A5071285021- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Migration, Health and Trauma
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Migration and Labor Dynamics
- Employment and Welfare Studies
- Ethics in Clinical Research
- Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
- Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- BRCA gene mutations in cancer
- Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
- Child and Adolescent Health
Institute for Research and Development
2015-2024
University of Colombo
2019
One-in-ten Sri Lankans are employed abroad as International Labor Migrants (ILM), mainly domestic maids or low-skilled laborers. Little is known about the impact their migration has on health status of children they 'leave behind'. This national study explored associations between 'left-behind' ILM's with those from comparative non-migrant families. A cross-sectional design multi-stage random sampling was used to survey a total 820 matched for both age and sex. Socio-demographic data were...
Nearly one-in-ten Sri Lankans are employed abroad as International migrant workers (IMW). Very little is known about the mental health of adult members in families left-behind. This study aimed to explore impact economic migration on (common disorders) left-behind Lanka.A cross-sectional survey using multistage sampling was conducted six districts (representing 62% outbound IMW population) Lanka. Spouses and non-spouse caregivers (those providing substantial care for children) from migrants...
Mental health care in post-conflict settings is often not prioritized, despite its important public role. There a salient gap integrating mental into primary care, especially settings. In the Northern province of Sri Lanka, pilot study was conducted to explore feasibility through mhGAP-based training intervention.Using mhGAP intervention modules, 24 h programme held over 3 days for practitioners serving populations (including internally displaced people and returnees). guide video material...
Millions of people undergo displacement in the world. Internally displaced (IDP) are especially vulnerable as they not protected by special legislation contrast to other migrants. Research conducted among IDPs must be correspondingly sensitive dealing with ethical issues that may arise. Muslim Puttalam district North-Western province Sri Lanka were initially from Northern due conflict 1991. In backdrop a study exploring prevalence common mental disorders IDPs, researchers encountered various...
Armed conflicts impact on the health and well-being of everyone, but its effect adolescent mental is a significant, yet under-explored area in global health. Mental disorders which develop during adolescence often lead to behavioural problems, risky decision-making, under-age substance use can adversely educational attainment. This study aimed estimate prevalence common disorders, their correlates with social support resilience among adolescents (age 12-19 years) Vavuniya; post-conflict...
The disease burden related to mental disorders and metabolic syndrome is growing in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). Colombo Twin Singleton Study (COTASS) a population-based sample of twins singletons Colombo, Sri Lanka. Here we present prevalence estimates for (metS) from follow-up (COTASS-2) the original study (COTASS-1), which was health survey. In COTASS-2, participants completed structured interviews, anthropometric measures provided fasting blood urine samples. Depressive...
The Sri Lankan Twin Registry (SLTR), established in 1997, is a unique resource for twin and genetic research low- middle-income country (LMIC). It comprises of volunteer cohort 14,120 twins (7,060 pairs) 119 sets triplets, population-based 19,040 (9,520 89 triplets. Several studies have been conducted using this registry, including the Colombo Singleton Study (CoTaSS 1; 4,387 twins, 2,311 singletons), which explored prevalence heritability range psychiatric disorders as well...
Abstract This study investigated the genetic and environmental contributions to emotional overeating (EOE) depressive symptoms, their covariation, in a Sri-Lankan population, using model-fitting analysis. In total, 3957 twins singletons Colombo Twin Singleton Study-Phase 2 rated EOE behaviour which were significantly associated (men: r = 0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06–0.16, women: 0.12, CI 0.07–0.16). Non-shared factors explained majority of variance men (EOE e 87%, 78–95%; symptoms...
Abstract Engagement with genomic medicine and research has increased globally during the past few decades, including rapid developments in Sri Lanka. Genomic is carried out Lanka on a variety of scales different aims perspectives. However, there are concerns about participants' understanding research, validity informed consent. This article reports qualitative study aiming to explore understanding, knowledge, attitudes Lankan public towards inform development an effective appropriate process...
Life events have been associated with a variety of mental health conditions including depression. There is scarcity research in South Asia exploring the aetiology independent and dependent life their relationship depression symptoms. This study aimed, Sri Lankan population, to identify socio-demographic correlates genetic environmental influences on Questionnaire data came from Colombo Twin Singleton Follow-up Study, CoTaSS-2 (N = 3969), population twins singletons. Lifetime-ever were...
ABSTRACT Objective Results from twin studies examining the genetic overlap between type 2 diabetes and depression are currently inconclusive. This question has not been addressed in non-Western populations. We aimed to examine whether there common factors a Sri Lankan population using model-fitting analysis. Method The Colombo Twin Singleton Study–Phase consists of 2019 singletons, 842 monozygotic 578 dizygotic pairs. primary outcomes were self-reported diagnosis Beck Depression Inventory...
Introduction Worldwide, 10%–20% of children and adolescents experience mental health conditions. However, most such disorders remain undiagnosed until adolescence or adulthood. Little is known about the factors that influence in adolescents, especially low middle-income countries (LMIC), where environmental threats, as poverty war, may affect optimal neurodevelopment. Cohort studies provide important information on risks resilience across life course by enabling tracking effects early...
Abstract Introduction Biobanks are a valuable resource for creating advancements in science through cutting-edge omics research. Twin research methods allow us to understand the degree which genetics and environmental factors contribute health outcomes. Methods The Sri Lankan Registry biobank (SLTR-b) was established 2015 as part of Colombo Singleton Follow-up Study. Venous blood urine were collected from twins comparative sample singletons clinical investigations biobanking. Results SLTR-b...
Abstract Anxiety not only concerns mental wellbeing but also negatively impacts other areas of health. Yet, there is limited research on (a) the genetic and environmental aetiology such relationships; (b) sex differences in (c) non-European samples. In this study, we investigated variation covariation anxiety symptoms eight components health-related quality life (QoL), as measured by short form health survey (SF-36), using twin model fitting analysis. Data was drawn from Colombo Twin...
Abstract Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) globally have undergone rapid urbanisation, changes in demography health behaviours. In Sri Lanka, cardio-vascular disease diabetes are now leading causes of mortality. High prevalence their risk factors, including hypertension, dysglycaemia obesity also been observed. Diet is a key modifiable factor for both as well factors. Although typically thought an environmental factor, dietary choice has shown to be genetically influenced, genes...
Nutrition and diet are key modifiable risk factors for the rising burden of non-communicable diseases like cardio-vascular diabetes in low- middle- income countries (LMICs). The nutritional transition dietary behaviours LMICs has most likely contributed to this problem. Although traditionally assumed be environmental, choices also genetically influenced. Twin study designs can used investigate relative influence genes environment on nutrition intake, eating associated psychological health....
BackgroundGenomic research allows new discoveries to alleviate human suffering but in turn raises significant ethical issues. In this context, public acceptance and engagement is a major determinant of optimization genomic research. Therefore, understanding perspectives related imperative, as it provides foundation address issues which may be unknown researchers other stakeholders. Although medicine has developed Sri Lanka during the past decade, there paucity about knowledge attitudes...
Depression often co-occurs with poor health-related quality of life (HRQL). Twin studies report genetic and individual-level environmental underpinnings in the aetiology both depression HRQL, but there is limited twin research exploring this association further. There also little evidence on sex differences non-Western populations are underrepresented. In paper we explored phenotypic aetiological relationship between depressive symptoms HRQL possible a low-middle-income Sri Lankan...