The Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre is joint CIUSSS-NIM / UQAM / Concordia academic research and training centre founded in 2006 by Drs. Simon Bacon and Kim Lavoie focusing on research and training in the area of behavioural medicine (including clinical trials and epidemiology) and psychophysiology. The MBMC is based at Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal (HSCM) which is part of the CIUSSS-NIM (Le Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal) and utilises a number of its facilities. The HSCM is a University of Montreal teaching hospital and is the only centre in Quebec to offer the full range of surgical and medical care. The CIUSSS-NIM, which is affiliated with Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Concordia University, is a dynamic and modern facility that serves as host for numerous scientific and professional endeavours, including teaching and research. The MBMC is situated within the HSCM research centre and is part of the Chronic Disease Division, which conducts research in pulmonoogy, cardiology, nephrology, and bariatric care.
- To conduct and promote cutting edge research in the areas of behavioural medicine and psychophysiology, with an emphasis on behavioural trials and epidemiology;
- To provide a state-of-the-art training environment for students, trainees, researchers, and health professionals;
- To contribute new knowledge about the impact of psychological and behavioural factors in the development and progression of chronic disease;
- To develop, test, and disseminate behavioural medicine interventions at the individual and community levels;
- To offer community-based educational opportunities promoting the maintenance of healthy lifestyles.
1. Behavioural epidemiological cohort studies
These studies examine the impact of psychological (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression), social (e.g., sex, gender, socioeconomic status), and behavioural (e.g., smoking, diet, physical activity) factors on the development and progression of chronic disease;
2. Laboratory experimental studies
These studies examine the psychophysiological mechanisms linking psychological and behavioural factors to disease;
3. Intervention studies
These studies test the efficacy and effectiveness of behavioural medicine interventions on the primary and secondary prevention of chronic disease.
Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disease
Focus on major health burdens
In general, the research conducted at the MBMC focuses on the following areas:
- Respiratory
- asthma, occupational asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Cardiovascular
- heart attacks, hypertension, chest pain, ischemic heart disease
- Risk Factors
- Obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes
Our research also focuses on understanding how disease processes can be influenced by specific health behaviours and psychological factors , such as:
- diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep, treatment adherence
- stress, depression, anger, anxiety, worry, motivation, self-efficacy
Research Methods
MBMC investigators use a variety of methods to conduct their research, including;
- Surveys;
- Structured and semi-structured interviews;
- Self-report questionnaires;
- Laboratory functional assessments (e.g., exercise stress testing; pulmonary function testing);
- Nuclear imaging tests (e.g., single photon emission computed tomography, SPECT);
- Anthropomorphic measures (e.g., measures of weight, height, waist circumference, body density);
- Laboratory mental stress tests (e.g., mental arithmetic; public speaking);
- Ambulatory functional assessments (e.g., Holter monitoring; ambulatory peak flow measurements; heart rate variability assessments);
- Ecological momentary assessments (e.g., using hand-held devices to record daily activities, health behaviours, and mood);
- Electronic database assessments (e.g., RAMQ, and MedEcho);
- Behavioural randomized controlled trials (RCT’s).
The Functional Assessment and Psychophysiology Laboratory
The Functional Assessment and Psychophysiology Laboratory is a unique space supervised by an exercise physiologist where functional and behavioral testing is conducted in patients with respiratory disease (i.e., asthma and COPD). The lab offers equipment to test both physical and psychological stress (i.e., maximal treadmill tests and mental stress tasks), as well as body composition analysis and ambulatory physical activity monitoring. Read more about the Lab
Housed at the CIUSSS-NIM, the MBMC is a joint UQAM/Concordia laboratory affiliated with the following departments:
Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal
The Department of Psychology at UQAM is one of the largest psychology departments in Canada, including over 70 full time professors committed to teaching and research across many disciplines (e.g., clinical, health, developmental, neuroscience, social, and industrial/organizational). It offers experimental, clinical, and professional degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as post-doctoral fellowships. The department is located in the heart of downtown Montreal in the Adrian Pinard Pavillion (Science Complex), and has affiliations with several local and international institutions, including Hopital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal. [website]
Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology
The Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology is committed to teaching and research in exercise, health, and physical activity, with emphasis on athletic therapy and clinical exercise physiology. The Department is based in the Richard J. Renaud Science Pavilion, which is a state-of-the-art facility on the Loyola campus. The Department has some internationally recognised researchers in the areas of nutrition, sleep, exercise prescription, and injury prevention/care, a number of whom are affiliated with the MBMC. [website]
Research Funding:
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research, CIHR
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, FRQ-S
- Canadian Partnership against Cancer, CPAC
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Counsel, SSHRC
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, HSFC
- Institut de Recherche en Santé et Sécurité au Travail, IRSST
- GlaxoSmithKline, GSK
- Quebec Lung Association, website
- Canadian Lung Association, website
- Fondation Michel Auger
Salary and Scholarship Support:
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research, CIHR
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, FRQ-S
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture, FRQ-SC
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Counsel, SSHRC
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, HSFC
- Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec
- J.A. De Sève Foundation
- Hydro Québec Foundation
- Hypertension Canada (formerly Canadian Hypertension Society)
- The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
- The American Psychosomatic Society
- The Canadian Psychological Association
- The American Thoracic Society
- The Canadian Cardiovascular Society
- The Institute of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Health of CIHR
- The International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Hypertension Canada
- The Canadian Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (CACPR)
- The American College of Chest Physicians
- The National Institutes of Health (US)
Institutions:
- Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montreal
- Montreal Heart Institute
- Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
- McGill University
- Université de Montréal
Networks:
- International Behavioural Trials Network (IBTN)
- Canadian Network for Health Behaviour Change and Promotion (Can-Change)
- Canadian Respiratory Research Network (CRRN)
- Réseau en santé respiratoire (RSR) du FRQ-S
- Réseau de recherche en santé CardioMétabolique, Diabète et Obésité (CMDO) du FRQ-S
- Gender and Sex Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease: From Bench to Beyond (GENESIS) Ice Team
- Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP)
- Réseau de bio-imagerie du Québec (RBIQ) du FRQ-S
Associations:
- Canadian Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (CACPR)
- Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
- Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS)
- Hypertension Canada (HC)
- Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS)
- Canadian Lung Association (CLA)
- American Psychosomatic Society (APS)
- The Obesity Society (TOS)
- Canadian Obesity Network (CON)
- Society of Behavioural Medicine (SBM)
- International Society for the Advancement of Respiratory Psychophysiology (ISARP)
- American Thoracic Society (ATS)
- Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA)