Kamyar Keramatian

Building on an extensive background in neuroscience and youth psychiatry, my research primarily focuses on early intervention in bipolar disorder. Over the past few years, I have been involved in the first manic episode cohort study at UBC (STOP-EM), under the mentorship of Dr. Lakshmi Yatham. Our findings from this study suggested that, despite comprehensive evidence-based interventions, the outcomes for many patients remain unsatisfactory. More recently, using data from a representative sample of 319 Canadians (HOPE-BD), I discovered that there is an average 8-year delay between the first mood episode and the accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Together, these observations led me to propose a novel intervention for high-risk individuals. More specifically, I plan to design and implement a manualized group psychoeducational program, and to determine weather engaging in such a program can improve help-seeking and resilience in individuals who are at high risk for bipolar disorder. Through my practice at the UBC Mood Disorders Centre I have gained extensive experience in working with patients with bipolar disorder and facilitating psychoeducation groups. I have led numerous clinical and neuroimaging research projects and published several articles in peer-reviewed journals. In addition, I have established collaborative relationships with internationally recognized scientists including Dr. Eduard Vieta, one of the authors of “Psychoeducation manual for bipolar disorder”, who will provide guidance on the implementation of this project.