MSc in Psychiatry, McGill University

BA in Psychology, McGill University

Rigas, C., Lavin, P., Hassan, M., Su, C-L., Cinalioglu, K., Vacaflor, K., Dikaios, E., Goodman, A., Ibrahim, M., Gruber, J., Se, J., Sasi, N., Nazar, R., Bodenstein, K., Elbaz, S., Sandra, D., Fajzel, H., Berkani, S., Hanganu, C., Looper, K., Bouchard, S., Seitz, D., Kumar, S., Beauchet, O., Launay, C., McDonald, E., Khoury, B., Drapeau, M., Ryder, A., Battistini, B., Fallavollita, P., Vahia, I., Bukhari, S., Rej, S., & Sekhon, H. (2026). Optimizing Future Telehealth Mental Health Programs: Analyzing Key Predictors of Intervention Response in the Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA). BMC Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07688-1

Garel, N., Rigas, C., Ben M’rad, M., Bodenstein, K., Joober, R., Sekhon, H., & Rej, S. (2023). Psychopharmacology for the clinician: Mindfulness-based intervention for benzodiazepine de-prescription in hemodialysis patients suffering from anxiety and depressive symptoms. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 48(3), E149–E150.

Rigas, C., Lavin, P., Su, C.-L., Hassan, M., Cinalioglu, K., Vacaflor, B., Dikaios, E., ...Vahia, I., Sekhon, H., Bukhari, S., & Rej, S. (2023). Predictors of intervention response of the Telehealth Intervention for Older Adults (TIP-OA) for stress and mental health symptoms during COVID-19 [McGill University]. https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/bg257m06s

Park, H., Rigas, C., Ibrahim, M., Su, C., Eyler, L., Thomas, Z., Nassim, M., Beaulieu, S., Buck, G., & Rej, S. (2023). Efficacy of virtually delivered Qigong/Tai Chi for depression in middle- and older-age adults with bipolar disorder (QT-BD): A pilot randomized controlled trial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 13, 100604.

Moussaoui, G., Rigas, C., Escobar, S., Torres-Platas, S. G., Castel, S., Yang, M., Inhaber, J., Novielli, J., Van Amsterdam, J., Sasi, N., Potes, A., Nikolitch, K., Penheiro, R., Looper, K., Segal, M., Elie, D., Kiss, A., Selchen, S., Hermann, N., ... Rej, S. (2022). Brief mindfulness-oriented interventions (MOIs) to improve psychiatric symptoms in a psychiatric inpatient unit: A randomized controlled feasibility trial. Psychosis, 14(4), 368–377. 

Rigas, C., Park, H., Nassim, M., Su, C.-L., Greenway, K., Lipman, M., McVeigh, C., Novak, M., Trinh, E., Alam, A., Suri, R. S., Mucsi, I., Torres-Platas, S. G., Noble, H., Sekhon, H., Rej, S., & Lifshitz, M. (2022). Long-term effects of a brief mindfulness intervention versus a health enhancement program for treating depression and anxiety in patients undergoing hemodialysis: A randomized controlled trial. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease, 9, 20543581221074560.

Sekhon, H., Lavin, P., Vacaflor, B.,Rigas, C., Cinalioglu, K., Su, C.-L., Bodenstein, K., Dikaios, E., Goodman, A., Raymond, F. C., Ibrahim, M., Bein, M., Gruber, J., Se, J., Sasi, N., Walsh, C., Nazar, R., Hanganu, C., Berkani, S., Royal, I., Schiavetto, A., Looper, K., Launay, C., McDonald, E. G., Seitz, D., Kumar, S., Beauchet, O., Khoury, B., Bouchard, S., Battistini, B., Fallavollita, P., Miresco, M., Bruneau, M.-A., Vahia, I., Bukhari, S. N., & Rej, S. (2022). Isolating together during COVID-19: Results from the telehealth intervention program for older adults. Frontiers in Medicine, 9, 948506.

Dikaios, E., Sekhon, H., Allard, A., Vacaflor, B., Goodman, A., Dwyer, E., Lavin-Gonzalez, P., Mahdanian, A., Park, H., Walsh, C., Sasi, N., Nazar, R., Gruber, J., Su, C. L., Hanganu, C., Royal, I., Schiavetto, A., Cinalioglu, K., Rigas, C., Launay, C., … Bukhari, S. N. (2020). Connecting During COVID-19: A Protocol of a Volunteer-Based Telehealth Program for Supporting Older Adults' Health. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 598356.

