Read more about the Psychosis Research Group here.
 

VR and substance use in schizophrenia

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected]), Dr L Weich ([email protected]), 
 

Investigating the evolution of modularity in neural networks

Level: Masters
Supervisor: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected])
 

Investigating the role of functional dopamine- and serotonin-related genetic variants in reward and affective processing, respectively

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected]), Prof Sian Hemmings ([email protected])
 

Utilising virtual reality as a therapeutic tool in Psychiatry

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected])
 

The impact of cannabis and methamphetamine use on clinical and functional aspects of outcome in first-episode schizophrenia patients: A longitudinal study

Level: PhD
Supervisors: Prof Robin Emsley ([email protected]), Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected])
 

Measuring physiological responses associated with social stress in a virtual environment and its relationship with childhood trauma in early schizophrenia: A pilot study

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisor: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected])
 

Factors associated with drop-out two years post-initiation of treatment in first-episode schizophrenia

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisor: Prof Laila Asmal ([email protected])
 

Metabolomic syndrome risk factor associations with clinical, functional and cognitive outcomes and underlying cerebral white matter connectivity during the first year of treatment in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Level: PhD
Supervisor: Prof Robin Emsley ([email protected]), Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected])
 

The clinical course and outcomes of first-episode psychosis: A study of the acute, medium and long-term outcomes in a cohort rigorously treated in the early phase of illness

Level: PhD
Supervisor: Prof Robin Emsley ([email protected])
 

Associations between childhood maltreatment and brain structure, function and network architecture in apparently healthy adults

Level: PhD
Supervisor: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected]), Prof Robin Emsley ([email protected]), Prof S Seedat ([email protected])
 

The association between premorbid adjustment and childhood trauma in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisor: Prof Laila Asmal ([email protected])
 

First episode schizophrenia and substance-induced psychosis treated with long-acting injectable antipsychotics in a community mental health clinic setting: A mixed model feasibility study

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisor: Prof Laila Asmal ([email protected])

Cannabinoids for treatment of females with chronic pelvic pain (CPP): A pilot randomised controlled study

Level: Postdoc
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected])​
Research Unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description: This study seeks to investigate the role of cannabinoids as a treatment modality for females with chronic pelvic pain disorder who commonly suffer from depression and anxiety and have histories of trauma exposure.  We will use a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design to investigate whether cannabinoids have efficacy for decreasing pain in CPP, as well as investigate whether cannabinoids improve mental health outcomes. Each period will be 14 days in duration, followed by a 14-day washout period. Participants will be recruited from the outpatient Gynaecology and Women's Health Clinics at Tygerberg Hospital. We aim to recruit approximately 50 participants.​
 

Imaging-Epigenetics study of anxiety sensitivity in adolescents

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected])​, Prof Sian Hemmings ([email protected])
Research Unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description: Anxiety sensitivity is a dispositional characteristic that has been established as a cognitive risk factor for the development of anxiety (e.g., panic and posttraumatic stress disorder) and mood disorders. Anxiety sensitivity is subject to genetic and experiential influences. Investigating adolescents with anxiety proneness with and without early developmental trauma provides a unique opportunity to examine the interaction of epigenetics with structural brain deficits that may be important for mediating increased levels of anxiety and may help in our understanding of the processes responsible for the development of anxiety disorders. This secondary data neuroimaging (epi)genetics study of anxiety sensitivity will combine structural MRI and DNA methylation data in a sample of adolescent participants. It is anticipated that the paper will focus on the methylation of the NPSR1 gene.​
 

PTSD and Metabolic Syndrome: The Shared Roots Study - Nutritional and Lifestyle Factors in PTSD

Level: PhD
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]), Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Research Unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description: PTSD is associated with reduced healthy eating and physical activity, and increased obesity. The well-established association between PTSD and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease may be partly due to poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, high prevalence of obesity, and co-occurring smoking in this population. This project will harness secondary data from the project Shared Roots. Research questions could include: What is the relationship between dietary intake (macronutrients), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and perceived stress (in the healthy control cohort)? What is the association of dietary intake with metabolic parameters, depression and physical activity (in the healthy control cohort)? What is the link between PTSD, physical activity, and eating behaviours (in the PTSD cohort)? Does poor diet mediate the link between early adversity, PTSD severity and MetS severity?

