Page 58 - 2017-2018 Department of Psychiatry Annual Report
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Featured Researcher: Dr. Aaron Keshen
From clinician to researcher
In 2018 Dr. Aaron Keshen and the eating disorder (BED). This novel little dedicated research time. He
NSHA Eating Disorder Program were intervention uniquely emphasizes discussed the dilemma with a
awarded Category 1 ($99,980) and self-efficacy and will be administered clinician-researcher mentor from
Category 3 ($4,972) grants from by non-specialists with minimal an eating disorders program in
the Nova Scotia Health Authority clinical experience. Toronto. “He suggested that I jump
Research Fund. The larger of the into research by picking a simple
two grants is funding a feasibility Dr. Keshen didn’t set out to be a question that intrigued me, and start
trial to test the off-label use of researcher. He trained as a clinician. collecting data that might help answer
lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), in He dabbled in small research projects that question,” recalls Dr. Keshen.
patients with bulimia nervosa. during his undergraduate degrees “That suggestion prompted me to
Building upon a recent case series and his residency, but did not follow connect with a local researcher in the
by Dr. Keshen and his research the traditional clinician-researcher department who helped me formulate
assistant, Thomas Helson, this track. After graduating from residency a research question and protocol with
study aims to assess whether in 2009 he focused on developing sound methodology. The skills and
future research investigating this clinical projects, such as the inpatient sense of satisfaction gained from that
medication as a potential treatment eating disorder program. Although first project, which was published in
for bulimia is warranted. They are he didn’t have time to devout to 2017, gave me the confidence and
also working with colleagues in research, he retained a scientific motivation to develop bigger projects
computational psychiatry to test curiosity, informally exploring why over the last several years.”
neurocognitive hypotheses related to some patients tended to drop out
the treatment of bulimia nervosa with early from the inpatient program, Now, several years later and with
psychostimulants. The smaller grant for example. Starting several years recent grant success and support
(held by honours student Laura Dixon ago he was able to free up a little from the Department of Psychiatry,
under Dr. Keshen’s supervision) will more time to spend on research Dr. Keshen is able to dedicate one
fund a study investigating the efficacy more formally, but struggled to full day a week to research. This is
of a group-based, guided self-help pursue a research career with a valuable addition to the quarter
intervention for individuals with binge minimal resources, training, and day he had managed previously. He
Dr. Keshen and his research assistants (L-R) Sarrah Ali, Laura Dixon, Dr. Aaron
58 DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY Keshen, Thomas Helson, and Katelyn Bunker.
