Research summary
About one in 10 people will develop depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis between the ages of 15 and 25. As Canada Research Chair in Early Interventions in Psychiatry, Dr. Rudolf Uher looking for ways to prevent these diseases.
Uher and his research team are finding that mental illness is predictable and may even be preventable. For example, an innovative combination of clinical interviews, speech analysis, sleep and brain measurements can identify youth who are at risk of developing mental illness—and early interventions may reduce the risk. They have also found that for those who do develop illness at a young age, personalized treatment maximizes the chance of a good outcome. Ultimately, Uher’s work will have important implications for how we can prevent and treat mental health problems in young people.