Dr Jacob Crouse
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Dr Jacob Crouse

B Psych (Hons); MBMSc; PhD
NHMRC Research Fellow
Brain and Mind Centre
Translational Research Collective
Dr Jacob Crouse

Jacob is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Research Fellow and academic lead of the Clinical Stream of the Youth Mental Health and Technology Team at the Brain and Mind Centre (BMC). He obtained his PhD in Mental Health from The University of Sydney in 2021.

He leads a program of research funded by the NHMRC and UK Wellcome Trust, combining biologic, clinical, wearable, and subjective measures to explore the causes of mental disorders in young people—particularly depression and bipolar disorder—and to learn about the factors that shape young people's clinical trajectories, particularly close to the onset of mental disorders. His major interest is in the potential role that dysregulation of the brain and body's circadian clocks might play in the emergence of depressive and bipolar disorders.

To date, Jacob has a total of 65+ peer-reviewed research publications in international journals (e.g., Lancet Psychiatry, Molecular Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry), and is a Chief Investigator on funding from the Wellcome Trust, NHMRC, Medical Research Future Fund, and philanthropy. He is also an Executive Editor for Research Directions: Depression, and an Associate Editor for Australian Psychologist.

Dr Crouse leads the Clinical Stream of the Youth Mental Health and Technology Team, which explores the role of circadian clock disturbance and related biological factors (e.g., genetic variants) as a possible mechanism underlying the onset and course of some types of mood disorders.

Jacob studies these relationships in the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study, Australian Genetics of Depression Study, and the Neurobiology Youth Follow-Up Study, among others.

  • International Society for Bipolar Disorders (Chronobiology Task Force)
  • Society for Mental Health Research
  • International Early Psychosis Association
  • International Society of Affective Disorders
  • International Working Group on Early Intervention in Bipolar Disorders
  • International Working Group on Trans-diagnostic Clinical Staging in Youth Mental Health
Selected awards
  • 2024: Young Investigator Grant, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (USA)
  • 2024: ECR Award, Circadian Mental Health Network (UK)
  • 2023: Young Researcher of the Year, Sydney Research, Sydney Local Health District
  • 2022: ECR Scholar Award, Society for Mental Health Research
  • 2022-2026: NHMRC Investigator Grant (Emerging Leadership I)
  • 2021-2023: Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation Fellowship
  • 2021: E/MCR Seed Funding, PREMISE Centre for Research Excellence
  • 2020: Active Ingredients of Depression in Young People, Wellcome Trust (UK)
  • 2020: Team Award for Impactful Mental Health Research, Society for Mental Health Research
  • 2020: Research Development Grant, Brain and Mind Centre
  • 2019: Research Excellence and Impact Award, Brain and Mind Centre
  • 2017-2020: Research Training Program Scholarship, Australian Government
Neurosciences and Mental Health
Project titleResearch student
Understanding the Trajectories of Mental Illness in Young People to Inform Personalised CareWilliam CAPON

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Scott, E., Carpenter, J., Iorfino, F., Cross, S., Hermens, D., White, D., Lee, R., Naismith, S., Guastella, A., Glozier, N., Leweke, F., Koethe, D., Lagopoulos, J., Scott, J., Hamilton, B., Crouse, J., Tickell (nee Kennedy), A., Nichles, A., Zmicerevska, N., Gehue, L., Kaur, M., Chitty, K., Hickie, I. (2020). Early intervention, prevention, and prediction in mood disorders: Tracking multidimensional outcomes in young people presenting for mental health care. In Bernhard T. Baune (Eds.), Personalized Psychiatry, (pp. 39-62). London: Elsevier. [More Information]
  • Crouse, J., Quintana, D., Hermens, D. (2019). Substance misuse and social cognition on the psychosis-spectrum: A bottom-up framework. In Kathryn Eve Lewandowski, Ahmed A. Moustafa (Eds.), Social Cognition in Psychosis, (pp. 201-217). London: Academic Press. [More Information]

Journals

  • Si, S., Berk, M., Castro, J., Crespo-Facorro, B., Crouse, J., Diaz-Caneja, C., Fett, A., Fortea, A., Frangou, S., Goldstein, B., Hickie, I., et al (2024). Mapping gray and white matter volume abnormalities in early-onset psychosis: an ENIGMA multicenter voxel-based morphometry study. Molecular Psychiatry. [More Information]
  • Poulsen, A., Hickie, I., Alam, M., Crouse, J., Ekambareshwar, M., Loblay, V., Song, C., LaMonica, H. (2024). Overcoming barriers to mHealth co-design in low- and middle-income countries: a research toolkit. Information Technology for Development. [More Information]
  • Crouse, J., Hickie, I., Park, S., Byrne, E., Mitchell, B., Scott, J., Medland, S., Lin, T., Wray, N., Martin, N. (2024). Patterns of stressful life events and polygenic scores for five mental disorders and neuroticism among adults with depression. Molecular Psychiatry. [More Information]

