Dr. Linda Mah
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Clinical Scientist Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care
Research Focus
My research focuses on the on the use of behavioural paradigms and brain imaging to study cognitive and emotional processing and the neurobiology of mood and anxiety disorders. Behavioural and neuroimaging studies have demonstrated abnormalities of information processing and structures including the amygdala and anatomically-related limbic and paralimbic regions as pathogenetic mechanisms for major depressive disorder in mid-life, but little is known regarding emotional processing and its neural correlates in elderly depressed individuals. We are currently conducting fMRI studies designed to evaluate emotional processing and brain activity in geriatric depression. We will determine whether abnormalities in the unmedicated, depressed state are predictive of treatment response and whether there are associations with cognitive deficits and other clinical variables. We hypothesize that patterns of emotional processing and activation of specific brain regions including the amygdala, anterior cingulate, orbital cortex, and ventral striatum, will differentiate elderly depressed subjects from age-matched healthy control subjects. The identification of specific neuroanatomical targets using fMRI may inform the development of new and more effective strategies for treatment of depression in late life.Publications
Education
- 1991: B.Sc., Psychology major, biology minor, University of Waterloo
- 1994: M.D., Medicine, University of Calgary
- 2006: M.H.Sc., Research methods and epidemiology, Duke University
Academic Appointments
- 2006–Present: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry , Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
- 2006–Present: Clinical Scientist, Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, Ontario
- 2000–2006: Staff Physician, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD
- 1999–2000: Instructor in Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
- 1999–2000: Staff Physician, Worcester State Hospital, Worcester, MA
- 1997–1998: Assistant Chief Resident, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Qc
Professional Affiliations
- 2006–Present: Ad hoc reviewer, Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
- 2000–2006: Program Committee, Reviewer, American Neuropsychiatric Association
- 2001–Present: Ad hoc reviewer, Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
- 1998–2005: Education Committee, American Neuropsychiatric Association
- 1998–1999: Member, Fellowships and Awards Committee, Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
- 1996–1997: Corresponding Member, Efficacy and Cost-effectiveness Working Group, Steering Committee on the Psychotherapies, Canadian Psychiatric Association
Reviewership
Membership
- 2007: American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry
- 2004–Present: Society for Neuroscience
- 2002–2006: Cognitive Neuroscience Society
- 1998–2006: American Neuropsychiatric Association
Distinctions and Awards
- 2005: Fellows Award for Research Excellence, NIH
- 2005: Career Development Award, American Neuropsychiatric Association
- 2002: Young Investigator Award, American Neuropsychiatric Association
- 1998: William Webb Fellow, Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
- 1993: Joseph Albert Award for Elective Study at Centres of Excllence, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
- 1991: NSERC Summer Research Award, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
- 1989: RH Walters Scholar Award for Academic Excellence, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
Postgraduate Training
Research Fellow (Supervisor: Wayne Drevets, M.D.), 2002-2006Section on Neuroimaging in Mood and Anxiety Disorders, NIMH
Clinical Fellow (Supervisor: Jordan Grafman, Ph.D.), 2000-2002
Cognitive Neuroscience Section, NINDS, NIH
Clinical Neuropsychiatry Fellow (Supervisor: Sheldon Benjamin, M.D.), 1999-2000
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
Resident, Psychiatry, 1994-1999
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Certification and Licensure
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, 2000- presentAmerican Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry, 2000
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Psychiatry, 1999
College des Medicins du Quebec, Psychiatry, 1999
Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, 1996
Teaching
University
Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QuébecIntroduction to the Patient, Seminar Leader, 1999, 4 hours
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal
Introduction to Clinical Medicine – Psychiatry, Lecturer, 1997. 8 hours
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
Research Methods and Statistics, Teaching Assistant, 1989, 20 hours
Hospital
Allan Memorial Institute, McGill UniversityPsychiatry Clinical Clerkship, Teaching Fellow, 1997-1998, 250 hours
Psychiatric Interviewing Course
Problem-based Learning – Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management
Mock Oral Examiner
Allan Memorial Institute, McGill University
Psychotropic Medications in Pregnancy – Psychiatric Residency Teaching, 1997, 1 hour
Montréal General Hospital, McGill University
Anxiety Disorders – Clinical Clerk Teaching, 1997, 1 hour
St. Mary’s Hospital, McGill University
Delusional Disorders in the Elderly – Family Medicine Resident Teachin, 1997, 2 hours
Allan Memorial Institute, McGill University
Neuroleptics – Clinical Clerk Teaching, 1996, 6 hours
Organic Brain Syndromes – Clinical Clerk Teaching, 1996, 6 hours
Substance Intoxication and Withdrawal – Psychiatry Resident Teaching, 1996, 1 hour
SSRIs and the Cytochrome P450 System – Psychiatry Resident Teaching, 1996, 1 hour
Montréal General Hospital, McGill University
Anxiety Disorders – Clinical Clerk Teaching, 1995, 6 hours
Clinical Teaching
McGill Teaching Hospitals, 1994-1999Supervision of clinical clerks in emergency, inpatient, and consultation-liaison psychiatry
Mock oral examiner for clinical clerks
Curriculum Vitae
Download Curriculum Vitae hereContact
Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research UnitBaycrest
3560 Bathurst Street, 738
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M6A 2E1 Phone: (416)785-2500 x3365 Email: lmah
klaru-baycrest.on.ca