Sagar Parikh

Dr. Parikh is adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, where he was on staff full-time from 1994-2015. In March 2015, Dr. Sagar Parikh was appointed as the John F. Greden Professor of Depression and Clinical Neuroscience, and Professor of Psychiatry, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he was also designated Associate Director of the Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center. At the University of Toronto, he previously served as Head of General Psychiatry and Director of Continuing Mental Health Education. He also completed two terms as Deputy Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the University Health Network in Toronto and was previously head of the Bipolar Clinic and Director of Continuing Education at CAMH.

Dr. Parikh is the author / editor of two books and over 150 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and co-author of CANMAT treatment guidelines for Depression and for Bipolar Disorder, the world’s most cited mood disorder guidelines. He holds research grants from multiple funding agencies, covering studies in clinical treatments in mood disorders, health services research, genetics, epidemiology, and educational research. He has conducted clinical trials looking at the combination of medication and psychotherapy for bipolar disorder and for depression, as well as pharmacotherapy trials in mood disorders. Current major projects include a multi-site study of Biomarkers in Major Depression, Functional / Cognitive Remediation for Bipolar Disorder and Depression, Workplace Depression interventions, a RCT of Pharmacogenomic Testing to aid treatment of Depression, and a RCT of Telephone-Delivered CBT for Bariatric Surgery patients. As medical director of Mensante, he helped create a novel internet system for recognition and management of mental disorders that is commercially marketed.

Dr. Parikh serves as Secretary of the International Society for Affective Disorders, and Co-Head, Section of Affective Disorders, World Psychiatric Association; Medical Director, National Network of Depression Centers (USA); and Education Chair, CANMAT (Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments).  He is the recipient of multiple awards for research, teaching, and service.

Research Synopsis

Research interests include clinical treatments in mood disorders, health services research, genetics, epidemiology, and educational research. Current major studies include a Knowledge Translation grant in Bipolar Disorder, a Network Catalyst grant for CREST.BD, and a clinical trial for Bipolar Depression, all funded by CIHR. Other current studies include a clinical trial examining the utility of Telephone-Delivered Psychotherapy as an adjunct to medication for Depression, a RCT of Telephone-Delivered CBT for Bariatric Surgery patients, and a study of Workplace Depression.