The Douglas Institute uses a multidisciplinary approach to research that combines the neurosciences, clinical experience and psychosocial factors, and is based on four major themes.

Exploring these four themes is a team of 67 researchers, some of whom are world-renowned; their work has contributed to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in certain mental illnesses. Some examples:

• Identification of the ApoE4 gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease (Judes Poirier, PhD)
• The discovery of a link between maternal care and gene expression (Michael Meany, PhD)
• The neuroprotective effects of flavonoids, of which black tea is a major source (Rémi Quirion, PhD)
• The link between childhood traumas and stress (Claire-Dominique Walker, PhD)
• The discovery of a medication that could reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (Alain Brunet, PhD)
• The identification of biochemical markers associated with dementia in the elderly (Serge Gauthier MD, N.P. Vasavan Nair, MD, Véronique Bohbot, PhD, Jens Pruessner, PhD)
• The potential benefits of early intervention provided through a multidisciplinary team approach to treat schizophrenia as soon as the first symptoms appear (Ashok Malla, MD, PhD)
• The role of the gene-environment interaction in the development of mental illnesses (Michael Meaney, PhD)
• The role of serotonin in eating disorders (Howard Steiger, PhD) and that of endorphins in alcohol dependence (Christina Gianoulakis, PhD)
• The connection between mental health, social support and quality of life (Jean Caron, PhD, Anne Crocker, PhD)