Linda Mah

Dr. Linda Mah

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Toronto

Clinician Scientist Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care

Research Focus

My research focuses on the on the use of behavioural paradigms and brain imaging to study cognitive and emotional processing and the neurobiology of mood and anxiety disorders. Behavioural and neuroimaging studies have demonstrated abnormalities of information processing and structures including the amygdala and anatomically-related limbic and paralimbic regions as pathogenetic mechanisms for major depressive disorder in mid-life, but little is known regarding emotional processing and its neural correlates in elderly depressed individuals. We are currently conducting fMRI studies designed to evaluate emotional processing and brain activity in geriatric depression. We will determine whether abnormalities in the unmedicated, depressed state are predictive of treatment response and whether there are associations with cognitive deficits and other clinical variables. We hypothesize that patterns of emotional processing and activation of specific brain regions including the amygdala, anterior cingulate, orbital cortex, and ventral striatum, will differentiate elderly depressed subjects from age-matched healthy control subjects. The identification of specific neuroanatomical targets using fMRI may inform the development of new and more effective strategies for treatment of depression in late life.

Publications

Title Source (Journal/Book/Conference) Authors/Presenters Published On Type
Negative emotional verbal memory biases in mild cognitive impairment and late-onset depression American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Mah L, Anderson ND, Verhoeff NPLG, Pollock BG 1494388800 Journal Article
Dynamic working memory performance in individuals with single-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology Guild EB, Vasquez BP, Maione AM, Mah L, Ween J, Anderson ND 1409371200 Journal Article
Gabapentin withdrawal: Case report in a geriatric patient and review of the literature J Am Geriatr Soc. Mah L, Hart, M 1377576000 Journal Article
Attitudes of Terminally Ill Older Adults towards Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies Journal of Palliative Care Grief C, Grossman D, Rootenberg M, Mah L 1374897600 Journal Article
Association between Patient Dignity and Anxiety in Geriatric Palliative Care Palliative Medicine Mah L, Grossman D, Grief C, Rootenberg M 1369627200 Journal Article
Psychosocial Dimensions of Geriatric Palliative Care American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry Mah L, Grief C, Grossman D, Rootenberg M 1364702400 Abstract
Hydrocortisone infusion exerts dose- and sex-dependent effects on attention to emotional stimuli Brain and cognition Breitberg A, Drevets WC, Wood SE, Mah L, Schulkin J, Sahakian BJ, Erickson K 1357016400 Journal Article
Emotional processing differentiates amnestic mild cognitive impairment and late-life depression Human Brain Mapping Mah L, Grady C, Anderson ND, Pollock B 1339128000 Abstract
Assessment of patient dignity in geriatric palliative care Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Mah L, Grief C, Grossman D, Rootenberg M 1325394000 Journal Article
Neural correlates of emotion regulation in late-life depression Society for Neuroscience Mah L, Ye B, Leung R, Freel S, Pollock BG 1320728400 Abstract
Neural circuitry of emotional processing in late-life depression Human Brain Mapping Mah L, Williams LJ, Leung R, Freel S, Pollock B 1302235200 Abstract
Neural substrates of emotional processing in late-life depression Biological Psychiatry Mah L, Williams LJ, Leung R, Freel S, Pollock B 1302235200 Abstract
Neural mechanisms of antidepressant efficacy of the dopamine receptor agonist pramipexole in treatment of bipolar depression International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology Mah L, Zarate CA, Nugent AC, Singh JB, Manji HK, Drevets WC 1293858000 Journal Article
Effect of stimulus exposure duration on attentional bias for fearful faces FRONTIERS OF NEUROSCIENCE Leung R, Drevets WC, Furey ML, Mah L 1277784000 Abstract
Emotional processing deficit in late-life depression American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Mah LWY, Pollock BG 1272600000 Journal Article
Emotion Regulation in Healthy Aging Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Mah L, Pollock BG 1270699200 Abstract
