The 42nd Annual Pittsburgh Schizophrenia Conference

The annual Pittsburgh Schizophrenia Conference, now in its 42nd year, presents the latest clinical and research findings to an audience of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, service coordinators, researchers, and mental health policy administrators, as well as to patients and families. The program additionally includes artwork and music created and performed by individuals receiving treatment for schizophrenia at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH). 

K.N. Roy Chengappa, MD (Professor of Psychiatry) serves as course director for the conference and leads UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH)’s Comprehensive Recovery Services, which serves individuals living with psychotic disorders.

Sean Eack, PhD (James and Noel Browne Endowed Chair and Professor of Social Work and Psychiatry), introduced Deanna Kelly, PharmD, BCPP (Dr. William and Carol Carpenter Professor of Psychiatry for Mental Illness Research; Director, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center; University of Maryland School of Medicine), who received the Gerald E. Hogarty Excellence in Schizophrenia Research Award. Dr. Kelly presented the memorial lecture entitled From Gut to Brain: Dietary Interventions Targeting Immune Dysregulation and Metabolic Abnormalities in Schizophrenia. She is a leading expert in understanding the role of gluten and mental health and studies the gut microbiome in connection to brain function and behavior. Dr. Kelly has tested anti-inflammatory dietary interventions for improving psychiatric symptoms, and is helping to advance the field of metabolic psychiatry by studying ketogenic diets for mental health conditions. Dr. Kelly earned her PharmD from Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy.

Brian Coffman, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), presented on auditory perception in first-episode psychosis. Dr. Coffman’s research focuses on the cognitive neuroscience of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He conducts neurophysiological assessment through electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography to investigate cognitive and sensory problems associated with psychosis.

Konasale Prasad, MD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Bioengineering), discussed using artificial intelligence technologies to improve diagnostic reliability and provide neurobiological basis for diagnoses. Dr. Prasad’s clinical-translational research aims to gain insights into the brain network characteristics associated with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, and risk for developing psychosis, with the goal of finding novel treatment approaches.

Matcheri Keshavan, MD (Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School) and Russell Schutt, PhD (Staff scientist and lecturer, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Massachusetts Boston), provided the preliminary results from a multi-site trial of cognitive enhancement therapy vs social skills training in schizophrenia.

Patrick Frailey, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), and Elizabeth Kistler, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), who provide clinical care in WPH’s Comprehensive Recovery Services, reviewed the steps of a pilot project looking at the development and evaluation of written patient educational material, specifically for patients with schizophrenia.