Faculty

Dara J Sakolsky, MD, PhD

Dara J Sakolsky, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Contact Details

3811 O'Hara St.
Pittsburgh
 
PA
 
15213
Email
Website
STAR Center
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services

Education & Training

MD
Temple University, School of Medicine
PhD
Pharmacology, Temple University, School of Medicine
Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC
Pediatric Anxiety Disorders, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Specialty Certifications

Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)

Current Appointments

Medical Director, Services for Teens at Risk (STAR)

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
Member, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Member, Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Research Interests

Pediatric anxiety disorders; Pediatric depressive disorders; Pediatric bipolar disorder
Selected Research Publications & Products
  1. Goldstein TR, Merranko J, Rode N, Sylvester R, Hotkowski N, Fersch-Podrat R, Hafeman DM, Diler R, Sakolsky D, Franzen P, Birmaher B. Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents with bipolar disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2024 Jan 1;81(1):15-24. PMID: 37703037
  2. Thoma BC, Hone E, Roig A, Goodfriend E, Jardas EJ, Brummitt B, Riston S, Sakolsky D, Zelazny J, Marsland AL, Chen K, Douaihy AB, Brent DA, Melhem NM. Risk for suicidal behavior after psychiatric hospitalization among sexual and gender minority patients. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Sep 5;6(9). PMID: 37682570
  3. Caporino NE, Sakolsky D, Brodman DM, McGuire JF, Piacentini J, Peris TS, Ginsburg GS, Walkup JT, Iyengar S, Kendall PC, Birmaher B. Establishing clinical cutoffs for response and remission on the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2017;56(8):696-702
  4. Ginsburg GS, Becker EM, Keeton CP, Sakolsky DJ, Piacentini J., Albano AM., Compton, SN, Iyengar S., Sullivan K, Caporino N, Peris T, Birmaher B, Rynn M., March J, Kendall, PC. Naturalistic follow-up of youth treated for pediatric anxiety disorders. JAMA Psychiatry 2014; 71(3):310-18.
  5. Sakolsky DJ, Perel JM, Emslie GJ, Clarke GN, Wagner KD, Vitiello B, Keller MB, Birmaher B, Asarnow JR, Ryan ND, McCracken JT, Strober MJ, Iyengar S, Porta G, Brent D. Antidepressant exposure as a predictor of clinical outcomes in the Treatment of Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA) Study. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2011; 31(1): 92-97.

Clinical Interests

Pediatric anxiety disorders; Pediatric depressive disorders; Pediatric bipolar disorder
Selected Clinical Publications & Products
  1. Salk RH, Moses-Kolko EL, Chugani CD, Mastruserio S, Wentroble E, Blackburn V, Poling K, Sakolsky D, Brent D, Goldstein, TR. An intensive outpatient program for suicidal college students. J Am Coll Health. 2023 Jan;71(1):24-29. PMID: 33759707
  2. Chugani C, Goldstein T, Salk R, Poling K, Sakolsky D, Brent D. Group intervention for young adults with mood and anxiety disorders transitioning to college. J Psychiatr Pract. 2020 Mar; 26(2):120-125. PMID: 32134884.
  3. Birmaher B & Sakolsky D. Pharmacological Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents In: Essau CA & Ollendick TH, editors. The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of the Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Anxiety. West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell; 2013. p. 229-48.
  4. Sakolsky D & Birmaher B. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) In: Rosenberg B, Gershon S, editors. Pharmacotherapy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders, Third Edition. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.; 2012. p. 131-54.
  5. Sakolsky D & Birmaher B. Developmentally informed pharmacotherapy for child and adolescent depressive disorders. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2012; 21(2): 313-25.

Education Interests

Resident education; Medical student education; Clinical and research mentorship
Selected Education Publications & Products
  1. Kolko DJ, Hart JA, Campo J, Sakolsky D, Rounds J, Wolraich ML, Wisniewski SR. Effects of collaborative care for comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among children with behavior problems in pediatric primary care. Clin Pediatr. 2020 July;59(8):787-800. PMID: 3250339
  2. Kolko DJ, Campo J, Kilbourne AM, Hart J, Sakolsky D, Wisniewski S. Collaborative care outcomes for pediatric behavioral health problems: a cluster randomized trial. Pediatrics. 2014; 133 (4):981-992.
  3. Sakolsky D, Birmaher B. Pediatric anxiety disorders: Management in primary care. Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 2008; 20(5): 538-43. PMID: 18781116.

2025 Annual Services for Teens at Risk (STAR) Suicide Prevention Conference: Creating Partnerships for Just and Inclusive Schools

Empty hallway

The Services for Teens at Risk (STAR)-Center is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program that combines clinical and outreach services designed to combat the problem of child and adolescent suicide. The STAR-Center annual conference presents best practices in clinical care incorporated into practical guidelines, and this year addressed the theme Creating Partnerships for Just and Inclusive Schools. “The...

JAMA Psychiatry: Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents With Bipolar Disorder 

Dr. Tina Goldstein

Up to 50% of youth with bipolar spectrum disorder attempt suicide, and of all psychiatric diagnoses, bipolar spectrum disorder imparts the greatest risk of death by suicide in adolescents. Although multiple psychosocial interventions are effective for mood stabilization and for decreasing the risk of mood episode recurrence, no treatment specifically targets suicidal behavior in youth with bipolar spectrum disorder...

JAMA Network Open: Risk for Suicidal Behavior after Psychiatric Hospitalization among Sexual and Gender Minority Patients

Dr. Brian Thoma

The year following inpatient psychiatric hospitalization—particularly the first three months following discharge—are a period of high risk for suicidal behavior among psychiatric patients. Prior history of suicidal behavior, mood, anxiety, substance use, and post-traumatic stress disorders contribute to risk for future suicidal behavior within this population. Psychosocial stressors also contribute to risk for...

JAMA Psychiatry: Genetic Variants Are Associated with Risk for Bipolar Disorder

Birmaher et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2021

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a familial illness that is associated with functional impairment and increased risk for suicide and substance use. The disorder is highly heritable, and research has identified many common genetic variants associated with risk for the disorder. Studies including the Pittsburgh Bipolar Offspring Study (BIOS) have found that offspring of parents with BD are at elevated, specific risk to...

Behavioral Health Experts, Patients & Families Gather Virtually for Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services Conference

Drs. Rasim Diler and Boris Birmaher at the CABS Conference

The fourth biennial Child and Adolescent Bipolar Services (CABS) conference, held virtually, addressed the theme “Untangling Bipolar Disorder in Youth: Comorbidity, Differential Diagnosis and Treatment.” The CABS conference presents current research and clinical knowledge about the treatment of bipolar disorder and comorbid conditions to professionals, patients, and families, and is organized by Boris Birmaher, MD...