Eating disorders, alcoholism (abuse/addiction)

After completing his doctorate in clinical psychology at McGill University in 1997, Kenneth Bruce went on to pursue postdoctoral research work at the Douglas Institute Research Centre. He joined the Douglas Hospital’s Eating Disorders Program in 1999.

Kenneth Bruce’s primary interest concerns examining the extent of overlap in the causes of bulimia nervosa and alcoholism in women. The research involves measuring emotional, physiological and behavioural responses during a lab procedure that temporarily reduces levels of serotonin - a brain transmitter thought to play a role in both eating disorders and alcoholism. Participants' responses to drinking an intoxicating dose of alcohol are also being measured in the lab.

A second interest is involves at reviewing the roles of several serotonin genes in the treatment of eating disorders. The goal is to help determine how different genes - along with personality characteristics and adverse developmental experiences like childhood abuse- influence the response to treatment for eating disorders.

Douglas Institute Programme des troubles de l'alimentation Pavilion Room 6605, boulevard LaSalle 6875 LaSalle Boulevard Montreal (Quebec) H4H 1R3

Phone : 514 761-6131 ext.: 2898, 2895 Fax : 514 888-4085