Use of the D2/D3 receptor agonist pramipexole in treatment of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder in an elderly patient American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Mah LWY, Conn D 1267419600 Journal Article
Emotional processing deficits in late-life depression AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY Mah L, McGarry L, Pollock BG 1236229200 Abstract
Dysfunctional attitudes mediate response to cognitive behavioural therapy for depression Harvey Stancer Research Day Mah L, McGarry L, Rossi S, Pollock BG 1213848000 Abstract
Age-related differences in attentional biases for emotional stimuli Harvey Stancer Research Day McGarry L, Rossi S, Mah L, Pollock BG 1213848000 Abstract
Age-related differences in the perception of facial emotions Harvey Stancer Research Day Rossi S, McGarry L, Mah L, Pollock BG 1213848000 Abstract
Regional cerebral glucose metabolic abnormalities in bipolar II depression Biological Psychiatry Mah LWY, Zarate CA, Singh J, Duan Y-F, Luckenbaugh DA, Manji H, Drevets WC 1173931200 Journal Article
Neural correlates of emotional processing biases in major depressive disorder AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY Mah L, Wood SE, Furey ML, Fromm SJ, Pine DS, Drevets WC 1172725200 Abstract
Neural correlates of automatic beliefs about gender and race Human Brain Mapping Knutson KM, Mah LWY, Manly CF, Grafman J 1167627600 Journal Article
Sex differences in the effect of hydrocortisone on functional interactions between amygdala and orbitomedial prefrontal cortex responses to emotional stimuli SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE ABSTRACTS Erickson K, Harrell PT, Wood SE, Nugent AC, Schulkin J, Mah L, Furey ML, Drevets WC 1160798400 Abstract
Regional cerebral glucose metabolism in discriminating bipolar depressives from nonpsychiatric controls NEUROIMAGE Mah L, Zarate CA, Fromm SJ, Luckenbaugh DA, Duan Y-F, Manji H, Drevets WC 1150171200 Abstract
Regional cerebral glucose metabolic abnormalities in unmedicated-remitted subjects with major depressive disorder NEUROIMAGE Mah L, Nugent AC, Neumeister A, Charney DS, Drevets WC 1150171200 Abstract
VBM detection of Volumetric Abnormalities in Bipolar Disorder ISMRM Fourteenth Scientific Meeting & Exhibition Nugent AC, Milham M, Bain EE, Cannon D, Mah L, Zarate C, Pine D, Drevets WC 1146888000 Abstract
Cortical abnormalities in bipolar disorder investigated with MRI and voxel-based morphometry Neuroimage Nugent AC, Milham MP, Bain EE, Mah L, Cannon DM, Marrett S, Zarate CA, Pine DS, Price JL, Drevets WC 1143867600 Journal Article
Altered amygdala response to emotional faces in major depression SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE ABSTRACTS Mah L, Wood SE, Furey ML, Fromm SJ, Pine DS, Drevets WC 1136091600 Abstract
Influence of low and high dose hydrocortisone infusion on hemodynamic response in amygdala while viewing emotional faces NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY Erickson K, Furey ML, Schulkin J, Wood SE, Mah L, Nugent AC, Drevets WC 1134277200 Abstract
Baseline cerebral metabolism, alterations in metabolism, and response to pramipexole or placebo treatment in bipolar II depression SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE ABSTRACTS Mah L, Zarate CA, Wood SE, Duan Y-F, Nugent AC, Cannon DM, Manji H, Drevets WC 1131858000 Abstract
Differential effects of hydrocortisone on amygdala habituation to emotional facial expressions: An fMRI study SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE ABSTRACTS Erickson K, Wood SE, Furey ML, Nugent AC, Mah L, Schulkin J, Drevets WC 1131858000 Abstract
Cerebral metabolic changes in bipolar depressed patients treated with the D2/D3 receptor agonist pramipexole BIPOLAR DISORDERS Zarate CA, Mah L, Duan Y-F, Nugent AC, Cannon D, Quiroz JA, Manji HK, Drevets WC 1118894400 Abstract
Effect of pramipexole treatment on glucose metabolism in bipolar II depression NEUROIMAGE Mah L, Wood SE, Duan Y-F, Nugent AC, Cannon DM, Solorio G, Zarate CA, Manji H, Drevets WC 1118548800 Abstract
Reproducibility of the hemodynamic response of the amygdala to emotional stimuli NEUROIMAGE Mah L, Wood SE, Fromm S, Drevets WC, Furey ML 1118548800 Abstract
Influence of hydrocortisone infusion on habituation of hemodynamic response in amygdala and anterior cingulate while viewing single and multiple presentations of emotionally expressed faces NEUROIMAGE Erickson K, Schulkin J, Furey M, Mah L, Wood SE, Nugent AC, Chrousos G, Drevets WC 1118548800 Abstract
