Robert Simpson

Dr Robert Simpson is a staff physiatrist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Besides specialist training and certification in Rehabilitation Medicine and General Practice, he has post graduate fellowship training in Integrative Medicine.

Dr Simpson has methods expertise in:

• Epidemiology
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• Qualitative meta-aggregation
• Clinical trials
• Qualitative research methods

Recent Publications

1. Simpson, R, Robinson, L. Rehabilitation following critical illness in people with COVID-19 infection. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Accepted for publication April 2020).  Impact factor 1.908
2. Simpson, R, Simpson, S, Ramparsad, N, Lawrence, M, Booth, J, & Mercer, S. W. Effects of Mindfulness-based interventions on physical symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis - a systematic review and meta-analysis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders (Accepted for publication October 2019). Impact factor 2.725
3. Simpson R, Simpson S, Ramparsad N, Lawrence M, Booth J, Mercer S. Mindfulness-based interventions for mental wellbeing among people with multiple sclerosis – a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 2019 Jun 14; http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ jnnp-2018-320165. Impact factor: 8.272
4. Simpson R, Simpson S, Wood K, Mercer SW, Mair FS. Using normalisation process theory to understand barriers and facilitators to implementing mindfulness-based stress reduction for people with multiple sclerosis. Chronic Illness. 2018 April; 1:1742395318769354. Impact factor: 1.720
5. Jani BD, Simpson R, Lawrence M, Simpson S, Mercer SW. Acceptability of mindfulness from the perspective of stroke survivors and caregivers: a qualitative study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies. 2018 Dec; 4(1):57. Impact factor: 1.760
6. Simpson S, Mercer S, Simpson R, Lawrence M, Wyke S. Mindfulness-based interventions for young offenders: A scoping review. Mindfulness. 2018 Feb 21. Impact factor: 3.692
7. Simpson R, Byrne S, Wood K, Mair FS, Mercer SW. Optimising mindfulness-based stress reduction for people with multiple sclerosis. Chronic illness. 2017 Jun 29; 1:1742395317715504. Impact factor: 1.720
8. Simpson R, Mair FS, Mercer SW. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for people with multiple sclerosis–a feasibility randomised controlled trial. BMC neurology. 2017 May 16; 17(1): 94. Impact factor: 2.598
9. McLean G, Lawrence M, Simpson R, Mercer SW. Mindfulness-based stress reduction in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review. BMC neurology. 2017 May 15; 17(1):92. Impact factor: 2.598
10. Wood K, Lawrence M, Jani B, Simpson R, Mercer SW. Mindfulness-based interventions in epilepsy: a systematic review. BMC neurology. 2017 Mar 20; 17(1): 52. Impact factor: 2.598
11. Simpson R, Booth J, Lawrence M, Byrne S, Mair F, Mercer S. Mindfulness based interventions in multiple sclerosis-a systematic review. BMC neurology. 2014 Jan 17; 14(1): 15. Impact factor: 2.598
12. Simpson R, McLean G, Guthrie B, Mair F, Mercer SW. Physical and mental health comorbidity is common in people with multiple sclerosis: nationally representative cross-sectional population database analysis. BMC neurology. 2014 Jun 13; 14(1): 128. Impact factor: 2.598

Book Chapters
Simpson, R, Mercer S. W. Using the Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions – Mindfulness-based interventions for people with multiple sclerosis. SAGE Research Methods (Accepted for publication December 2019). Impact factor N/A

Editorials
Simpson R, Mair F, Mercer S. Mindfulness-based interventions for people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. 2015 Aug 1; 21(9), 1093-1094. Impact factor 5.280

Letters to the Editor
Simpson R, Robinson L. in response to a letter to the editor of the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Epub ahead of print, May 2020, doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001481

Other Publications
Simpson R. Mindfulness-based interventions for people with multiple sclerosis. Thesis. 2017 Jan.