Physical Activity in First-Responders with Anxiety, Depression and PTSD

Level: 3x Masters projects for interested research psychology or physiotherapy students.
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]) 
Research unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description: First responders are regularly confronted with exposure to traumatic events. Evidence indicates that the prevalence of anxiety and depression is around 44.2% (95% CI 41.6% to 46.7%) in South-African first-responders (Ward et al., 2006). Prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression are therefore essential. Physical activity has the potential to be a low-cost intervention that may prevent anxiety and depression or reduce symptoms in those suffering from it (Ashdown-Franks et al., 2019). However, it is unknown whether physical activity might also be a valuable intervention in first responders. To explore this, more research is needed to investigate whether first-responders with anxiety or depression are insufficiently physically active (i.e. not complying with the physical activity recommendations of 150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week). The current project aims to explore physical activity levels in first responders and compare levels in those with versus those without anxiety and/or depression. The 3 master's projects will cover the following topics: (1) Differences in physical activity levels and stages of change between emergency services personnel with versus without anxiety, (2) Differences in physical activity levels and stages of change between emergency services personnel with versus without depression, and (3) Differences in physical activity levels and stages of change between emergency services personnel with versus without PTSD.
 

South African Adolescence Sleep Intervention - SAASI qualitative component ​
Level:  Masters
Supervisors: Dr Sharain Suliman ([email protected])  
Research unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description: We are conducting a pilot study to examine the viability of delivering a low-cost sleep intervention programme, called the Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TranS-C-Youth). The study will examine whether this intervention can improve sleep and symptoms of PTSD in adolescents, aged 15-19, living in the Cape Town area, who have screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The candidate will assist with the qualitative component of the study, which will involve the following aspects:

• Focus group discussions with participants allocated to the TranS-C-Youth intervention arm to enquire about the delivery process of the intervention, perceived benefits, what participants liked/disliked about the intervention and how the intervention could be improved upon in a future randomised controlled study.

• Focus group discussions with parents and teachers of participants to enquire about the process of getting involved in the study, perceptions about the intervention, beliefs about the benefits of participation, barriers to participation and how the intervention/practical arrangements could be improved.

• Focus group discussions with interventionists to enquire about their experience of the training provided, the process of delivering the intervention, perceptions of the different aspects/modules of the intervention, how participants received the intervention and how the content and method of delivery of the intervention could be improved upon. 
   

​Underpinnings of cognitive deficits in stress-related disorders

Level:  PhD
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected])
Research unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description: More studies are needed to explore the possible biological underpinnings of cognitive dysfunction in stress-related disorders. This study will involve a collaboration between the University of Hamburg and Stellenbosch University. It will examine the relationship between brain and bodily functioning in populations with stress-related disorders (chronic fatigue and/or PTSD specifically). We would like to include measures such as the functioning of the HPA-axis, allostatic load, oxidative stress, autonomic nervous system functioning, movement abilities (motor timing/synchronisation abilities) and psychological and neurocognitive functioning. 
 

Genetics of Anxiety Disorders

Level: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Christine Lochner ([email protected])
Research unit: MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders
Description: This study aims to understand the genetic causes and symptoms of anxiety disorders (including obsessive-compulsive and spectrum disorders such as hair-pulling disorder or trichotillomania (TTM), panic or social anxiety disorder).
 

Delineating endophenotypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hair-pulling disorder (HPD; trichotillomania) and Parkinson's Disease: An integrated clinical, neurocognitive, genetic and imaging study

Level: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Christine Lochner ([email protected])
Research unit: MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders
Description: This study aims to investigate the role of polymorphisms in specific candidate genes in accounting for variance in imaging and cognitive-affective data, and to assess the differences between groups in terms of performance of behavioural tasks.

Several sub-studies are available, including:

• Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with increased severity of illness in OCD patients.

• Symptom dimensions, smoking and impulsiveness in OCD.

• Telomere length (and correlates) in OCD / trichotillomania.

