Prof. Jude Uzoma
Professor of Psychiatry
E-mail: judeohaeri@hotmail.com
Tel: +2347061395991
I am a Nigerian research psychiatrist, consultant psychiatrist and teacher. Although I have researched various aspects of psychiatry, my major interest is in general adult psychiatry, with a focus on the psychopathology of severe mental disorders and somatization, as well as the contribution of biological variables to the etiology, management and long-term outcome of these disorders. In an earlier sojourn in Kuwait, I also studied the process of problem based learning (PBL), psychiatric epidemiology and the contribution of psychosocial variables to the etiology and management of mental disorders. My current focus is on psychiatric genetics, especially molecular genetics. Accordingly, I have inspired the formation and official registration of the Nigerian Society for Research in Biological Psychiatry, and I have constituted the Biology of Psychopathology Research Group within the UNN. As a clinician, my interest is in general adult psychiatry and psychotherapy. As a teacher, I am involved in inculcating the ideals of scientific rigor and evidence based medicine in Nigerian psychiatry, curriculum development and methods of teaching (e.g., problem –based learning – PBL) and assessment (e.g., OSCE) at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Under my leadership of the department, the teaching of psychological medicine has been revolutionized in UNN/UNTH, being inclusive, using a student-led participatory approach, and modern facilities for teaching and treatment are now available. As a result, our department, for the first time in its >40-year history, now has full accreditation (2015 -2020) to train residents in psychiatry under both postgraduate medical colleges (Nigerian and West Africa).
II. BASIC UNIVERSITY EDUCATION WITH DATES (1972-1978)
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Qualified MBBS (Ib) 1978.
III. ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & GRANTING BODIES
- MBBS (Ib)
- FMCPsych (Nig) Nigerian Postgraduate Med. College, May 1986.
- DMS (Astrology) (UK) Mayo School of Astrology (UK) 1990.
- FWACP. West African Postgraduate Med. College May, 1992.
- MD (Ib) University of Ibadan, May 1995 (Equivalent to PhD) (Thesis: “Computed Tomography Brain Scan Findings in Schizophrenia and Manic Nigerian Subjects).
- Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych, UK), awarded with
exemption from all examinations. February, 2001
- Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK (FRCPsych,UK). Feb 2003
- Doctor of Science (DSc) in Psychiatry, University of Ibadan, Nov. 2010. Examination based on my collection of 108 scientific publications up to 2004.
- Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science. January 2015 -
IV. ACADEMIC POSTS HELD
1. Lecturer 1/Consultant Psychiatrist, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, September, 1986-1989.
2. Senior Lecturer/Consultant Psychiatrist, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, October, 1989 - September 1994.
3. Sub-Dean (Undergraduate) Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Dentistry, University of Ibadan, July 1990-1992.
4. Acting Head of Department of Psychiatry, University of Ibadan, August 1992-1994.
5. Professor of Psychiatry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, October 1994 - 2001.
6. Consultant Psychiatrist, Campama Psychiatric Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital. Banjul, The Gambia, November 1993-March 1994. I was the first psychiatrist to work in The Gambia.
7. Medical Superintendent and Consultant Psychiatrist, St Giles Psychiatric Hospital, Suva, Fiji. This is a 190-bed hospital that serves the entire country (Population: 773,000), Nov. 1996-March 2000). This was while I was on sabbatical leave from University of Ibadan.
8. Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychological Medicine Hospital, Kuwait, May 2000- Jan 2012
9. Clinical tutor in psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait, Sept 2000 – Jan 2012.
10. Professor of Psychiatry, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Feb 21, 2012-
11. Head, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria, August 2013- January 2016
12. Visiting Professor in Psychiatry, Kuwait University: January 2016 – May 2018
V. SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS AND PRIZES
- Imo State Government Scholarship, 1975-1978.
- Federal Ministry of Health Postgraduate Medical Fellowship, 1983-1984.
- University of Ibadan, Senate Research Grant, 1989.
- Federal Ministry of Health, Research Grant for nation –wide study of addictions, 1990. With Professor A.O. Odejide
- Federal Ministry of Health, Research Grant for study of primary mental health care, 1991. With Professor A.O. Odejide
- Wellcome Fund, Nigeria. Research Grant, February, 1991. Tissue injury-inducing potential of electroconvulsive therapy using serial monitoring of acute phase reactants.
- Wellcome Fund, Nigeria, Research 1992. Acute phase reactants as biological markers of severe psychiatric states.
