Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program

Phone: 416-480-5677
Fax: 416-480-6878

Administrative Assistant: Kaitlyn Spark
Email: kaitlyn.spark@sunnybrook.ca

Education:

• BA, 1988, psychology, York University, Canada
• MA, 1990, psychology, Queen’s University, Canada
• PhD, 1994, psychology, Queen’s University, Canada
• MD, 1997, McMaster University, Canada
• FRCPC, 2002, psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Psychiatrist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Head, Women’s Mood and Anxiety Clinic: Reproductive Transitions, Sunnybrook
• Fellowship director, psychiatry, Sunnybrook
• Associate professor, department of psychiatry, faculty of medicine, University of Toronto
• Associate member, Institute of Medical Science, U of T
• Adjunct research scientist, department of psychiatry, Women’s College Research Institute
• Psychiatrist, Women’s College Hospital
• Psychiatrist, University Health Network

Research Foci:

• Treatment of mood disorders in women across reproductive life stages:
  • Novel interventions
  • Mechanisms of antidepressant response
  • Factors affecting outcomes

Research Summary:

Dr. Grigoriadis’ research focuses on the treatment of mood disorders in women across reproductive life stages from the mechanistic to the societal level. Her three main research foci are novel interventions, mechanisms of antidepressant response and factors affecting outcomes.

The novel interventions stream includes pharmacological as well as psychotherapeutic modalities. Mechanisms of antidepressant response has its origins in the interplay between neuroendocrinology and clinical psychiatry in the development and presentation of mood disorders. The focus of this work is to examine the etiologic and therapeutic implications of gender differences in depression, specifically in women at different life stages. The third research stream focuses on factors affecting treatment response and is broad in scope, ranging from psychiatric symptoms to cultural practices and issues surrounding treatment decisions made by patients and their health care providers.

All three streams use Dr. Grigoriadis’ training as a researcher and clinician not only to understand better mood disorders experienced by women, but also to determine and promote evidence-based treatment options.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

1. Grigoriadis S, Vonderporten EH, Mamisashvili L, Tomlinson G, Dennis CL, Koren G, Steiner M, Mousmanis P, Cheung A, Ross LE. Prenatal exposure to antidepressants and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2014 Jan 14;348:f6932.
2. Grigoriadis S, VonderPorten EH, Mamisashvili L, Roerecke M, Rehm J, Dennis CL, Koren G, Steiner M, Mousmanis P, Cheung A, Ross LE. Antidepressant exposure during pregnancy and congenital malformations: is there an association? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the best evidence. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013 Apr;74(4):e293–308.
3. Grigoriadis S, VonderPorten EH, Mamisashvili L, Eady A, Tomlinson G, Dennis CL, Koren G, Steiner M, Mousmanis P, Cheung A, Ross LE. The effect of prenatal antidepressant exposure on neonatal adaptation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013 Apr;74(4):e309–20.
4. Grigoriadis S, VonderPorten EH, Mamisashvili L, Tomlinson G, Dennis CL, Koren G, Steiner M, Mousmanis P, Cheung A, Radford K, Martinovic J, Ross LE. The impact of maternal depression during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013 Apr;74(4):e321–41.
5. Ross LE, Grigoriadis S, Mamisashvili L, Vonderporten EH, Roerecke M, Rehm J, Dennis CL, Koren G, Steiner M, Mousmanis P, Cheung A. Selected pregnancy and delivery outcomes after exposure to antidepressant medication: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013 Apr;70(4):436–43.

Related News and Stories:

• Study shines light on perinatal suicide: Pregnancy and the entirety of the first postpartum year demand attention (SRI Magazine, 2018)
• Maternal suicide rates climbing: Study shows time before and after birth is critical for new moms (Aug. 31, 2017)
• Mood disorders in women across the lifespan: a feature on Dr. Grigoriadis and her work (YouTube video, April 1, 2015)
• Brain science shines light for women in darkness (The Globe and Mail, Jan. 22, 2015)
• Mood Disorders Across Our Lives: The Pregnancy Blues (SRI Magazine, 2013)
• Antidepressant use in pregnancy: minimal risk: antidepressants in general do not seem to be associated with birth defects, according to a new meta-analysis led by Sunnybrook psychiatrist Dr. Sophie Grigoriadis (YouTube video, April 26, 2013)

Related Links

• U of T profile, department of psychiatry