Ivan J. Torres, PhD

Research Scientist and Clinical Neuropsychologist, Riverview Hospital, British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions Services and a Research Consultant, with the Mood Disorders Centre at the University of British Columbia

Ivan’s research interests involve investigation of the nature of cognitive and associated neurobehavioral impairments in psychotic and mood disorders, with an emphasis on deficits in memory, executive and self-regulatory functions. This includes delineation of specific neurocognitive deficits across different diagnostic groups such as schizophrenia and BD, study of the association between various clinical symptoms and underlying core cognitive impairments, determination of the relationship between neurocognitive impairments and functional outcome, and investigation of brain-behavior relationships in these severe mental disorders.

Current work in BD includes investigation of neurocognitive deficits in euthymic first episode patients, as well as changes in cognition throughout the early course of bipolar disorder. Additionally, although preliminary research has linked cognitive impairments to poor functional and psychosocial outcome, there is little understanding of the specific cognitive processes that best predict functional outcome in BD, or whether the cognition / psychosocial functioning relationship is present early in the course of illness.

Contact

Ivan J. Torres
Tel: 604-524-7687
Email: itorres@bcmhs.bc.ca