Department of Psychiatry
Research - Research Units
Psychosis Research Programme
Overview
People with mental illness, in particular psychotic disorders, have complex needs that often limit their full potential for productive social, educational, and occupational lives. The first episode of psychosis and the preceding period of clinical and functional decline offers unique opportunities for understanding the mechanisms of psychosis and providing early treatment intervention aimed at optimizing clinical and functional outcomes. The key theme of our research is to identify psychosis-specific risk and resilience factors in particular environments, promote evidence-based pharmacological and psychosocial intervention research including clinical trials, and contribute significantly to the teaching and training of professionals and researchers from developing countries.
Our history
The program was started in the mid-90s with a focus on pharmacological research in schizophrenia. In 2008, we embarked on a prospective study exploring the clinical, biological, and functional aspects of treatment outcome in first-episode schizophrenia. We focused on the pharmacology, efficacy, and tolerability of long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications in the treatment of first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We examined the course and outcomes of patients following a first episode of psychosis using clinical and imaging data. We also examined the association of environmental factors and childhood trauma with disease onset and progression. Our program provides opportunities for PhD and Master level training for scientists, clinicians, and psychologists with a particular focus on women, black psychiatrists, and people with disabilities.
Our mission
To be a premier research unit that develops cutting-edge scientific tools to improve our understanding of psychotic disorders through engagement with diverse collaborators, stakeholders, and the community which we serve.
Our vision
To be a center of research excellence that responds to important knowledge gaps in the field of psychosis research and needs relevant to our setting through innovative scholarship and strategic collaborations.
Our values
- Integrity
- Responsibility
- Diversity
- Innovation
- Excellence
Our people
Prof Laila Asmal
MBChB, FCPsych, MMed (Psych), MSc Clinical Epidemiology, PhD
Unit Director
Senior lecturer/Psychiatrist/Researcher
Interest area: Psychiatric epidemiology and neuropsychiatry.
laila@sun.ac.za
Prof Robin Emsley MBChB, FCPsych(SA), MMed(Psych), DMed, DSc
Emeritus professor, Consultant
Interest area: The clinical, neurobiological, and pharmacological aspects of schizophrenia.
rae@sun.ac.za
Retha Smit
PhD candidate
Clinical trials
Part of the unit since 1996
Interest area: Investigates predictors of relapse other than treatment non-adherence in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
amsmit@sun.ac.za
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Dr Hilmar Klaus Lückhof
MBChB, BScHons Pathology, MSc Pathology, PhD
Researcher
Interest area: Metabolic syndrome and clinical outcomes and sex- and gender-based research.
luckhoffh@sun.ac.za
Amogelang Rametsetse
BHSc, BHSc (Hons)
Research Coordination and MSc Neuroscience candidate
Interest area: Extreme weather events and mental health outcomes.
24250201@sun.ac.za
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Banele Banda
BA, BA(Hons)
MSc Neuroscience candidate
Interest area: Social stress in a virtual environment and its relationship with childhood trauma in early schizophrenia.
27682986@sun.ac.za
Faizel Moosa
Driver
Employed since 2009
Transports participants from outpatient facilities and hospital wards, and between the Tygerberg campus. He also assists with various tasks around the unit.
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| Prof Lebogang Phahladira MBChB, DMH, FCPsych
Lecturer/Psychiatrist/Researcher
Interest area: Clinical course and outcomes. |
Dr Sanja KilianMA Clinical Psychology, PhD Psychology Interest area: Cognitive and clinical outcomes in psychosis and the lived experiences of people living with psychosis and families' experiences of supporting a loved one living with a mental illness. sanjakilian83@gmail.com
Dr Unity Chitapi
PhD, Occupational Therapist
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Interest area: Occupational Therapy, Occupational Science, Mental Health, Health Systems, Applied Medical Rehabilitation, and Disability.
Focus on human occupations and the intersection of poverty, politics, inequality, and disability/rehabilitation issues.
uchitapi@gmail.com
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Mohhadiah Rafique
BSc Human Life Sci, BA Hons Psych (Cum Laude), MA Research Psych PhD (Psychiatry) Candidate and AVReQ Doctoral Fellow Interest area: Exploring the meaning making of schizophrenia and it’s recurrence in marginalized communities through an ecological perspective.
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Our current research focusOur current projects are focused on different aspects of schizophrenia and related psychoses, informed by our exploration of the illness, its clinical course, and ultimate outcome. The group also has a keen interest in the interaction between structural brain measures and environmental factors that shape the clinical course and evolution of first-episode schizophrenia. In addition, we are interested in the use of virtual reality technologies to provide greater insight into these inter-relationships, particularly considering neuroimaging for stress-sensitive brain regions in relation to neurodevelopment. We have explored sex and gender in relation to clinical and treatment outcomes and neurodevelopmental risk factors relevant to the onset and progression of first-episode schizophrenia.
Our work
The following link is an overview of our lab and highlights our academic publications to date: https://www.researchgate.net/lab/Psychosis-Research-Program-Stellenbosch-University-PRP-Laila-Asmal
International collaborations
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London
- Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis (ENIGMA) consortium
- Lagos State University, Nigeria
- African Global Mental Health Institute (AGMHI)
- Global Mental Health Peer Network
- Harvard University, USA
Opportunities
Careers:
Available research projects: see here.
Contact us
Prof Laila Asmal (laila@sun.ac.za)