2024

  • Si, S., Berk, M., Castro, J., Crespo-Facorro, B., Crouse, J., Diaz-Caneja, C., Fett, A., Fortea, A., Frangou, S., Goldstein, B., Hickie, I., et al (2024). Mapping gray and white matter volume abnormalities in early-onset psychosis: an ENIGMA multicenter voxel-based morphometry study. Molecular Psychiatry. [More Information]
  • Poulsen, A., Hickie, I., Alam, M., Crouse, J., Ekambareshwar, M., Loblay, V., Song, C., LaMonica, H. (2024). Overcoming barriers to mHealth co-design in low- and middle-income countries: a research toolkit. Information Technology for Development. [More Information]
  • Crouse, J., Hickie, I., Park, S., Byrne, E., Mitchell, B., Scott, J., Medland, S., Lin, T., Wray, N., Martin, N. (2024). Patterns of stressful life events and polygenic scores for five mental disorders and neuroticism among adults with depression. Molecular Psychiatry. [More Information]

2023

  • Wilson, C., Carpenter, J., Crouse, J., Park, S., Koethe, D., Scott, E., Hickie, I. (2023). Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between cardiometabolic measures and clinical stage in young people accessing early intervention mental health services. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. [More Information]
  • Crouse, J., LaMonica, H., Song, C., Boulton, K., Rohleder, C., DeMayo, M., Wilson, C., Loblay, V., Hindmarsh, G., Stratigos, T., Guastella, A., Troy, J., Hickie, I., et al (2023). Designing an app for parents and caregivers to promote cognitive and socioemotional development and well-being among children aged 0 to 5 years in diverse cultural settings: Scientific framework. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 6, 1-10. [More Information]
  • Hickie, I., Merikangas, K., Carpenter, J., Iorfino, F., Scott, E., Scott, J., Crouse, J. (2023). Does circadian dysrhythmia drive the switch into high- or low-activation states in bipolar I disorder? Bipolar Disorders. [More Information]

2022

  • Scott, J., Etain, B., Miklowitz, D., Crouse, J., Carpenter, J., Marwaha, S., Smith, D., Merikangas, K., Hickie, I. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of sleep and circadian rhythms disturbances in individuals at high-risk of developing or with early onset of bipolar disorders. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 135, 104585-1-104585-11. [More Information]
  • Capon, W., Hickie, I., Varidel, M., Prodan, A., Crouse, J., Carpenter, J., Cross, S., Nichles, A., Zmicerevska, N., Guastella, A., Scott, E., Iorfino, F., et al (2022). Clinical staging and the differential risks for clinical and functional outcomes in young people presenting for youth mental health care. BMC Medicine, 20(1). [More Information]
  • LaMonica, H., Crouse, J., Song, C., Alam, M., Ekambareshwar, M., Loblay, V., Yoon, A., Cha, G., Wilson, C., Sweeney-Nash, M., Troy, J., Hickie, I., et al (2022). Developing a Parenting App to Support Young Children's Socioemotional and Cognitive Development in Culturally Diverse Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Protocol for a Co-design Study. JMIR Research Protocols, 11(10), e39225. [More Information]

2021

  • Scott, J., Crouse, J., Ho, N., Carpenter, J., Martin, N., Medland, S., Parker, R., Byrne, E., Couvy-Duchesne, B., Mitchell, B., Hickie, I., et al (2021). Can network analysis of self-reported psychopathology shed light on the core phenomenology of bipolar disorders in adolescents and young adults? Bipolar Disorders, 23(6), 584-594. [More Information]
  • Carpenter, J., Crouse, J., Scott, E., Naismith, S., Wilson, C., Scott, J., Merikangas, K., Hickie, I. (2021). Circadian depression: A mood disorder phenotype. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 126, 79-101. [More Information]
  • Crouse, J., Carpenter, J., Song, C., Hockey, S., Naismith, S., Grunstein, R., Scott, E., Merikangas, K., Scott, J., Hickie, I. (2021). Circadian rhythm sleep–wake disturbances and depression in young people: implications for prevention and early intervention. The Lancet Psychiatry, 8(9), 813-823. [More Information]

2020

  • Carpenter, J., Iorfino, F., Cross, S., Nichles, A., Zmicerevska, N., Crouse, J., Palmer, J., Whitton, A., White, D., Naismith, S., Guastella, A., Hermens, D., Scott, J., Scott, E., Hickie, I. (2020). Cohort profile: The Brain and Mind Centre Optymise cohort: Tracking multidimensional outcomes in young people presenting for mental healthcare. BMJ Open, 10(3), e030985. [More Information]
  • Moustafa, A., Crouse, J., Herzallah, M., Salama, M., Mohamed, W., Misiak, B., Frydecka, D., Al-Dosari, N., Megreya, A., Mattock, K. (2020). Depression Following Major Life Transitions in Women: A Review and Theory. Eye, 123(5), 1501-1517. [More Information]
  • Scott, E., Carpenter, J., Iorfino, F., Cross, S., Hermens, D., White, D., Lee, R., Naismith, S., Guastella, A., Glozier, N., Leweke, F., Koethe, D., Lagopoulos, J., Scott, J., Hamilton, B., Crouse, J., Tickell (nee Kennedy), A., Nichles, A., Zmicerevska, N., Gehue, L., Kaur, M., Chitty, K., Hickie, I. (2020). Early intervention, prevention, and prediction in mood disorders: Tracking multidimensional outcomes in young people presenting for mental health care. In Bernhard T. Baune (Eds.), Personalized Psychiatry, (pp. 39-62). London: Elsevier. [More Information]

