Dr. Monique Aucoin ND
Adjunct Professor
College of Biological Science, Department of Human Health Sciences
Profile
I’ve always had a passion for both healthcare and research, in the fields of nutrition, naturopathic medicine, education, and knowledge translation.
In my clinical work, as a Naturopathic Doctor, I am privileged to collaborate with individuals on their health goals. Naturopathic medicine is a system of health care that combines natural and traditional approaches to healing with modern scientific evidence. I have been practicing naturopathic medicine for more than 10 years with a focus in supporting individuals experiencing mood and anxiety disorders using dietary counselling, lifestyle modification and natural health products.
It was not long after completing my naturopathic training that I became active in research. I began working as a volunteer research assistant at a psychiatry clinic, and I am now a Senior Research Fellow at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. My research interests are primarily related to two topics. One is the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. In my clinical work, I support individuals in improving their diet and lifestyle and witness significant improvements in their mental health outcomes. Unfortunately, the use of diet in mental healthcare has only recently begun to be rigorously studied and dietary counselling is currently offered very infrequently to individuals accessing mental healthcare services in Canada. My work aims to shift this. My other research interest relates to knowledge translation, science communication, evidence-based health care, and education.
Education
- BMSc – University of Western Ontario
- ND – Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
- MSc – University of Guelph
Research
1. The effects of nutrients and dietary patterns on the prevention and treatment of mental disorder I have conducted several scoping and systematic reviews on the relationship between nutritional factors and mental disorders.
I have published case reports from my clinical practice. I am currently leading a randomized, waitlist controlled clinical trial which is delivering dietary counselling and omega-3 supplementation to adult women experiencing generalized anxiety disorder.
2. Evidence-based practice and knowledge translation
I am passionate about the use scientific evidence in clinical care. This includes evidence about the role of nutrition in mental health, which is currently underutilized in clinical care. I completed a knowledge translation project that involved the creation and pilot testing of an evidence-based handout for facilitating a conversation about diet and mental health.
I am also interested in the use of evidence more broadly. I led the design and evaluation of an Evidence-Based Practice continuing education course for Canadian Naturopathic Doctors and am involved in curriculum design and evidence-based practice education. Lastly, I am interested in science communication and the effective dissemination of study findings.
Selected Publications
- Aucoin M, LaChance L, van der Wurff I, Miller S, Naidoo U, Jenkins A, Cooley K. Dietary counselling plus omega-3 supplementation in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: Protocol for a randomized wait-list controlled pilot trial (the “EASe-GAD Trial”). Pre-print. 2023.
- Aucoin M, Newton G, Leach M, Cooley K. Co-design of an Evidence-Based Practice Continuing Education Course for Canadian Naturopathic Doctors. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. 2023.
- Aucoin M, LaChance L, Naidoo U, Remy D, Shekdar T, Sayar N, Cardozo V, Rawana T, Chan I, Cooley K. Diet and Anxiety: A Scoping Review. Nutrients. 2021 Dec;13(12):4418.
- LaChance L, Aucoin M, Cooley K. Design and pilot evaluation of an evidence-based worksheet and clinician guide to facilitate nutrition counselling for patients with severe mental illness. BMC psychiatry. 2021 Dec;21(1):1-1.
- Aucoin M, Newton G, Cooley K. Knowledge mobilization in the Canadian naturopathic community. CANDJ. 2022;29(1).
- Leach MJ, Aucoin M, Cooley K. Canadian Naturopathic Doctor Engagement, Preparedness, and Perceptions of Evidence-Based Practice: A National Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. 2022 Sep 9.
- Aucoin M, Cooley K, Saunders PR, Carè J, Anheyer D, Medina DN, Cardozo V, Remy D, Hannan N, Garber A. The effect of Echinacea spp. on the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections in humans: A rapid review. Advances in integrative medicine. 2020 Aug 1.
- Aucoin M, LaChance L, Cooley K, Kidd S. Diet and Psychosis: A Scoping Review. Neuropsychobiology. 2018 Oct 25:1-23.
- Aucoin M, Bhardwaj S. Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Hypoglycemia Symptoms Improved with Diet Modification. Case Reports in Psychiatry. 2016; 7165425.
- Aucoin M, Cooley K, Knee C, Fritz H, Balneaves L, Breau R, Fergusson D, Wong R, Skidmore B, Tardik G, Sealy D. Fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids and prostate cancer: a systematic review. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2016:1-31.