Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience and Translational Psychiatry / Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Medical Director, BCCH Provincial OCD Program (POP)
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Director of Research, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, BC Children’s Hospital
Chair, Child and Youth Mental Health Research, BC Children’s Hospital
Researcher, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute
Email: evelyn.stewart@ubc.ca
Short Biography
Dr. Evelyn Stewart is a tenured, academic-track Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia and is the founding director of the Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinic and Research Program as well as the Chair of the Child and Youth Mental Health Research at BC Children and Women’s Health Centre. She is a clinical, genetic and neuroscience researcher, as well as a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
Her research focuses on biologic, phenotypic, familial, and treatment aspects of childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Dr. Stewart has authored over 150 original papers, reviews, and chapters on genetic, clinical, and treatment aspects of OCD, Tourette’s Disorder, and related illnesses. She sits on the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and is the vice chair of the Research and Scientific Program Committee for Canadian Academic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
At BCCHR, her leadership contributions include being Research Director of the BCCH Mental Health program, the BCCH Mindfulness Centre and the BCCH Research Institute’s Brain, Behaviour and Development theme.
Research Focus
Adjunctive Celecoxib in childhood-onset OCD (ACEOCD) study: The goal of this study is to determine the effects of the anti-inflammatory medication celecoxib – when added to participants’ usual treatment(s) – on OCD symptoms over 12 weeks. Celecoxib belongs to a medication class called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). A common NSAID that many children have taken previously is ibuprofen, but it requires several doses per day to effectively reduce inflammation whereas celecoxib is taken only twice daily. NSAIDs may improve the function of parts of the brain involved in OCD symptoms.
Genetic Architecture of Youth Anxiety Study (GAYA): Anxiety disorders can significantly interfere with youth’s lives, so it is important to better understand how and why these disorders develop through mechanisms like genetics. To better understand the development of anxiety disorders among youth, we need to include larger samples of youth in current genetic research. The GAYA study represents a Pan-Canadian effort of clinical and genetic experts with recruitment sites in Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton, Toronto, and Halifax. The study is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.
Personal Impacts of COVID-19 Survey (PICS): In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team is interested in learning about the personal impacts it has made on families and individuals. We have created a survey to capture information about the effect COVID-19 has had on individuals’ thoughts, feelings and actions, along with their coping mechanisms and any resources available to them.
As PI:
- Adjunctive Celecoxib in childhood-onset OCD (ACEOCD)
- Personal Impacts of COVID-19 in child and adolescents
- Biomarkers of stress and inflammation in youth with OCD and their parents participating in Group-based Family Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Registry and DNA Repository
Clinical Outcomes following Group-based Family Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy in Pediatric Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD). - Mindfulness Training versus Peer Support Groups for Parents of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Youth OCD Diagnosis Disclosure
As Co-Investigator:
- Genetic Architecture of Youth Anxiety Study
- OCD genomics
Publications
Significant Accomplishments & Professional Contribution
2023 Awarded 2023 Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Service to the University and Community, University of British Columbia
2023 Nominated for Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) fellowship.
2022 Nominated for YWCA Women of Distinction Award Program, YWCA Metro Vancouver
2022 Awarded Top Cited Article for, “An overview of the first 5 years of the ENIGMA obsessive-compulsive disorder working group: The power of worldwide collaboration,”
Wiley Publication, USA
2021 Awarded BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Geoffrey L. Hammond Lectureship, BC Hospital Research Institute
2021 Awarded Genius Bar Award, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
2018 UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Clinical or Applied Research
2017 Norbert and Charlotte Rieger Award for Scientific Achievement American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry