Faculty profile

Shelley McMain

ResearcherUniversity of Toronto

This profile is built from public research funding records (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) and PubMed. We have not imported them from a University of Toronto directory, so their courses and email address may be missing. Find their university profile.

Shelley McMain

Researcher

Health Sciences

University of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Supervision signals

Has led research grants, which requires an independent research appointment. Ask their department whether they supervise graduate students.
20 publications in the last five years, latest in 2026.
Senior (last) author on 4 recent papers, a sign of leading a research group.
Principal investigator on 5 research grants (5 CIHR), most recently in 2024.

These signals come from public records, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

Academic metrics

Publications

253

Citations

h-index

Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the works listed on the university profile; citation counts come from Dimensions.

Profiles and links

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Signals and details

Research

Borderline Personality Disorder Anesthesiology Clinical Trial Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Ketamine Major Depressive Disorder Psychotherapy Suicide

Latest papers

The role of different forms of adverse childhood experiences in borderline personality disorder: results from a network analysis including clinical and non-clinical populations.
Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation · 2026
Genome-wide association analyses of borderline personality disorder identify 11 loci and highlight shared risk with mental and somatic disorders.
Nature genetics · 2026
Treatment modifiers of interpersonal functioning in psychotherapy for people with borderline personality disorder: Systematic review with meta-analyses of individual participant data.
Clinical psychology review · 2026

All 40 publications

Latest funding

Synthesizing Cognitive Control and Decision-Making Risk Factors for Suicide Attempt in Adults At High-Risk for Suicide: A Suicide Ideation-to-Action Approach
CIHR · 2026 · Co-investigator
$1,323,450
Combining Ketamine with Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for Suicidality in Individuals with Treatment Resistant Depression and Borderline Personality Disorder: A Phase II Randomized, Midazolam-Controlled Clinical Trial
CIHR · 2024 · Principal investigator
$1,362,848
Targeting opioid neurotransmission in borderline personality disorder with self-harming behavior: A [11C]NOP-1A positron emission tomography study
CIHR · 2020 · Co-investigator
$520,200

All 11 grants and awards

40 publications.

The role of different forms of adverse childhood experiences in borderline personality disorder: results from a network analysis including clinical and non-clinical populations.

Vonderlin R, Senyüz B, Claus C, Mahalingam S, Schulze A, Koch S, Voderholzer U, Schmahl C, Margraf J, Teismann T, Kleindienst N, Boritz T, McMain S, Bohus M, Lis S

Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation2026

DOI: 10.1186/s40479-026-00356-0 PMID: 42449464

Genome-wide association analyses of borderline personality disorder identify 11 loci and highlight shared risk with mental and somatic disorders.

Streit F, Awasthi S, Hall ASM, Braun A, Niarchou M, Marouli E, Babajide O, Frank J, Zillich L, Callies CM, Avetyan D, Zillich E, Naamanka J, Gonzalez J, Harder A, Lu Y, Aherrahrou Z, Ahmad ZU, Ask H, Batzler A, Benros ME, Brand-de Wilde OM, Brunak S, Bruun MT, Christoffersen LAN, Colodro-Conde L, Coombes BJ, Corfield EC, Dahmen N, Didriksen M, Dinh KM, Djurovic S, Dowsett J, Drange OK, Dukal H, Edelmann S, Erikstrup C, Espinola MK, Fassbinder E, Faucon A, Ferreira de Sá DS, Foo JC, Gilles M, Gutiérrez-Zotes A, Hansen TF, Haraldsson M, Harper RP, Havdahl A, Heilbronner U, Herms S, Hjalgrim H, Hübel C, Jacob GA, Aagaard B, Jorgensen A, Jungkunz M, Kleindienst N, Knoblich N, Koglin S, Kraft J, Krebs K, Lee CW, Lin Y, Lis S, Lisoway A, Malogiannis IA, Martinsen A, Maslahati T, Merz K, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Mikkelsen S, Mikkelsen C, Mobascher A, Muntané G, Oddsson A, Ostrowski SR, Palviainen T, Pedersen OBV, Pedersen G, Quinn L, Reinhard MA, Ruths FA, Schott BH, Schredl M, Schwarz E, Schwarze CE, Schwinn M, Send TS, Sigurdsson E, Simon-Keller K, Skuladottir AT, Soler J, Sonley A, Sørensen E, Stefansson H, Straub P, Suvisaari J, Tesli M, Træholt J, Ullum H, Völker MP, Walters GB, Wang R, Witt CC, Zarbock G, Zill P, Zwart JA, DBDS Genomic Consortium, GLAD Study, HUNT All-In Psychiatry, Andreassen OA, Arntz A, Biernacka JM, Bohus M, Breen G, Chapman AL, Cichon S, Davis LK, Deuschle M, Euler S, Herpertz SC, Hummelen B, Jobst A, Kaprio J, Kennedy JL, Lehto K, Lieb K, Martorell L, McMain S, Musil R, Nieratschker V, Nöthen MM, Padberg F, Palotie A, Pascual JC, Perroud N, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Ribases M, Roepke S, Rujescu D, Sanchez-Roige S, Schilling C, Schmahl C, Stefansson K, Thorgeirsson TE, Turecki G, Vilella E, Werge T, Winsvold BS, Wrege J, Rietschel M, Ripke S, Witt SH

Nature genetics2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41588-026-02654-3 PMID: 42477112

Treatment modifiers of interpersonal functioning in psychotherapy for people with borderline personality disorder: Systematic review with meta-analyses of individual participant data.

Pereira Ribeiro J, Stoffers-Winterling J, Jørgensen MS, Juul S, Matbouriahi M, Fisher D, van Ballegooijen W, Kongerslev M, Simonsen E, Karyotaki E, Cuijpers P, Bateman A, Klein JP, Amianto F, Fonagy P, Dixon-Gordon K, Chapman AL, Thomaes K, Jacob GA, Kramer U, Philips B, Franck J, Priebe S, Zanarini MC, Black DW, McMain S, Dekker J, Storebø OJ

Clinical psychology review2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2026.102707 PMID: 41655316

Treatment Moderators of Symptom Severity in Psychotherapy for People with Borderline Personality Disorder: Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses of Individual Participant Data.

Pereira Ribeiro J, Stoffers-Winterling J, Jørgensen MS, Juul S, Matbouriahi M, Fisher D, van Ballegooijen W, Kongerslev MT, Simonsen E, Karyotaki E, Cuijpers P, Bateman A, Klein JP, Amianto F, Fonagy P, Porter R, Dixon-Gordon K, Chapman AL, Thomaes K, Jacob GA, Kramer U, Philips B, Franck J, Majdara E, Priebe S, Chanen A, Nicol K, Mueser KT, Carlyle D, Zanarini MC, Black DW, McMain S, Dekker J, Storebø OJ

Psychotherapy and psychosomatics2026

DOI: 10.1159/000548417 PMID: 41134728

Psychometric properties of the BSL-23 (English translation) and its equivalency with the BSL-23 (German): an analysis based on Item Response Theory

Labrish C, Alter U, Kleindienst N, Streiner DL, Bohus M, McMain S

BMC Psychiatry2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1186/s12888-026-07863-y

Genome-wide association study of borderline personality disorder identifies 11 loci and highlights shared risk with mental and somatic disorders.

Streit F, Awasthi S, Hall AS, Braun A, Niarchou M, Marouli E, Babajide O, Frank J, Zillich L, Callies CM, Avetyan D, Zillich E, Naamanka J, Gonzalez J, Harder A, Lu Y, Aherrahrou Z, Ahmad ZU, Ask H, Batzler A, Benros ME, Brand-de Wilde OM, Brunak S, Bruun MT, Christoffersen LA, Colodro-Conde L, Coombes BJ, Corfield EC, Dahmen N, Didriksen M, Dinh KM, Djurovic S, Dowsett J, Drange OK, Dukal H, Edelmann S, Erikstrup C, Espinola MK, Fassbinder E, Faucon A, de Sá DSF, Foo JC, Gilles M, Gutiérrez-Zotes A, Hansen TF, Haraldsson M, Harper RP, Havdahl A, Heilbronner U, Herms S, Hjalgrim H, Hübel C, Jacob GA, Aagaard B, Jorgensen A, Jungkunz M, Kleindienst N, Knoblich N, Koglin S, Kraft J, Krebs K, Lee CW, Lin Y, Lis S, Lisoway A, Malogiannis IA, Martinsen A, Maslahati T, Merz K, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Mikkelsen S, Mikkelsen C, Mobascher A, Muntané G, Oddsson A, Ostrowski SR, Palviainen T, Pedersen OB, Pedersen G, Quinn L, Reinhard MA, Ruths FA, Schott BH, Schredl M, Schwarz E, Schwarze CE, Schwinn M, Send T, Sigurdsson E, Simon-Keller K, Skuladottir AT, Soler J, Sonley A, Sørensen E, Stefansson H, Straub P, Suvisaari J, Tesli M, Træholt J, Ullum H, Völker MP, Walters GB, Wang R, Witt CC, Zarbock G, Zill P, Zwart JA, DBDS Genomic Consortium, Estonian Biobank Research Team, GLAD Study, HUNT All-In Psychiatry, Andreassen OA, Arntz A, Biernacka JM, Bohus M, Breen G, Chapman AL, Cichon S, Davis LK, Deuschle M, Euler S, Herpertz SC, Hummelen B, Jobst A, Kaprio J, Kennedy JL, Lehto K, Lieb K, Martorell L, McMain S, Musil R, Nieratschker V, Nöthen MM, Padberg F, Palotie A, Pascual JC, Perroud N, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Ribases M, Roepke S, Rujescu D, Sanchez-Roige S, Schilling C, Schmahl C, Stefansson K, Thorgeirsson TE, Turecki G, Vilella E, Werge T, Winsvold BS, Wrege J, Rietschel M, Ripke S, Witt SH

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences2025

DOI: 10.1101/2024.11.12.24316957 PMID: 40832388

An examination of the role of PTSD and childhood trauma on treatment outcomes for individuals with borderline personality disorder in dialectical behavior therapy.

Christensen KE, McMain S, Chapman A, Kuo JR

Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation2025

DOI: 10.1186/s40479-025-00322-2 PMID: 41225564

A first look at diversity gaps in psychotherapy research publications and representation.

Solomonov N, Chen SZ, Briskin EA, Castonguay L, Krause M, McMain S, Duggal C, Youn SJ, Lorenzo-Luaces L, Barber JP

Psychotherapy research : journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research2025

DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2024.2428693 PMID: 39573848

Short-term versus long-term psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder: a protocol for an individual patient data pooled analysis of two randomised clinical trials.

Juul S, McMain S, Olsen MH, Chapman A, Pereira Ribeiro J, Storebø OJ, Kuo J, Hestbaek E, Kamp CB, Rishede M, Frandsen FW, Bo S, Poulsen S, Sørensen P, Bateman A, Simonsen S, Jakobsen JC

BMJ open2025

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096436 PMID: 40897475

The Borderline Symptom List-Interview: development and psychometric evaluation of an observer-based instrument for assessing symptom severity in borderline personality disorder.

Senyüz B, Vonderlin R, Claus C, Mahalingam S, Koch S, Voderholzer U, Teismann T, Kleindienst N, Böhnke JR, Lis S, Boritz T, McMain S, Bohus M

Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation2025

DOI: 10.1186/s40479-025-00310-6 PMID: 40877981

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Borderline Personality Disorder Dear Professor McMain, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "The role of different forms of adverse childhood experiences in borderline personality disorder: results from a network analysis including clinical and non-clinical populations." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Combining Ketamine with Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for Suicidality in Individuals with Treatment Resistant Depression and Borderline Personality Disorder: A Phase II Randomized, Midazolam-Controlled Clinical Trial" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

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Shelley McMain

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

The role of different forms of adverse childhood experiences in borderline personality disorder: results from a network analysis including clinical and non-clinical populations.

Genome-wide association analyses of borderline personality disorder identify 11 loci and highlight shared risk with mental and somatic disorders.

Treatment modifiers of interpersonal functioning in psychotherapy for people with borderline personality disorder: Systematic review with meta-analyses of individual participant data.

Treatment Moderators of Symptom Severity in Psychotherapy for People with Borderline Personality Disorder: Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses of Individual Participant Data.

Psychometric properties of the BSL-23 (English translation) and its equivalency with the BSL-23 (German): an analysis based on Item Response Theory

Genome-wide association study of borderline personality disorder identifies 11 loci and highlights shared risk with mental and somatic disorders.

An examination of the role of PTSD and childhood trauma on treatment outcomes for individuals with borderline personality disorder in dialectical behavior therapy.

A first look at diversity gaps in psychotherapy research publications and representation.

Short-term versus long-term psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder: a protocol for an individual patient data pooled analysis of two randomised clinical trials.

The Borderline Symptom List-Interview: development and psychometric evaluation of an observer-based instrument for assessing symptom severity in borderline personality disorder.

Frequent collaborators

Shelley McMain

Paul Links

Alexander Chapman

Skye Fitzpatrick

Juveria Zaheer

David Lloyd Streiner

Gustavo Turecki

Allison Crawford

Neil Vasdev

Isabelle Boileau

Gillian Strudwick

Paul Kurdyak

Alex Abramovich

Shehzad Ali

Darren Courtney

Andreea Diaconescu

Alex Abramovich

Wei Wang

Rachel Liebman

Pablo Rusjan

Marta Maslej

Yona Lunsky

Brian Rush

Michael Mak

Daniel Blumberger

Vicky Stergiopoulos

Fang Liu

Yona Lunsky

Vicky Stergiopoulos

Paul Links

Marilyn Korzekwa