
HEALTH AND HUMANITIES
Dr. Suze Berkhout, a Clinician-Investigator, co-leads
The Frictions of Futurity in Transplant Medicine Project,
which brings together the diverse perspectives of
artists, researchers, academics, healthcare providers,
transplant recipients and their support persons.
“Participants not only create, but deconstruct and
challenge knowledge surrounding transplantation
through their artistic practice,” says Dr. Berkhout.
Year-round events showcase digital stories created by
long-term transplant recipients, providing a deeper
understanding of the transplantation experience.
Conversations address topics such as quality of life
pre- and post- transplantation and justice concerns
related to organ failure, long waitlists and supply-
demand issues.
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