Biography
Norbert Schmitz is an Associate Professor (tenured) in the Department of Psychiatry and an Associate Member in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McGill University, Montreal. He is a researcher at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and a researcher at the Montreal Diabetes Research Center.
Dr Schmitz's research focuses on the role of lifestyle/behavioral factors and psychological problems as risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes and as risk factors for poor health outcome in people with type 2 diabetes.
Prior to joining McGill University in 2004, Dr Schmitz was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at Heinrich-Heine-University in Duesseldorf, Germany, and Director of the Research Unit Public Mental Health. Dr Schmitz obtained his PhD in Statistics from the University of Dortmund (1995) and a second PhD in Epidemiology from Heinrich-Heine-University in Duesseldorf, Germany (2002).
Industry Expertise (4)
Education/Learning
Health and Wellness
Health Care - Facilities
Health Care - Services
Areas of Expertise (7)
Diabetes
Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Measurement Methodology
Outcome Assessment
Quality of Life Research
Interaction of Physical and Mental Illness
Education (3)
Heinrich-Heine Universitat Dusseldorf: Post-doctorate Habilitation, Epidemiology & Biometrics 2002
Universitat Dortmund: Dr.rer.nat., Statistics 1995
Universitat Dortmund: Dipl.-Stat, Statistics 1991
Affiliations (1)
- McGill University : Associate Professor (Tenured)
Media Appearances (5)
Depression Linked to Diabetic Complications
Health & Wellness Magazine print
2015-04-01
Psychosocial factors play critical role in treatment.
Mild depression tied to diabetes complications
Reuters online
2013-12-03
"Minor depression is a form of chronic stress," said Dr. Norbert Schmitz, associate professor of psychiatry at McGill University's Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal, who led the study. "Patients may not be able to follow treatment guidelines or they may have problems with diet, which in turn results in an increased risk of poor functioning," he said...
Diabetes & Depression Linked
Q92 radio
2012-11-08
There is a link between depression and Type Two diabetes. Dr Norbert Schmitz, a professor and researcher from McGill University, is in Sudbury today to present his findings and answer questions during a public session.
In Session With Norbert Schmitz, PhD
Psychiatry Weekly print
2012-02-06
Our previous research on chronic conditions suggests that there is a synergistic relationship between obesity with a high level of psychological distress or depression and poor functioning and disability. In the present study, we examined data from a large prospective study, the Canadian National Population Health Survey, with over 18,000 participants, and 14 years of follow-up data, to assess the risk of developing disability as a result of obesity, psychological distress, or both.
Mental Health and Neighbourhood Environment
CTV News at 6 tv
2011-01-28
Interview with Dr. Norbert Schmitz about the impact of neighborhoods on mental health.
Event Appearances (5)
Depressive Symptoms and Glycated Hemoglobin A1c: a Reciprocal Relationship in a Prospective Cohort Study
International Federation of Psychiatric Epidemiology Meeting Bergen, Norway
2015-10-01
Depression and Diabetes: Is there a link?
Annual Research Day of the Montreal Diabetes Research Centre Montreal
2015-02-02
The pattern of depressive symptoms in people with diabetes
Annual Meeting of the Canadian Academy of Psychiatric Epidemiology Ottawa
2013-09-02
Characterizing The Course Of Depression In People With Diabetes: A Latent Class Analysis
WPA Section on Epidemiology and Public Health Meeting Sao Paulo, Brazil
2012-03-15
Depression and disability in diabetes: A prospective community study
21st World Diabetes Congress Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2011-12-02
Articles (5)
The Relationship between Diabetes and Mental Health Conditions in an Aging Population
Canadian Journal of Diabetes
2016
Depression and risk of type 2 diabetes: the potential role of metabolic factors
Molecular Psychiatry
2016-02-23
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interaction between depressive symptoms and metabolic dysregulations as risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The sample comprised of 2525 adults who participated in a baseline and a follow-up assessment over a 4.5-year period in the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Study (EMHS) in Quebec, Canada.
Depressive symptoms and glycated hemoglobin A1c: a reciprocal relationship in a prospective cohort study
Psychol Med
2015-12-01
Our results suggest a dynamic relationship between depressive symptoms and HbA1c which might be mediated by both lifestyle and cardiometabolic factors. This has important implications for investigating the pathways which could link depressive symptoms and increased risk of diabetes.
Recurrent Subthreshold Depression in Type 2 Diabetes: An Important Risk Factor for Poor Health Outcomes
Diabetes Care
2013-10-29
Recurrent subthreshold depressive symptoms might be an important risk factor for poor health outcomes in type 2 diabetes. Early identification, monitoring and treatment of recurrent subthreshold depressive symptoms might improve functioning and quality of life in people with type 2 diabetes.
Longitudinal Relationships Between Depression and Functioning in People with Type 2 Diabetes
Annals of Behavioral Medicine
2013-09-18
Depression and functioning might interact with each other in a dynamic way: depression at one assessment point might predict poor functioning at the next assessment point, which in turn might predict depression at the next assessment point. This should be taken into account in both treatment and research programs.
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