Cortical abnormalities in treated and untreated bipolar disorder as investigated with voxel based morphometry BIPOLAR DISORDERS Nugent AC, Milham M, Bain EE, Mah L, Cannon D, Marrett S, Zarate C, Pine D, Drevets WC 1117598400 Abstract
Cerebral metabolic changes in bipolar depressed patients treated with the D-2/D-3 receptor agonist pramipexole BIPOLAR DISORDERS Zarate CA, Duan YF, Mah L, Nugent AC, Quiroz JA, Singh J, Manji HK, Drevets WC 1117598400 Abstract
Deficits in social knowledge following damage to ventromedial prefrontal cortex Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences Mah LWY, Arnold MC, Grafman J 1107234000 Journal Article
Cortical abnormalities in treated and untreated bipolar disorder as investigated with voxel based morphometry BIPOLAR DISORDERS Nugent AC, Milham M, Bain EE, Mah L, Cannon D, Marrett S, Zarate C, Pine D, Drevets WC 1104555600 Abstract
Effect of task instructions on amygdalar response to fearful facial expressions SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE ABSTRACTS Mah L, Drevets WC, Wood SE, Monk CS, Nelson EE, Pine DS, Furey ML 1098763200 Abstract
Effects of hydrocortisone infusion on affectively valenced autobiographical memory Society for Neuroscience's Annual Meetings Erickson K, Mah L, Wood SE, Chrousos GP, Schulkin J, Charney DS, Drevets WC 1098763200 Abstract
Impairment of social perception associated with lesions of the prefrontal cortex American Journal of Psychiatry Mah L, Arnold MC, Grafman J 1088654400 Journal Article
Effect of stimulus duration on the BOLD signal in the amygdala NEUROIMAGE Mah L, Drevets WC, Wood SE, Monk CS, Nelson EE, Pine DS, Furey ML 1087099200 Abstract
Amygdalar Modulation of Cingulate Activity During Presentation of Fearful Faces NEUROIMAGE Wood SE, Mah L, Nelson EE, Pine DS, Monk CS, Nugent AC, Drevets WC, Furey ML 1087099200 Abstract
Neuromorphometric measurements of the amygdala in medicated and unmedicated bipolar disorder NEUROIMAGE Nugent AC, Sills R, Bain EE, Cannon DM, Mah L, Zarate C, Drevets WC 1087099200 Abstract
Voxel-based morphometry in bipolar disorder NEUROIMAGE Nugent AC, Millam MP, Bain EE, Cannon DM, Mah L, Pine DS, Charney DS, Drevets WC 1087099200 Abstract
High resolution MRI neuromorphometric assessment of the hippocampal subiculum in mood disorders ISMRM Twelfth Scientific Meeting & Exhibition Nugent AC, Wood SE, Bain EE, Mah L, Cannon DM, Neumeister A, Zarate C, Marrett S, Koretsky A, Talagala L, Price J, Charney DS, Drevets WC 1084593600 Abstract
Glucose metabolism in the amygdala in bipolar II depression BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY Mah L, Duan YF, Zarate CA, Singh J, Payne JL, Nugent AC, Charney DS, Drevets WC 1083211200 Abstract
Glucose Metabolism in the Amygdala in Bipolar II Depression BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY Mah L, Duan Y-F, Zarate CA, Singh J, Payne JL, Nugent AC, Charney DS, Drevets WC 1083211200 Abstract
Effect of stimulus duration on selective attention to fearful faces JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE Mah L, Wood S, Nelson K, Monk CS, Pine DS, Drevets WC, Furey ML 1082260800 Abstract
Neural correlates of changes in the automaticity of gender attitudes JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES Mah L, Manly CF, Grafman J 1077426000 Abstract
Impairment of Social Perception Associated with Lesions of the prefrontal cortex American Journal of Psychiatry Mah LWY, Arnold MC, Grafman J 1072933200 Journal Article
Neural correlates of automatic beliefs about gender and race JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE Mah L, Manly CF, Grafman J 1052452800 Abstract
Impairment in social cognition following lesions of ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES Mah L, Arnold MC, Grafman J 1044162000 Abstract
Social cognition deficits in patients with frontal lobe damage JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES Mah L, Arnold MC, Grafman J 1015736400 Abstract
Do frontal behaviours change following surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy? JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES Mah L, Benjamin S, Swearer J, Phillips C, Weaver J 983077200 Abstract
A comparison of hemispatial neglect from posterior parietal and periarcuate lesions in the monkey Psychobiology Crowne DP, Mah LWY 883630800 Journal Article