• Childhood trauma and suicidal ideation and the link to the different symptom dimensions in OCD.

• Comparison of OCD with vs without BFRBs (body-focused repetitive behaviours).

• Spectroscopy: OCD vs. controls; HPD vs. controls.

• Structural and fMRI-based investigations: OCD, HPD.
  
   

Identifying reproducible brain signatures of obsessive-compulsive profiles

Level: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Christine Lochner ([email protected])
Research unit: MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders
Description: This study aims to identify reproducible neuroimaging signatures that distinguish those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) from other conditions and healthy controls. This is a multi-site project with 5 sites, including South Africa, Brazil, India, the Netherlands and the United States of America. A sub-study is available to investigate a sertraline treatment trial over 12 weeks with naturalistic follow-up for 12 months, with MRI pre- and post-treatment.
 

Social cognition in social anxiety disorder: Correlates with functional connectivity and neuropsychological measures

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Christine Lochner ([email protected])
Research unit: MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders
Description: ​Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common psychiatric condition characterised by exaggerated fear of public scrutiny and social interactions, which severely impacts the functioning of those affected. This study (of which data collection has stopped) aims to investigate the underlying biology (including genetics, neurotransmitter systems and systems neuroscience) of SAD with the objective that such research will better explain pathophysiology and better direct treatment strategies. Data are available for analysis.
 

Prediction and prevention of PTSD

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Dr Sharain Suliman ([email protected]), Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description: The importance of identifying those who may be at risk of developing PTSD and providing treatment as early as possible has been highlighted in recent years. This prospective study aims to identify whether (i) clinical and trauma-related factors, (ii) neurocognitive performance, and (iii) telomere length can predict who will develop PTSD and related disorders following trauma and whether (ii) a brief internet-based early intervention is successful in reducing the development of PTSD and other disorders in the year following a traumatic event.

Anxiety and anxiety disorders in Parkinson's disease

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project aims to compare state and trait anxiety in Parkinson's patients and controls, and determine factors associated with anxiety disorders in Parkinson's disease patients.

The association between stress, anxiety, and physical activity in mixed-ancestry South Africans

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project aims to determine whether there is a relationship between physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and self-perceived stress and anxiety.

Physical activity in PTSD

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project aims to compare physical activity and sedentary behaviour in PTSD patients and controls, and determine if physical activity is associated with PTSD severity.
 

Hair glucocorticoid levels, cytokines, and metabolic syndrome comorbidity in PTSD

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data analysis using data obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the interaction between neuroendocrine and immune pathways in the comorbidity of metabolic syndrome in PTSD.

The impact of hair glucocorticoid levels and cytokines on the reward system

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data analysis using data obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the interaction between neuroendocrine and immune pathways in the function of the reward system.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-related genes and hair glucocorticoid levels in PTSD

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data analysis using data obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the interaction between HPA-axis-related genetic variants and hair neuroendocrine levels in PTSD.

A network analysis of PTSD symptoms and cytokine levels

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data analysis using data obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to conduct a network analysis of PTSD symptoms and cytokine levels.

The association between atopy and neuroendocrine biomarkers in PTSD

Level: Undergraduate/Honours
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected])
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data analysis using data obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the association between atopy and neuroendocrine biomarkers in PTSD.

The complement cascade in PTSD

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data analysis using data obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the complement cascade alongside other immune markers in PTSD.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes and plasma levels in PTSD

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data and sample analysis using data and samples obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate BDNF genes and plasma levels in PTSD.

Serum adiponectin and other metabolic markers in relation to cardiometabolic risk in PTSD

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data and sample analysis using data and samples obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate serum adiponectin and other metabolic markers in relation to cardiometabolic risk in PTSD.​

Physical activity/lifestyle and cognition

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data and sample analysis using data and samples obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the interaction between physical activity and other lifestyle-related factors with cognition.​

Smoking, cognition, and neuroimaging

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected]), Dr Sharain Suliman ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data and sample analysis using data and samples obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the relationship between smoking, cognition and neuroimaging findings.

Inflammation and cognition

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data and sample analysis using data and samples obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to conduct analysis of inflammation and cognition.

Childhood trauma, cortical thickness, and neurocognitive difficulties in healthy controls

Level: Masters/MMed
Supervisors: Dr Sharain Suliman ([email protected]​)​, Dr Sanja Kilian ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data and sample analysis using data and samples obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the association between childhood trauma, cortical thickness and neurocognitive difficulties in healthy controls.

Dietary markers and cognition

Level: Postdoc
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]​)
Research unit: The Shared Roots of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease Project
Description: This project will involve secondary data and sample analysis using data and samples obtained in the SHARED ROOTS study to evaluate the interaction between dietary markers, such as vitamin E, and cognition. 

The feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a mental health self-management app in clinicians working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomised controlled trial (COVID-MH-Clin)

Lev​el: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel (​[email protected]​)
Description: The COVID-MH-Clin study is an ongoing RCT investigating the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a mental health self-management app in clinicians working during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are several study-related aims available to address, such as:

• To determine the baseline mental health status and factors associated with mental health (e.g., sociodemographic, work-related) of clinicians working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• To determine the mediators of efficacy outcomes of the COVID Coach app (e.g., sociodemographic, work-related).

• To utilise hair cortisol concentrations as a stress-related outcome marker of the COVID Coach intervention. 

There is also the possibility of addressing additional aims with the available data or to expand/add projects, such as investigating the utility of the app in other samples, e.g., students, teachers, patient cohorts or inviting participants in the RCT to participate in qualitative projects.

Investigating anxiety, depressive and psychotrauma symptoms in South African expatriates during the COVID-19 outbreak

Lev​​el: Honours/Masters
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel (​[email protected]​)
Description: The study investigated anxiety, depressive and psychotrauma symptoms in South African expatriates during a period of enforced social isolation during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Several study aims are available for honours or master's projects. There is also the possibility of addressing additional aims with the available data.​​​​​

Virtual reality as a tool for physiological bio-marker exploration in post-traumatic stress disorder in a South African population

Lev​​el: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Stefan du Plessis ([email protected]), Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]​)
Description: The study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms of a sustained fear response in PTSD. Three experimental Virtual Reality paradigms will be developed in which we investigate the verbal responses, physiological responses and ​behavioural responses of a group of participants diagnosed with PTSD and a group of matched controls with varying degrees of trauma exposure. This research will lay the groundwork for future studies and could also inform VR-based therapeutic interventions.​

The healthcare worker bounce back study: A multi-arm parallel randomised controlled trial investigating weight-loss and mindfulness-based mobile interventions (Bounce Back)

Lev​​el: Masters/PhD
Supervisor: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected]​)
Description: The Bounce Back study will investigate whether mobile interventions can assist in improving mental and general health and wellness in HCWs. In a randomised controlled trial (RCT), the acceptability, feasibility and efficacy of two mobile interventions will be compared to each other and those waitlisted. One intervention will be a weight-loss-focused mobile app, and the other a mindfulness-based mobile app. The trial will investigate whether the two interventions have superior outcomes for either mental health, weight loss or both, and both interventions will also be compared to a waitlist. Changes in hair cortisol concentrations will be used as a biological marker of stress outcomes (mental health and weight) in relation to the interventions. The aim is to assess the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of two mobile interventions on weight loss, overall health, mental health and wellbeing in healthcare workers following the COVID-19 pandemic. There are primary and secondary objectives are available to address, and there is also the possibility of addressing additional aims with the available data or to expand/add projects. The RCT is conducted fully remotely, thus also offering possibilities for students not on-site.

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a biomarker of neurodegeneration in neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) and risk for cardiovascular disease

Lev​​el: Masters
Supervisor: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected]​)
Description: This study will compare blood NfL between patients with neuropsychiatric disorders and controls, as well as investigate its association with comorbid metabolic syndrome (MetS). NfL is a biomarker of neurodegeneration, and levels have also been associated with cardiovascular risk factors. This study will thus investigate whether patients with NPDs have higher levels of NfL and if this is further elevated in those with comorbid MetS.

