Professor Malhi has a longstanding interest in mood disorders in particular bipolar disorder and depression and the factors that contribute to suicide in the context of mental illness.

His research team based at the CADE Clinic (Royal North Shore Hospital) www.cadeclinic.com makes use of clinical and neuropsychological assessments in conjunction with functional neuroimaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural basis of affective disorders in adolescents and adults.

He is especially interested in pharmacological therapies, such as lithium, and their mechanisms of action. He is also interested in psychological therapies and the impact of lifestyle on mood. And in recent years, his research has increasingly focused on the prevention of suicide and mood disorders in young people.