Education

  • 1991: B.Sc., Psychology major, biology minor, University of Waterloo
  • 1994: M.D., Medicine, University of Calgary
  • 2006: M.H.Sc., Research methods and epidemiology, Duke University

Academic Appointments

  • 2006–Present: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry , Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • 2006–Present: Clinician Scientist, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, Ontario
  • 2000–2006: Staff Physician, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD
  • 1999–2000: Instructor in Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
  • 1999–2000: Staff Physician, Worcester State Hospital, Worcester, MA
  • 1997–1998: Assistant Chief Resident, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Qc

Professional Affiliations

  • 2006–Present: Ad hoc reviewer, Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
  • 2000–2006: Program Committee, Reviewer, American Neuropsychiatric Association
  • 2001–Present: Ad hoc reviewer, Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
  • 1998–2005: Education Committee, American Neuropsychiatric Association
  • 1998–1999: Member, Fellowships and Awards Committee, Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
  • 1996–1997: Corresponding Member, Efficacy and Cost-effectiveness Working Group, Steering Committee on the Psychotherapies, Canadian Psychiatric Association

Reviewership

Membership

  • 2007–Present: American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry
  • 2004–Present: Society for Neuroscience
  • 2002–2006: Cognitive Neuroscience Society
  • 1998–2006: American Neuropsychiatric Association
  • 2010–Present: Society for Biological Psychiatry

Distinctions and Awards

  • 2007: Best Poster Award, Harvey Stancer Research Day, University of Toronto
  • 2005: Career Development Award, American Neuropsychiatric Association
  • 2005: Fellows Award for Research Excellence, NIH
  • 2002: Young Investigator Award, American Neuropsychiatric Association
  • 1999: NSERC Summer Research Award, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
  • 1998: William Webb Fellow, Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
  • 1993: Joseph Albert Award for Elective Study at Centres of Excllence, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
  • 1989: RH Walters Scholar Award for Academic Excellence, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo

Research Projects

External

  • 2007–2009: Behavioural and Neural Effects of Recollection Training in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
    Collaborators: Nicole Anderson

    Sponsors: Alzheimer Society of Canada

  • 2011: International Scientific Conference on Emotion
    Collaborators: Jennifer Ryan

    Sponsors: CIHR

  • 2011: International Scientific Conference on Emotion

    Sponsors: OMHF

  • 2009–2012: Neural Substrates of Emotional Processing in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Late-life Depression

    Sponsors: Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada

  • 2012–2013: Development of a "Rehab Readiness" Clinical Assessment Protocol for Inpatient Rehabilitation

    Sponsors: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care- AFP Innovation Fund

Internal

  • 2007–2011: Deans Fund New Staff Grant

    Sponsors: University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine

  • 2009–2011: Attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine in geriatric palliative care patients
    Collaborators: Cindy Grief

    Sponsors: Baycrest Department of Psychiatry Academic Development Fund,

  • 2012–2013: The effects of brief cognitive training on cognition and mood symptoms in late-life depression: A pilot study

    Sponsors: Baycrest Department of Psychiatry Academic Development Fund

  • 2012–2013: Validating Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques to Assess Effects of Age on Neural Circuitry

    Sponsors: Baycrest Department of Psychiatry Academic Development Fund

Postgraduate Training

Research Fellow (Supervisor: Wayne Drevets, M.D.), 2002-2006
Section on Neuroimaging in Mood and Anxiety Disorders, NIMH

Clinical Fellow (Supervisor: Jordan Grafman, Ph.D.), 2000-2002
Cognitive Neuroscience Section, NINDS, NIH

Clinical Neuropsychiatry Fellow (Supervisor: Sheldon Benjamin, M.D.), 1999-2000
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA

Resident, Psychiatry, 1994-1999
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
 

Certification and Licensure

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, 2000- present
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry, 2000
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Psychiatry, 1999
College des Medicins du Quebec, Psychiatry, 1999
Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, 1996

View moreTeaching

 

Curriculum Vitae

Contact

Rotman Research Institute
Baycrest
BHC 738, 3560 Bathurst St.
Toronto, Ontario
M6A 2E1 Phone: (416) 785-2500 x3365 Email: lmah@research.baycrest.org Fax: (416) 785-4230

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Toronto, Ontario
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Phone: (416) 785-2500

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