Katalin Szanto, MD

Professor of Psychiatry

Areas of Expertise

  • Older Adults
  • Mood Disorders
  • Anxiety, OCD & Trauma Disorders
  • Suicidality & Self-Harm
  • Sleep & Circadian Health
Katalin Szanto, MD
Expertise & Interests Selected Publications Education & Credentials Related News

Expertise & Interests

Research Interests

Cognition & decision-making; suicide; Suicide in late life

Clinical Interests

Suicide in late life

Education Interests

Research mentorship

Selected Publications

  1. Chang YW, Buerke M, Galfalvy H, Szanto K. (2024). Childhood trauma is associated with early-onset but not late-onset suicidal behavior in late-life depression. Int Psychogeriatr, 36(5):371-384. doi: 10.1017/S1041610223000662
  2. Szanto K, Szucs A, Kenneally LB, Galfalvy HC. (2024). Is late-onset suicidal behavior a distinct subtype? Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 32(5):622-629. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2023.12.007
  3. Galfalvy H, Szcs A, Chang YW, Buerke M, Szanto K. (2023). Long-term suicidal ideation profiles in late-life depression and their association with suicide attempt or death by suicide. J Clin Psychiatry, 84(2):22m14469. doi: 10.4088/JCP.22m14469
  4. Szanto K, Galfalvy H, Kenneally L, Almasi R, Dombrovski AY. (2020). Predictors of serious suicidal behavior in late-life depression. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 40:85-98. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.06.00
  5. Szanto K, Galfalvy H, Vanyukov PM, Keilp JG & Dombrovski AY. (2018). Pathways to late-life suicidal behavior: Cluster analysis and predictive validation of suicidal behavior in a sample of older adults with major depression. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 79(2), 17m11611.
  6. Stoms M, Szcs A, Wang Y, Szanto K, Galfalvy H. Investigating direct and moderating effects of social connectedness and perceived social support on suicidal ideation in older adults with depression: A prospective study. Biol Psychiatry Glob Open Sci. 2025 Apr 21;5(4):100513. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2025.100513. PMID: 40519634; PMCID: PMC12166375.
  7. Szcs A, Perry-Falconi MA, O'Brien EJ, Keilp JG, Bridge JA, Maier AB, Galfalvy H, Szanto K. Objective and subjective suicidal intent are differentially associated with attempt lethality based on age of onset of suicidal behavior. Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 15;15(1):5621. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-89844-x. PMID: 39955394; PMCID: PMC11829946.
  8. Szanto K, Kalmar S, Hendin H, Rihmer Z, Mann JJ. A suicide prevention program in a region with a very high suicide rate. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007 Aug;64(8):914-20. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.64.8.914. PMID: 17679636.
  9. Szanto K, Shear MK, Houck PR, Reynolds CF 3rd, Frank E, Caroff K, Silowash R. Indirect self-destructive behavior and overt suicidality in patients with complicated grief. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006 Feb;67(2):233-9. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v67n0209. PMID: 16566618.
  10. Szanto K, Mulsant BH, Houck P, Dew MA, Reynolds CF 3rd. Occurrence and course of suicidality during short-term treatment of late-life depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003 Jun;60(6):610-7. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.60.6.610. PMID: 12796224.
  11. Szucs A, Galfalvy H, Alessi MG, Kenneally LB, Valderas JM, Maier AB, Szanto K. (2024). Diligent for better or worse: Conscientiousness is associated with higher likelihood of suicidal behavior and more severe suicidal intent in later life. Compr Psychiatry, 135:152523. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152523
  12. Szanto K, Prigerson HG, Stahl ST. (2024). Is social connection the solution for reducing widower suicide in late life? Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 32(7):832-834. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2024.02.007
  13. Szanto K. (2017). Cognitive deficits: Underappreciated contributors to suicide. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(6): 630-632.
  14. Szanto K, Lenze E, Waern M, Duberstein P, Bruce ML, Epstein-Lubow G & Conwell Y. (2013). Research to reduce the suicide rate among older adults: Methodology roadblocks and promising paradigms. Psychatric Services, PMC3742079
  15. Hendin H, Maltsberger JT, Haas Pollinger A, Rabinowitcz H & Szanto K. (2006). Problems in psychotherapy of suicidal patients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(1):67-72. PMID: 16390891

Education & Credentials

Education & Training

Education
MD, Semmelweis Medical School
Residency
Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC
Residency
Psychiatry, National Institute of Neurology and Psychiatry. Budapest
Fellowship
Suicide, University of Pittsburgh Center for the Study of Suicidal Behavior
Postdoctoral
Behavioral Economics, Statistical Methods for Neuroscience and Psychology, Risk Perception and Communication, Carnegie Mellon University
Postdoctoral
Epidemiology and Statistics, University of Pittsburgh Clinical Research Training Program
Postdoctoral
Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC
Postdoctoral
Family Therapy, London Family Therapy Institute

Professional Affiliations

  • Secretary, International Academy of Suicide Research
  • Member, American Association of Psychiatrists
  • Council Level Reviewer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Selected Honors & Awards

  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Award, International Association for Suicide Prevention
  • Lilly Research Award, American Psychiatric Association

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