- World Health Organization, Research Grant 1993.
- University of Ibadan, Senate Research Grant 1995.
- Bassir-Thomas Foundation Research Grant 1996.
- World Health Organization Research Grant, 1999 ( by WPRO), while in Fiji.
- Kuwait University research grant on study of quality of life among Kuwaitis with chronic medical and psychiatric illnesses. 2005 ( in collaboration with Dr A.W Awadalla)
- Kuwait University research grant on study of APOE gene study among schizophrenia and dementia subjects in Kuwait. 2005 ( in collaboration with Prof A. O . Akanji)
- Research grant from the Kuwait Fund for the Advancement of Arab Children, to study child abuse and its correlation with quality of life and mental health among Kuwaiti adolescents. November, 2005. With Dr Ghaneim Al-Fayez.
- Research grant from the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) to study: quality of life and mental health in Kuwait general population: With Dr Abdel Awadalla. August 2006
- With Professor A. Adekile and others, Department of Pediatrics, Kuwait University: Sickle cell disease, cerebral infarcts and neuro-cognitive impairment. Grant from Kuwait University, from October 2009
VI. HONOURS, DISTINCTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP OF LEARNED SOCIETIES
- Associate Member, British Society of Psychopharmacologists.
- Member, National Advisory Committee, Mental Health.
- Member, Editorial Sub-Committee of the National Committee on Rehabilitation of Destitutes.
- Member, Advisory Committee of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Lagos.
- World Health Organization, Temporary Consultant on Cocaine, September 1990.
- Chairman, International Council on Alcoholism & Addictions, Oyo State, 1991-1996.
- Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science, September 1993.
- Nigerian Principal Investigator, Smith, Kline & Beecham Multicentre Trial of Paroxetine (Seroxat), Oct 1995-1996.
- Member, Fiji Medical Association 1996 - 2000
- Senior Research Fellow, Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research, Brisbane, Australia 1998-2001.
- Chairman, Fiji Technical Working Party on Mental Health, May-November 1998. This Committee articulated the Mental Health Policy for Fiji, which was adopted November 1998 by the National Health Promotion Council.
- Foundation Chairman, Fiji Permanent National Advisory Council on Mental Health, January 1999. This Committee was inaugurated in January 1999, charged with motivating the development of mental health care services, mental health promotion, research and policy development (Jan. 1999-March 2000).
- World Health Organization, West Pacific Region (WPRO) Temporary Adviser, sixth Regional Meeting on Mental Health, Manila, Philippines, Nov. 1999.
- Chairman, Research & Ethical Committee, Psychological Medicine Hospital, Kuwait
- Chairman, Scientific Committee, Psychological Medicine Hospital, Kuwait
- 2000 Outstanding Intellectual of the 20th Century, Cambridge International Biographical Centre, November 2000
- 2000 Outstanding Scientist of the 20th Century, Cambridge International Biographical Centre, February 2001
- Invitation by Editors of “Current Opinion in Psychiatry” to review family burden on mental illness papers published in 2002 ( Lippincott Williams &Wilkins, Lonndon). Oct 2002.
- Reviewer for Journal of the National Medical Association, September 2002 –
- Hospital/ Ministry of Health, Kuwait financial award for clinical excellence, 2002
- Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the “ First Gulf Conference on Mental Health, Kuwait” Dec 8 –10 2003.
- Invitation from Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University, USA ( Dr D. Hinton) to contribute chapters to books on “Isolated Sleep Paralysis” and “Culturally Sensitive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy”: 2003
- Guest Editor, by invitation, for a special edition of the journal: eCOMMUNITY: International Journal of Mental Health and Addictions
- Invitation ( dated August 24, 2004) to be a member of the international review panel, by the Editor, Medical Science Monitor, based in Alberston, New York. This invitation was based on the Editor’s appreciation of the quality of my paper on the psychosocial burden of SCD.
- Guest Lecturer at Glaxo-Smith Kline ( Nigeria) launch of Seroxat, Sept 2004, Lagos
- Invitation by Glaxo –Smith –Kline (Europe) to serve as international adviser on quality of life of women with cervical cancer. Meeting held in Rome, Italy, April 2 –6, 2005
- International Member, American Psychiatric Association, August, 2006 -
- With Professor Akanji AO et al: Award for best clinical research, Health Sciences Poster Day Conference April 2007.