2019

  • Crouse, J., Chitty, K., Iorfino, F., White, D., Nichles, A., Zmicerevska, N., Guastella, A., Moustafa, A., Hermens, D., Scott, E., Hickie, I. (2019). Exploring associations between early substance use and longitudinal socio-occupational functioning in young people engaged in a mental health service. PloS One, 14(1), 1-18. [More Information]
  • Hickie, I., Scott, E., Cross, S., Iorfino, F., Davenport, T., Guastella, A., Naismith, S., Carpenter, J., Rohleder, C., Crouse, J., Hermens, D. (2019). Right care, first time: a highly personalised and measurement-based care model to manage youth mental health. Medical Journal of Australia, 211(9), S3-S46. [More Information]
  • Crouse, J., Quintana, D., Hermens, D. (2019). Substance misuse and social cognition on the psychosis-spectrum: A bottom-up framework. In Kathryn Eve Lewandowski, Ahmed A. Moustafa (Eds.), Social Cognition in Psychosis, (pp. 201-217). London: Academic Press. [More Information]

2018

  • Crouse, J., Lee, R., White, D., Moustafa, A., Hickie, I., Hermens, D. (2018). Distress and sleep quality in young amphetamine-type stimulant users with an affective or psychotic illness. Psychiatry Research, 262, 254-261. [More Information]
  • Crouse, J., Moustafa, A., Bogaty, S., Hickie, I., Hermens, D. (2018). Parcellating cognitive heterogeneity in early psychosis-spectrum illnesses: A cluster analysis. Schizophrenia Research, 202, 91-98. [More Information]

2016

  • Moustafa, A., Chakravarthy, V., Phillips, J., Crouse, J., Gupta, A., Frank, M., Hall, J., Jahanshahi, M. (2016). Interrelations between cognitive dysfunction and motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: behavioral and neural studies. Reviews in the Neurosciences, 27(5), 535-548. [More Information]
  • Crouse, J., Phillips, J., Jahanshahi, M., Moustafa, A. (2016). Postural instability and falls in Parkinson's disease. Neuroscience Letters, 27(5), 549-555. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2024

  • Testing a causal model of sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance and youth-onset mood disorders. RESTORE/MELODY, Hickie I, Hockey S, Iorfino F, Naismith S, Crouse J, Wellcome Trust (UK)/Mental Health Award: looking backwards, moving forward understanding how interventions for anxiety

2022

  • FMH Showcase Travel Award 2023, Crouse J, Faculty of Medicine and Health/FMH Showcase Travel Award 2023

In the media

Our internal clocks could be key for preserving mental health (Psyche magazine)

https://psyche.co/ideas/our-internal-clocks-could-be-key-for-preserving-mental-health

How light can shift your mood and mental health (The Conversation)

https://theconversation.com/how-light-can-shift-your-mood-and-mental-health-231282

We looked at genetic clues to depression in more than 14000 people: What we found may surprise you (The Conversation)

https://theconversation.com/we-looked-at-genetic-clues-to-depression-in-more-than-14-000-people-what-we-found-may-surprise-you-227779

Is depression a form of jetlag? (Raising the Bar and ABC Radio National)

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/bigideas/is-depression-a-form-of-jetlag-circadian-rhythm-sleep/104297702

Light and mental health (Triple J Hack)

https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/state-of-the-climate-report/104520796

Researchers identify new genetic risk factors for depression: here's what that means (Euronews)

https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/01/16/researchers-identify-new-genetic-risk-factors-for-depression-heres-what-that-means

Is it harmful to look at your phone first thing in the morning? (SBS News)

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/is-it-harmful-to-look-at-your-phone-first-thing-in-the-morning/7xy50qfro

Light and mental health (ABC Early Saturday Morning)

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/perth-early-saturday-morning/early-saturday-morning/104556158

Seven lifestyle factors reduce your risk of depression, but why? (Sydney Morning Herald)

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/seven-lifestyle-factors-reduce-your-risk-of-depression-but-why-20230919-p5e5z6.html

Mental Health in a Changing World (City of Sydney Library Talks)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJWCf3QkSSg

Daylight saving time is ending for parts of Australia. When and why do we turn back the clock? (The Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/04/daylight-savings-australia-2024-when-do-clocks-go-forward-or-back-saving-april-7-time

It's nearly time to put clocks forward an hour. Where did daylight saving come from? (Sydney Morning Herald)

https://www.smh.com.au/national/clocks-go-forward-this-weekend-where-did-daylight-saving-come-from-20191003-p52xfe.html

Circadian depression, a closer look at body clocks and mental health

https://www.sydney.edu.au/brain-mind/news-and-events/news/circadian-depression-body-clocks-and-mental-health.html