❮ Back to Researchers

Venkat Bhat

MD MSc FRCPC DABPN

Investigator

Email: venkat.bhat@unityhealth.to
Tel: 416-360-4000 x76404

Research Programs

Biography

Dr. Bhat is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He is currently a staff psychiatrist based at two Depression Centres: The Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies at St. Michael’s Hospital and the Poul Hansen Depression Centre at Toronto Western Hospital. At St. Michael’s Hospital, he is the Director of the Interventional Psychiatry Program which offers novel psychopharmacological (e.g. IV ketamine/other anesthetic agents), neurostimulation (e.g. rTMS, ECT, emerging neurostimulation modalities) and digital therapeutic (mobile-based monitoring and interventions) interventions for Mood and other Disorders. At Toronto Western Hospital, he has a focus on invasive neurostimulation (Deep Brain Stimulation and Invasive Brain Mapping) and is currently leading a study comparing ECT to IV Ketamine for Treatment-resistant Depression. Dr. Bhat collaborates closely with anesthesia, imaging, informatics, neurology and neurosurgery to offer emerging and procedural interventions for psychiatric disorders, his research program aims to understand treatment-response with these emerging interventions.

Recent Publications

  1. Demchenko, I, Al-Shamali, HF, Rueda, A, Tailor, I, Janssen-Aguilar, R, Schweizer, TA et al.. Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Neuronavigation for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Mood Disorders: Technical Foundation, Advances, and Emerging Tools. Hum Brain Mapp. 2025;46 (17):e70424. doi: 10.1002/hbm.70424. PubMed PMID:41310980 PubMed Central PMC12660162.
  2. Meshkat, S, Lin, Q, Tassone, VK, Y M Pang, H, Lou, W, Bhat, V et al.. The Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Limitations in Physical Functioning. Depress Anxiety. 2025;2025 :9990793. doi: 10.1155/da/9990793. PubMed PMID:41256911 PubMed Central PMC12623077.
  3. Janssen-Aguilar, R, Vije, T, Peera, M, Al-Shamali, HF, Meshkat, S, Lin, Q et al.. Ketogenic Diets and Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2025; :. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.3261. PubMed PMID:41191382 PubMed Central PMC12590392.
  4. Demchenko, I, Tailor, I, Chegini, S, Yu, H, Gholamali Nezhad, F, Rueda, A et al.. Human applications of transcranial temporal interference stimulation: A systematic review. Brain Stimul. 2025;18 (6):2054-2066. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2025.10.023. PubMed PMID:41167554 .
  5. Parkington, K, Aguilar, RJ, Lee, GH, Rueda, A, Adamsahib, F, Al-Hassan, M et al.. Digital health monitoring for adults with treatment-resistant depression: Observational feasibility study protocol. PLoS One. 2025;20 (10):e0333484. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0333484. PubMed PMID:41134764 PubMed Central PMC12551856.
  6. Malik, MI, Lou, W, Bisleri, G, Connelly, K, Bhat, V. Machine Learning Reveals How Depression Influences Chest Pain Localisation and Its Predictive Value for Coronary Artery Disease. Can J Cardiol. 2025; :. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2025.09.017. PubMed PMID:40972896 .
  7. Ladha, KS, Lee, J, Mattina, GF, Pazmino-Canizares, J, Wijeysundera, DN, Nezhad, FG et al.. Sustained mood improvement with laughing gas exposure (SMILE): a randomised, placebo-controlled pilot trial of nitrous oxide for treatment-resistant depression. BJPsych Open. 2025;11 (5):e208. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2025.10823. PubMed PMID:40936464 PubMed Central PMC12451564.
  8. Vyas, MV, de Oliveira, C, Saposnik, G, Austin, PC, Yu, AY, Haldenby, O et al.. Increased risk of suicide after stroke: A population-based matched cohort study. Int J Stroke. 2025; :17474930251379165. doi: 10.1177/17474930251379165. PubMed PMID:40913243 .
  9. Zeifman, R, Danias, G, Agin-Liebes, G, Pagni, B, Kettner, H, Bhat, V et al.. Psychedelic Therapy, Positive Emotional Experiences, and the Central Role of Self-Compassion. Res Sq. 2025; :. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7420529/v1. PubMed PMID:40894046 PubMed Central PMC12393679.
  10. Tassone, VK, Quesnel, DA, Parkington, K, Rueda, A, Martin, J, Lee, GH et al.. Improving adherence to physical activity in treatment-resistant depression: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial of a remotely delivered program. PLoS One. 2025;20 (9):e0330848. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0330848. PubMed PMID:40892783 PubMed Central PMC12404371.
Search PubMed

Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Associate Scientist, LKSKI & KRCBS (core affiliation)
  • Director, Interventional Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital (other affiliation)
  • Clinician Investigator, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network (other affiliation)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto (other affiliation)