Kathryn Gill obtained her PhD in Psychology (1990) and conducted post-doctoral studies in Pharmacology at the Alcohol Research Centre (Supervisor: Dr. Dick Dietrich), and in Psychiatry at the Addiction Research and Treatment Services (Supervisor, Dr. Tom Crowley) at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Centre in Denver. While in Colorado she trained clinically in the treatment of substance dependence, and initiated a program of research on genetic vulnerability to substance dependence among Aboriginal peoples, and the treatment of opioid dependence.Ìý Currently she is an Associate Professor and member of the Division of Transcultural Psychiatry at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, and the Director of Research in the Mental Health Mission (MHM) of the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Health Centre (MUHC). The Mental Health Mission encompasses all of the clinical services of the MUHC Psychiatry department, including the as well as Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis and Personality disorders programs at the Allan Memorial Institute. Additional administrative duties are performed as Co-leader of the Mental Illness and Addiction Axis at the of the MUHC. She is a member of the National Network for Aboriginal Mental Health Research, and – a recently formed Quebec-based, funded network devoted to clinical research in primary care settings.
She divides her time between working at the Addictions Unit treating patients with drug- and alcohol dependence using a combination of group and individual CBT-oriented psychotherapy, teaching at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and conducting research. Current studies use both quantitative and qualitative methods to study knowledge translation within primary care, treatment outcomes for addiction, as well as pain sensitivity, hyperalgesia, and affective dysregulation among patients undergoing detoxification for both illicit and prescription opioid dependence.
kathryn.gill [at] mcgill.ca (Email)
Selected Publications
Charney, D., Heath, L., Zikos, E., Palacios-Boix, J., & Gill, K. J. (2015). Poorer Outcomes with Citalopram Treatment for Alcohol Dependence: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Published online: 24 JUL 2015 | DOI: 10.1111/acer.12802
Gill, K. J., Heath, L., Derevensky, J., & Torrie, J. (2015). The Social and Psychological Impacts of Gambling in the Cree Communities of Northern Québec, Journal of Gambling Studies. Published online: 31 May 2015| DOI:10.1007/s10899-015-9553-y
Maynard, S., Campbell, E., Boodhoo, K., Gauthier, G., Charney, D., Xenocostas, S., & Gill, K. J. (2015). From policy to practice: a look at the implementation of Québec’s frontline prevention program for substance use. Healthcare Policy, in press.
Gill, K. J., Maynard, S., Campbell, E., Boodhoo, K., Gauthier, G., Xenocostas, S., Charney, D., & Macaulay, A. C. (2014). Aperçu de deux études sur le programme du gouvernement du Québec pour la prévention, la réduction et le traitemement des problèmes de dépendances. L'intervenant.
Gill, K. J., Campbell, E., Gauthier, G., Charney, D., Xenocostas, S., & Macaulay, A. (2014). From policy to practice: implementing frontline community health services for substance dependence. Implementation Science, 9:108.
Coupland, S., Fraser, R., Palacios-Boix, J., Charney, D. A., Negrete, J. C., Gill, K. J.Ìý(2014). Illicit and Prescription Opiate Dependence: The Impact of Axis II Psychiatric Comorbidity on Detoxification Outcome, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, S10:008. doi: 10.4172/2155-6105.S10-008.
Mauger, S., Fraser, R., & Gill, K. J. (2014). Utilizing buprenorphine-naloxone to treat illicit and prescription opioid dependence, Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 10:587-598. DOI:
Ducharme, S., Fraser, R., &Â Gill, K. J.Ìý(2012). Update on the clinical use of Buprenorphine in opioid-related disorders. Canadian Family Physician, 58:37-41.
Gauthier, G., Palacios-Boix, J., Charney, D. A., Negrete, J. C., Pentney, H., & Gill, K. J. (2011) Comparison of Brief and Standard Interventions for Drug and Alcohol Dependence: Considerations for Primary Care Service Delivery.ÌýCanadian Journal of Community Mental Health 30: 93- 104.
Zikos E, & Gill, K. J. Charney D (2010) Personality disorders among alcoholic outpatients: Prevalence and course in treatment.ÌýCanadian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(2):65-73.
Charney D, Zikos E, &Â Gill, K. J. (2010) Early recovery from alcohol dependence: Factors that promote or impede abstinence.ÌýÂ J Substance Abuse Treatment, 38:42-50.
Gill, K. J. (2010). Les Impacts Sociaux et Psychologiques Des Jeux De Hazard Parmi Les Cries Du Québec.Ìý(The Social and Psychological Impact of Gambling in the Cree Communities of Northern Québec).ÌýFinal report for the Programme des Actions concertées - Impacts socioéconomiques des jeux de hasard et d'argent, Fonds québecois de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC), Revised final report, July 30, 2010, Montréal, Québec.Ìý
Nishikawa, M., Diksic, M., Sakai, Y., Kumano, H., Charney, D., Palacios-Boix, J., Negrete, J. C., & Gill, K. J. (2009) Alterations in brain serotonin synthesis in male alcoholics measured using positron emission tomography (PET).ÌýAlcoholism: Clinical Experimental Research, 33:233-239.
Charney, D., Palacios-Boix, J., Gill, K. J. (2007) Sexual abuse and the outcome of addiction treatment.ÌýAmerican Journal on Addictions, 16: 93-100.
Margolese, H. L., Tempier, R., Negrete, J. C., &Â Gill, K. J. (2006) A twelve-month prospective follow-up study of patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and substance abuse: changes in psychiatric symptoms and substance abuse.ÌýSchizophrenia Research, 83: 65-75.
Charney, D., Palacios-Boix, J., Negrete, J.C., Dobkin, P.I., &Â Gill, K. J. (2005). The effects of concurrent depression and anxiety on addiction treatment outcome. Psychiatric Services, 56(8), 927-33.
Margolese, H., Malchy, L., Tempier, R., Negrete J.C., & Gill, K. J. (2004). Drug and alcohol use among patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: Levels and consequences. Schizophrenia Research, 67, 157-166.
Igartua, K., Gill, K. J., & Montoro, R. (2003). Internalised homophobia: a factor in depression, anxiety and suicide in the gay and lesbian population.ÌýCanadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 22, 15-30.
Dobkin, P., De Civita, M., Paraherakis, A., & Gill K. J.Ìý(2002). The role of social support in treatment retention and outcomes among outpatient adult substance abusers.ÌýAddiction, 97, 347-356.
Jacobs, K., & Gill, K. J.Ìý(2002). Substance abuse among urban Aboriginals: Association with a history of physical/sexual abuse, Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 1(2), 19-39.
Jacobs, K., & Gill, K. J. (2002). Substance abuse in an urban Aboriginal population: Social, legal and psychological consequences, Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 1(1), 7-25.
Charney, D., Paraherakis, A., & Gill, K. J. (2001). Integrated treatment of comorbid depression and substance use disorders.ÌýJournal of Clinical Psychiatry, 62, 672-677.
Paraherakis, A., Charney, D., &Â Gill, K. J.Ìý(2001). Neuropsychological functioning in substance dependent patients. Substance Use and Misuse, 36 (3), 257-271.
Charney, D., Paraherakis, A., & Gill, K. J. (2000). The treatment of sedative-hypnotic dependence: evaluating clinical predictors of outcome.ÌýJournal of Clinical Psychiatry, 61, 190-195.
Paraherakis, A., Charney, D., Palacios-Boix, J., &Â Gill, K. J. (2000). An abstinence-oriented program for substance use disorders: Poorer outcomes associated with opiate dependence. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 927-931.