Dr Andrew McKechanie
Senior Clinical Research Fellow & Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist

- The Patrick Wild Centre for Research into Autism, Fragile X Syndrome & Intellectual Disabilities
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Division of Psychiatry
Contact details
- Email: andrew.mckechanie@ed.ac.uk
Background
Following psychiatric training in North Yorkshire and Edinburgh, Dr McKechanie took up a position as clinical lecturer in learning disabilities at the University of Edinburgh in 2008. Within this post he focused on the genetic basis of intellectual disability and the contribution of small changes in the genetic code to increased susceptibility to mental illness in those with an intellectual disability.
He has worked at The Patrick Wild Centre since its opening in 2010, where much of his work has focused on functional brain imaging in groups of individuals with intellectual disability and fragile X syndrome.
His clinical work is as a consultant psychiatrist for the NHS Lothian Learning Disability Service.
He is also a board member of Scottish Autism, a national charity which provides autism-specific services to children and adults with autism, along with support and information for their families, carers and professionals.
Responsibilities & affiliations
Member, Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland
Fellow, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Board member, Scottish Autism
Former board member, Scotland Malawi Mental Health Education Project
Co-author of WHO papers on the Health of Children and Young People with Intellectual Disabilities. [Priority 4] [Priority 7]
Research summary
Dr McKechanie’s research interests primarily relate to intellectual disabilities, the autism spectrum and related neurodevelopmental disorders. While our understanding of these conditions has increased dramatically in recent years, in many cases this has yet to be translated into meaningful clinical benefits for individuals affected by them. His research aims to change this.
-
Facilitating individuals and families affected by fragile X syndrome to participate in medication trials
(11 pages)
In:
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12779
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
The Never-Changing Face of Fragile X?
In:
The Lancet Psychiatry, vol. 7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30127-9
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Letter (Published) -
Autism in fragile X syndrome; a functional MRI study of facial emotion-processing
(14 pages)
In:
Genes, vol. 10
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Fragile X-associated conditions: Implications for the whole family
In:
British Journal of General Practice, vol. 69, pp. 460-461
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp19X705425
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Predictors of psychotic symptoms among young people with special educational needs: a 6 year follow-up study
In:
The British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2018.296
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Links between autism spectrum disorder diagnostic status and family quality of life
In:
Children, vol. 4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/children4040023
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)