Christos Pantelis
Encyclopedia
Professor Christos Pantelis is an Australian professor of medicine who is the Director of the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre
.
and trained at St Vincent's Hospital
in Melbourne
. Two years later, in 1979, he commenced his training in psychiatry at the Royal Free Hospital
in London
, England
. During his training, he spent 18 months as a Research Registrar at University College Hospital
to undertake an epidemiological study of schizophrenia
in Inner London. He was appointed as a lecturer at Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School (UK) in 1988. In this position, he worked in the Academic Unit at Horton and the Gordon Hospitals, headed by Professor Thomas R.E. Barnes. The unit was involved in a number of research studies in schizophrenia
including phenomenology
, psychopharmacology
, studies on movement disorder
, neuropsychological aspects of schizophrenia, as well as epidemiology
and social psychiatric aspects of schizophrenia.
In 1992, he was awarded the Lilly Travelling Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
and the King Edward's Hospital Fund for London, England. During this year, he was Travelling Research Fellow with the National Institute of Mental Health
(Washington, DC), where he worked with Dr. Richard Coppola and Dr. Daniel Weinberger, developing a technique for volumetric analysis of brain MRI images. He then returned briefly to the UK as a Research Fellow.
After his return from England at the end of 1992, Prof. Christos Pantelis worked at the Mental Health Research Institute and at Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital. He established the Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Research Unit, which is now based at both the Mental Health Research Institute and Sunshine Hospital. He also heads the Academic Unit at Sunshine Hospital. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
in 1999.
Prof. Pantelis was Director of the inpatient rehabilitation program at Royal Park Hospital until mid-1996. During this time, he was responsible for the inpatient rehabilitation program and was instrumental in developing a comprehensive Model of Care for patients with long-term mental illness, and establishing a region-wide coordinating committee to oversee developments in delivery of services to these patients. He is currently Clinical Director and Principal Specialist for the Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (AMHRU) at Sunshine Hospital. This is a 26-beds unit for patients with treatment-resistant psychoses. He was actively involved in planning the movement of the Rehabilitation Unit to Sunshine Hospital and in the establishment of an Academic and Research Unit at that site. This included providing expertise into the architectural design of the new clinical and research units. These units opened in early 2000.
research, particularly in the neuropsychology and neuroimaging of the disorder. He has published numerous papers in peer reviewed journals, including papers in the Archives of General Psychiatry, as well as recent papers in Brain, Brain Research Reviews, Psychological Medicine, and other international journals. He has published a book on schizophrenia from a neuropsychological perspective.
He is highly experienced in the application of both structural and functional brain imaging
to psychiatric disorders and has been awarded a number of NH & MRC grants, as well as a major imaging grant from the Ian Potter Foundation. He is also a member of the NH & MRC Brain Network. This work has been internationally recognised with invited talks to the UK and Europe. He is part of an international group looking at the neurobiology of schizophrenia. This work was presented at a number of invited symposia in Europe and USA.
His most recent work challenges the current neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia in showing progressive changes in this disorder. In particular they have demonstrated that brain structural abnormalities are occurring during the transition phase to psychosis in individuals at high risk for developing schizophrenia.
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre
The Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre , a research centre under the University of Melbourne in Australia, provides a centre for research across several disciplines, with links to national and international research groups...
.
Profile
Prof. Christos Pantelis completed his medical degree at the University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and trained at St Vincent's Hospital
St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne
St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne is the major hospital in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia.It is operated by the St Vincent's Health service, previously known as the Sisters of Charity Health Service, Melbourne...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Two years later, in 1979, he commenced his training in psychiatry at the Royal Free Hospital
Royal Free Hospital
The Royal Free Hospital is a major teaching hospital in Hampstead, London, England and part of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. During his training, he spent 18 months as a Research Registrar at University College Hospital
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
to undertake an epidemiological study of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
in Inner London. He was appointed as a lecturer at Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School (UK) in 1988. In this position, he worked in the Academic Unit at Horton and the Gordon Hospitals, headed by Professor Thomas R.E. Barnes. The unit was involved in a number of research studies in schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
including phenomenology
Phenomenology (psychology)
Phenomenology is an approach to psychological subject matter that has its roots in the philosophical work of Edmund Husserl. Early phenomenologists such as Husserl, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty conducted their own psychological investigations in the early 20th century...
, psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology is the scientific study of the actions of drugs and their effects on mood, sensation, thinking, and behavior...
, studies on movement disorder
Movement disorder
Movement disorders include:* Akathisia * Akinesia * Associated Movements * Athetosis...
, neuropsychological aspects of schizophrenia, as well as epidemiology
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
and social psychiatric aspects of schizophrenia.
In 1992, he was awarded the Lilly Travelling Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...
and the King Edward's Hospital Fund for London, England. During this year, he was Travelling Research Fellow with the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
(Washington, DC), where he worked with Dr. Richard Coppola and Dr. Daniel Weinberger, developing a technique for volumetric analysis of brain MRI images. He then returned briefly to the UK as a Research Fellow.
After his return from England at the end of 1992, Prof. Christos Pantelis worked at the Mental Health Research Institute and at Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital. He established the Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Research Unit, which is now based at both the Mental Health Research Institute and Sunshine Hospital. He also heads the Academic Unit at Sunshine Hospital. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is the principal organisation representing the medical specialty of psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand and has responsibility for training, examining and awarding the qualification of Fellowship of the College to medical...
in 1999.
Prof. Pantelis was Director of the inpatient rehabilitation program at Royal Park Hospital until mid-1996. During this time, he was responsible for the inpatient rehabilitation program and was instrumental in developing a comprehensive Model of Care for patients with long-term mental illness, and establishing a region-wide coordinating committee to oversee developments in delivery of services to these patients. He is currently Clinical Director and Principal Specialist for the Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (AMHRU) at Sunshine Hospital. This is a 26-beds unit for patients with treatment-resistant psychoses. He was actively involved in planning the movement of the Rehabilitation Unit to Sunshine Hospital and in the establishment of an Academic and Research Unit at that site. This included providing expertise into the architectural design of the new clinical and research units. These units opened in early 2000.
Achievements
Prof. Christos Pantelis has established an internationally recognised group in the field of schizophreniaSchizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
research, particularly in the neuropsychology and neuroimaging of the disorder. He has published numerous papers in peer reviewed journals, including papers in the Archives of General Psychiatry, as well as recent papers in Brain, Brain Research Reviews, Psychological Medicine, and other international journals. He has published a book on schizophrenia from a neuropsychological perspective.
He is highly experienced in the application of both structural and functional brain imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
to psychiatric disorders and has been awarded a number of NH & MRC grants, as well as a major imaging grant from the Ian Potter Foundation. He is also a member of the NH & MRC Brain Network. This work has been internationally recognised with invited talks to the UK and Europe. He is part of an international group looking at the neurobiology of schizophrenia. This work was presented at a number of invited symposia in Europe and USA.
His most recent work challenges the current neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia in showing progressive changes in this disorder. In particular they have demonstrated that brain structural abnormalities are occurring during the transition phase to psychosis in individuals at high risk for developing schizophrenia.