Elbaz, S., Cinalioglu, K., Sekhon, K., Gruber, J., Rigas, C., Bodenstein, K., Naghi, K., Lavin, P., Greenway, K. T., Vahia, I., Rej, S., & Sekhon, H. (2021). A systematic review of telemedicine for older adults with dementia during COVID-19: An alternative to in-person health services? Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 761965.

Aumais, M., Rigas, C., Ateba, F., Hayton, B., Kalache, S.; Collin, I.; Schwartz, H., Gust, K.; Wolde-Giorghis, R., Poulin, MJ., Stikarovska, I., St-André, M., Carmel, A.; Kattan, W., Wassef, A.; Keeren, K.; Zelkowitz, P., Herba, CM. & Szekely, E. (2025, May 12-15). Perinatal Multisite Psychiatry Databank: A Cohort Update. [Poster presentation]. Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting, Montreal, Qc, Canada

Rigas, C., Klil-Drori,S., Sekhon, H., & Rej, S. (2023, March 3-6). Virtual Healthcare for Older Adults: Accessibility, Perceptions and Benefits. [Poster presentation]. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA, United States.

Rigas, C., Lavin, P., Sajatovic, M., & Rej, S. (2023, June 23-25). Antidepressant Prescription in Older Adult Bipolar Disorder (OABD). [Poster presentation]. Canadian Psychological Association Annual General Meeting and National Convention. Toronto, ON, Canada.

Rigas, C., Park, H., Ibrahim, M., Buck, G.,& Rej, S. (2023, June 23-25). Efficacy of Qigong/Tai Chi for Depression and Cognition in Middle and Older Age Bipolar Patients During COVID-19: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [Poster presentation]. Canadian Psychological Association Annual General Meeting and National Convention. Toronto, ON, Canada.

Klil-Drori, S., Rigas, C. et al. (2022, October 14-15). Aging and Technology: If a Virtual Tool is Good for Online Shopping Does it Mean It Is Good for a Virtual Medical Appointment? [Poster presentation].Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Scientific Meeting. Montreal, Qc, Canada.

Rigas, C. (2022, April 20). Long-Term Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Intervention vs. a Health Enhancement Program [Oral presentation]. Jewish General Hospital and Lady Davis Institute Psychosocial Research Rounds. Montreal, Qc, Canada.

Rigas, C., Klil-Drori,S., Sekhon, H., & Rej, S. (2022, October 14-15). Virtual Healthcare for All: Accessibility and Use of Telehealth Among Canadian Older Adults. [Poster presentation]. Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Scientific Meeting. Montreal, Qc, Canada.

Rigas, C., Lavin, P., Sekhon, H., & Rej, S. (2022, October 14-15). A Friendly Ear for Mental Health: Predictors of Response to a Novel Telehealth Intervention for Older Adults (TIP-OA) for Stress and Mental Health Symptoms. [Poster presentation]. Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Scientific Meeting. Montreal, Qc, Canada.

Rigas, C., Sekhon, H. & Rej, S. (2022, March 18-21). Predictors of response to a Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) for Stress and Mental Health. [Poster presentation]. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, United States.

Rigas, C., Rej, S., Sekhon, H., & Vahia, I. (2022, June 17-19). Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) for Stress and Mental Health Symptoms: Predictors of Treatment Response. [Online poster presentation]. Canadian Psychological Association Annual General Meeting and National Convention. Calgary, AB, Canada.     

Rigas, C., Sekhon, H. & Rej, S. (2022, March 18-21). Predictors of response to a Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) for Stress and Mental Health. [Poster presentation]. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, United States.

Sekhon, H., Lavin, P., Vacaflor, B., Rigas, C.,…,Rej,S. (2022, October 14-15). Isolating together during COVID-19: Mental Health Effects of a Telehealth Intervention Program for older adults. [Poster presentation]. Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Scientific Meeting. Montreal, Qc, Canada.

• Canadian Graduate Scholarship SSHRC Award, 2025, $120,000

• Fonds de recherche du Québec Santé Award, 2025, $100,000 (declined)

• Graduate Excellence Fellowship, McGill University, 2023, $8000

• Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master’s, Canadian Institute of Health and Research, 2022, $17,500

ResearchGate Profile

Email: christina.rigas@mail.mcgill.ca