- Guest Lecturer at the Nov 2007, Lagos, Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria. Title: The third Ayo Binitie Memorial Lecture: COPING WITH THE STRESS OF URBAN LIVING IN THE URBAN MILLENIUM: AYO BINITIE AND CURRENT PERSPECTIVES.
- With Dr. Muhammad A Zahid: Award for best clinical research, Health Sciences Poster Day Conference, April 2010: Schizophrenia Psychopathology in a Kuwaiti Arab sample.
- Member of Editorial Boards: International Journal of Mental Health & Addictions; Iranian Journal of Psychiatry; World Journal of Psychiatry
- Visiting Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, August, 2012
- Visiting Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, October, 2013.
- Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, January 29, 2015
VII. DETAILS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL
- Clinical & Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants’ Hospital, Southampton, England, 1983-1984: under Dr Guy Edwards as mentor
Teaching Psychiatry and Psychology for medical students at UI: 14 years.
- Teaching & Supervision of postgraduate students in psychiatry at UCH, Ibadan, for 14 years.
- Teaching Para-Medical staff at the teaching hospital at UCH, Ibadan, 14 years.
- Visiting Consultant Psychiatrist, Campama Psychiatry Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul Gambia, November 1993-February 1994.
- Founding Psychiatrist, Friends of Campama Psychiatric Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
- Examiner for the Faculty of Psychiatry of the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College (FMCPsych Exams) 1992 –
- Examiner for the Faculty of Psychiatry, West African Postgraduate Medical College,
1993 –
- Associate Lecturer in Psychiatry, Fiji School of Medicine, 1998
- Associate Lecturer in Psychiatry, Kuwait University, September 2000- Jan 2012
- Teaching psychiatry and psychology for medical students, resident doctors, and university postgraduate students: UNN/ UNTH, Enugu, Feb 2012 –
- Supervision of postgraduate work in psychiatry: UNN/ UNTH, Enugu, Feb 2012-
VIII. EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Astrology, readings in Philosophy, playing piano and writing.
IX. RECENT RESEARCH PROPOSALS IN KUWAIT:
The tentative topics being prepared as research proposals for funding as Departmental Research are:
1 The Psychobiology of Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder and its relationship with 3-year naturalistic treatment outcome in an Arab setting
2. The pattern of positron emission tomography cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with schizophrenia, their healthy parents, and healthy controls and association with 2-year clinical outcome and neurocognitive impairment: submitted to KFAS, July 2016
3. The heritability of neurocognitive impairments in schizophrenia: a controlled family study
4. Longitudinal patterns of neurocognitive impairments in a cohort of Arab college students: correlation with social intelligence, current life stress, positive/ negative affect and academic performance
X. SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS IN LEARNED JOURNALS
In order to have a proper grasp of psychiatry in our culture, and considering the dearth of psychiatrists in the developing countries that I have worked in, it was necessary to research into various aspects of the discipline. Although my research efforts in the past years can be classified into seven broad groups, my greatest interest, so far, has been in the area of general adult psychiatry/psychopathology – which involved the study of the clinical features and psychotherapeutic management of the commonest illnesses confronting psychiatric practice in Nigeria and Kuwait. Within the opportunities of my practice as a general adult psychiatrist, my research has focused on the psychopathology and outcome of schizophrenia and major affective disorders. However, in the last ten years of my stay in Kuwait, my publications centered on social psychiatry, with a focus on psychosocial outcome (family caregiver burden and quality of life) in psychiatric states (schizophrenia, major affective disorders, and neuroses) in comparison with chronic medical illnesses (diabetes mellitus, cancer, epilepsy, sickle cell disease and multiple sclerosis). Of note, our quality of life studies have involved general population and clinical samples in two Arab countries, Sudan and Kuwait. Recently, I have led my group in using the technique of structural equation modeling (specifically, confirmatory factor analysis) to contribute to the current debate on the relationship between the symptoms of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. This was a problem in the recently concluded efforts to produce the fifth edition of the USA DSM-V as well as the on-going work on the WHO ICD-11. I have also participated in work on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and biological psychiatry in Kuwait. My commanding role in these studies is shown by the fact that, of the 120 scientific publications listed below, I was either first/sole or corresponding author in over two-thirds, while playing other roles in the remaining. A PubMed/Medline search of my name will show that, in 2010, my group in Kuwait had ten scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.
The broad groups of my publications are as follows:
A. Clinical Psychiatry/psychopathology
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