Professor Dheeraj Rai
MBBS, FRCPsych, PhD
Expertise
Autism and neurodevelopmental conditions with a particular focus on co-occurring mental health problems. Methods include epidemiology, randomised controlled trials, qualitative and evidence synthesis.
Current positions
Professor of Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry
Epidemiology and Health Data Science
Contact
Press and media
Many of our academics speak to the media as experts in their field of research. If you are a journalist, please contact the University’s Media and PR Team:
Biography
interventional studies for mental health problems in autistic people. He is interested in improving methods of carrying out effective research with neurodivergent populations.
He leads a group of interdisciplinary researchers, with a focus on carrying out research which has the potential to help improve the health and lives of autistic people and people with other developmental conditions. He passionately believes in involving autistic people and
other stakeholders in research.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Assessing the associations between autism, autistic traits and multiple risk behaviours in adolescence: a longitudinal population-based birth cohort study
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
A PhD mini project, Assessing the associations between autism, autistic traits and multiple risk behaviours in adolescence: a longitudinal population-based birth cohort study;Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/10/2019 to 30/09/2020
Thesis supervisions
Assessing causality of the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring intellectual disability
Supervisors
Antidepressant use during pregnancy
Supervisors
Anti-seizure medication prescription during preconception period and pregnancy with risk of orofacial clefts in offspring
Supervisors
At the intersection of autism and psychosis
Supervisors
Publications
Recent publications
26/06/2026Psychiatric Co-prescribing and Prescribing Characteristics of Older Adults Initiated on Sertraline, Citalopram or Mirtazapine in Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum
Antidepressant prescribing trends for adults with and without autism in the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2023, a population-based cohort study using Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum
Autism Research
Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
A Qualitative Study Exploring the Acceptability of Taking Part in a Large Multicentre RCT of Medication for Anxiety in Autistic Adults (the STRATA Trial)
Autism
Childhood trauma as a mediator between autistic traits and depression
Psychological Medicine
Related people
Professor Golam Khandaker
Professor of Psychiatry and Immunology and MRC Investigator
Epidemiology and Health Data Science
Dr Kayleigh Easey
Senior Lecturer
School of Psychology and Neuroscience
Miss Flo Martin
Honorary Research Associate
Epidemiology and Health Data Science
Dr Paul Madley-Dowd
Research Fellow in Medical Statistics and Health Data Science
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Dr Aws Sadik
Wellcome GW4 Clinical Doctoral Fellow
Epidemiology and Health Data Science