John Joska

A professor of psychiatry, Head of the Division of Neuropsychiatry at Groote Schuur Hospital and a Director of the HIV Mental Health Research Unit in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town.

Professor Joska established a research program in NeuroHIV in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The group has been funded by the NIMH, EDCTP, MRC and NRF. Projects include neurobiological investigations of the effects of HIV on brain structure and function, and neurobehavioral studies of adherence and psychological interventions. The group is interested in screening for neurocognitive disorders, as well as the combined effects of HIV and ageing on the brain.

Research Interests

My area of interest is HIV and the brain from a neurologic and behavioural point of view. I am specifically interested in how HIV might cause or aggravate cognitive disorders, how these conditions might be measured, and how they might be mitigated. As populations with HIV age, this will be a particular issue. Our Group has also researched several behavioural interventions in the context of HIV care engagement and ART adherence. We have expertise in developing and adapting interventions for depression, sexual trauma, and substance abuse.

Research Areas

Clinical Neuroscience • Cognitive & Behavioural Neuroscience

Education

University of Cape Town - 1993 MBChB, Equivalent to MD

Colleges of Medicine of South Africa - 2002 FCPsych, Psychiatry

University of Cape Town – 2004 Master of Medicine (Psychiatry), General Psychiatry

University of Cape Town - 2011 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Psychiatry

Colleges of Medicine of South Africa - 2021 Certificate Neuropsychiatry (SA)