Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program

Phone: 416-480-6832
Fax: 416-480-5070
Administrative Assistant: Arlene Aquino
Email: Arlene.aquino@sunnybrook.ca

Education:

• MBBS, 1983, University of Western Australia, Australia
• FRCPC, 1989, University of Toronto, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Chief, Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Professor, department of psychiatry, U of T

Research Focus:

• Mental health

Research Summary:

Dr. Levitt’s research and clinical interest is in mood disorders. He is the medical director of the Family Navigation Project, a community-based, free service that helps families of youth suffering from a mental illness or addiction find the most appropriate care. His research with this group has focused on examining the effectiveness and critical components of navigation for youth with mental health or addiction issues. He is researching the outcomes of the Family Navigation Project to support optimal navigation services for youth and families.

He has published on randomized controlled trials in treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, seasonal depression and adolescent depression. More recently, Dr. Levitt and his team have examined the role of neuromodulation in treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders, and the impact of various thyroid hormones on mood, both in depression and in thyroid illness. Beyond these academic pursuits, Dr. Levitt has a firm commitment to public and medical education, improving recognition of mood disorders by health care professionals and expanding access to care for people with mood disorders in the community.

Selected Publications:

1. Fishman KN, Levitt AJ, Markoulakis R, Weingust S. Satisfaction with mental health navigation services: piloting an evaluation with a new scale. Community Ment Health J. 2018 Jul;54(5):521–532.
2. Markoulakis R, Turner M, Wicik K, Weingust S, Dobbin K, Levitt A. Exploring peer support needs of caregivers for youth with mental illness or addictions concerns in family navigation services. Community Ment Health J. 2018 Jul;54(5):555–561.
3. Schaffer A, Weinstock LM, Sinyor M, Reis C, Goldstein BI, Yatham LN, Levitt, AJ. Self-poisoning suicide deaths in people with bipolar disorder: characterizing a subgroup and identifying treatment patterns. Int J Bipolar Disord. 2017 Dec;5(1):16.
4. Otoki Y, Hennebelle M, Levitt AJ, Nakagawa K, Swardfager W, Taha AY. Plasma phosphatidylethanolamine and triacylglycerol fatty acid concentrations are altered in major depressive disorder patients with seasonal pattern. Lipids. 2017 Jun;52(6):559–71.
5. Markoulakis R, Levitt AJ, Weingust S, Foot J. The Family Navigation Project: an innovation in working with families to match mental health services with their youth’s needs. Can J Commun Ment Health. 2016;35(1):63–6.

Related News and Stories:

• Focused ultrasound seeks to transform treatment of brain diseases: Noninvasive method uses imaging and beams rather than scalpels (Jan. 3, 2019)
• The road less travelled: experts forge path in study of focused ultrasound to treat psychiatric illness (Nov. 29, 2017)
• Light therapy an effective treatment for non-seasonal depression: The finding may change the way depression is treated, researchers say (Nov. 18, 2015)
• Lighting the way: Banishing SAD (SRI Magazine, 2013)
• Sunnybrook initiative aims to guide families through the labyrinth of mental health care (Globe and Mail, Oct. 2, 2013)
• New partnership for youth mental health: RBC and Sunnybrook announce running event to support youth psychiatry (May 6, 2013)
• A greater depression: psychiatrist finds bipolar disorder in children (SRI Magazine, 2008)

Related Links:

• U of T profile, department of psychiatry
• Centre for Mobile Computing in Mental Health
• MORE^® research group