Investigating the association between neuroendocrine status and maternal mental health outcomes​

Lev​​el: Masters/PhD
Supervisor: Prof Dana Niehaus ([email protected]) and Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Description: This study will investigate whether neuroendocrine status measured longitudinally across pregnancy is associated with maternal mental health outcomes. Neuroendocrine status was determined ​by measuring hormone levels (cortisol, cortisone, progesterone, DHEA, and testosterone) in hair samples of women during pregnancy and postpartum.

Compulsivity/impulsivity in methamphetamine use disorder and gambling disorder 

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Christine Lochner ([email protected])
Description: Data collection has stopped; clinical, genetics and MRI data are available for analysis.
 

​Problematic use of the internet (PUI) and addictive behaviours: A comprehensive enquiry

Level: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Christine Lochner ([email protected])
Description: This study aims to assess PUI in terms of its symptomatology, co-morbidities, and latent impulsive/compulsive phenotypes (cognition, personality traits).
 

Examining psychological mechanisms underlying problematic social network sites use

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Cristine Lochner ([email protected])
Description: Please address specific enquiries to Prof Lochner.​
 

Binge-watching

Level: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Christine Lochner ([email protected])
Description: Binge-watching, defined as watching multiple episodes of the same television (TV) series in one session, is a relatively new but widespread phenomenon. Survey data are available for exploring the psychological processes underlying this seemingly excessive behaviour.

Effects of alcohol abuse on the brain in the context of earlier ART initiation among HIV positive individuals in the Western Cape, South Africa

Level: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected])
Research unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description: This study aims to understand the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on brain degeneration in the context of high alcohol use by allowing comparison of ART initiation at different CD4 thresholds, and tracking this impact over time. The sample consists of both early and late ART initiators, with and without an alcohol use disorder. All participants undergo neuromedical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging assessments at baseline and at follow-up.

The trajectory of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder across the lifespan

Level: Masters/MMed/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected]), Prof Charles Parry ([email protected])
Research unit: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Epidemiological Research-South Africa Project
Description: Several projects are available, including:

• Early intervention/remediation research, via random assignment, case-control studies, on development through nutritional and cognitive/behavioural enhancement techniques for children with FASD from 24 months of age forward.

• An efficacy study of biomarkers for alcohol consumption.

• A detailed longitudinal study of the physical and cognitive/behavioural developmental trajectory of children from the newborn period to seven years of age. 

• Study the nutrition of pregnant women.

Student health and wellness: A longitudinal multi-site international collaboration

Level: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Christine Lochner ([email protected])
Research unit: MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders
Description: Please address specific enquiries to Prof Lochner.​​

Biological endophytes of HIV and childhood trauma: A genetics, cognitive and imaging study

Level: Masters/PhD
Supervisors: Prof Soraya Seedat ([email protected])
Research unit: The SA PTSD Programme of Excellence
Description:  This study aims to investigate genetics, cognitive and imaging outcomes in South African women living with HIV and childhood trauma. A rich dataset has already been established, with 5-year follow-up assessments in continuation. Opportunities to work with existing neurocognitive and neuroimaging datasets.​
 

The role of stress in the comorbidity of neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) in HIV

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Description:  This is a sub-study of a larger project investigating ‘The mental health of adults attending public sector health facilities in Cape Town’. This study will investigate whether subjective stress levels and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), as markers of longer-term hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis function, are altered in HIV-positive individuals with NPDs as compared to HIV-positive individuals without NPDs. Hair samples are collected for neuroendocrine analyses to evaluate the role of stress (HCC, socio-economic, subjective stress and lifetime adverse experiences) in the comorbidity of NPDs in HIV and how these relate to immune function and HIV disease progression.
 

The association between subjective health status and the HPA-axis and immune system function

Level: Masters
Supervisors: Prof Leigh van den Heuvel ([email protected])
Description: This study will evaluate whether subjective reports of health status and health-related quality of life are associated with alterations in HPA-axis function (as measured by hair cortisol levels) and immune system function (CRP and cytokines). The study will aim to evaluate whether subjective health status, as compared to more objective markers of health, is associated with HPA-axis and immune system alterations.