Kristen L Eckstrand, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Areas of Expertise

  • Children & Adolescents
  • Mood Disorders
  • Anxiety, OCD & Trauma Disorders
Kristen L Eckstrand, MD, PhD
Expertise & Interests Selected Publications Education & Credentials Related News

Expertise & Interests

Research Interests

LGBTQ+ mental health equity; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Trauma-associated neural circuitry

Selected Publications

  1. Eckstrand KL, Silk JS, Nance M, Wallace ML, Buckley N, Lindenmuth M, Flores L, Alarcn G, Quevedo K, Phillips ML, Lenniger CJ, McLean Sammon M, Brostowin A, Ryan N, Jones N, Forbes EE. Medial prefrontal cortex activity to reward outcome moderates the association between victimization due to sexual orientation and depression in youth. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2022 Dec;7(12):1289-97
  2. Eckstrand KL, Forbes EE, Bertocci MA, Chase HW, Greenberg T, Lockovich J, Stiffler R, Aslam HA, Graur S, Bebko G, Phillips ML. Trauma impacts prospective relationships between reward-related ventral striatal and amygdala activity and 1-year future hypo/mania trajectories. Biological Psychiatry. (2020) 89(9):868-877. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.11.017
  3. Eckstrand KL, Flores LE, Cross M, Silk J, Allen NB, Healey K, Marshal MP, Forbes EE. Social and non-social reward processing and depressive symptoms among sexual minority adolescents. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. (2019) 13:209. Doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00209.
  4. Eckstrand KL, Forbes EE, Bertocci MA, Chase HW, Greenberg T, Lockovich J, Stiffler R, Aslam HA, Graur S, Bebko G, Phillips ML. Anhedonia reduction mediates relationship between left ventral striatal reward response and 6-month improvement in life satisfaction in young adults. JAMA Psychiatry. (2019) doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0864.
  5. Eckstrand KL, Hanford LC, Bertocci M, Chase HW, Greenberg T, Lockovich J, Stiffler R, Aslam HA, Graur S, Bebko G, Forbes EE, Phillips ML. Trauma-associated anterior cingulate connectivity during reward processing predicts affective and anxiety states in young adults. Psychological Medicine. 2018, 1-10. doi:10.1017/S0033291718002520.
  6. Eckstrand KL, Singh MK, Ajilore O. Diversity, equity, and inclusivity in biological psychiatry research. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2022 Dec;7(12):1195-7. PMID: 36481057.
  7. 9.Eckstrand KL, Lenniger CJ, Forbes EE. Development of reward circuitry during adolescence: Depression, social context, and considerations for future research on disparities in sexual and gender diverse youth. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology. 2022;4:231-52.
  8. Willging C., Sturm R., Sklar M., Kano M., Davies S., & Eckstrand K. LGBTQ primary care toolkit: A guide for primary care clinics to improve services for sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients. 2021. Albuquerque, NM: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. Available at: http://www.lgbtqprimarycare.com.
  9. Eckstrand KL & Potter J. Trauma, Resilience, and Health Promotion for LGBT Patients: What Every Healthcare Provider Should Know. Springer International Publishing. 2017. ISBN: 978-3319545073.
  10. Eckstrand KL, Lunn MR, Yehia BR. Organizational change model for LGBT inclusion: A framework for promoting inclusion and reducing health disparities. LGBT Health. (2017) 4(3): 174-180.
  11. Hollenbach A, Eckstrand KL, Dreger AD, eds. Improving Care and Climate for Individuals who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Born with Differences of Sex Development: A Resource for Medical Educators, 1st ed. Association of American Medical Colleges. Washington DC. November 2014.

Education & Credentials

Education & Training

Education
MD, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine
Education
PhD, Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Department of Neuroscience
Residency
Adult Psychiatry, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Fellowship
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Postdoctoral
Innovative Methods in Pathogenesis and Child Treatment, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Society for Biological Psychiatry
  • Member, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Member, United States Professional Association for Transgender Health
  • Member, Society for Research in Child Development

Selected Honors & Awards

  • Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Award, University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry
  • Beatrix A. Hamburg Award, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Peter Henderson MD Memorial Award, American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training

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