Cecilia A Westbrook, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Cecilia A Westbrook, MD, PhD
Expertise & Interests Selected Publications Education & Credentials Related News

Expertise & Interests

Research Interests

Pediatric anxiety and depression; fMRI; Puberty

Clinical Interests

Pediatric anxiety and depression; ADHD; Gender dysphoria

Selected Publications

  1. Westbrook C, Kolobaric A, Karim HT, Pine DS, Andreescu C, Ladouceur CD. Identifying neurodevelopmental signatures of worry: An ultra-high field (7-Tesla) fMRI study among adolescents and young adults. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2026 Jun;79:101718. doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2026.101718. Epub 2026 Mar 30. PMID: 41967168; PMCID: PMC13092019.
  2. Westbrook CA, Schlund M, Silk JS, Forbes EE, Ryan ND, Dahl RE, McMakin DL, Kendall PC, Mannarino A, Ladouceur CD. The role of reward-related brain activity in response to treatment and later depression severity: data from a randomized controlled trial in early adolescents with anxiety disorders. Transl Psychiatry. 2025 Aug 16;15(1):286. doi: 10.1038/s41398-025-03388-2. PMID: 40818984; PMCID: PMC12357957.
  3. Westbrook CA, Dutcher J, Kusmierski S, Creswell JD, Akpan E, Hallion LS. Neural correlates of mindful disengagement from worry. J Psychopathol Clin Sci. 2023 Jan;132(1):38-50. doi: 10.1037/abn0000804. PMID: 36689369; PMCID: PMC11706598.
  4. Westbrook C, Patsenko EG, Mumford JA, Abramson LY, Davidson RJ. Frontoparietal processing of stress-relevant information differs in individuals with a negative cognitive style. J Abnorm Psychol. 2018 Jul;127(5):437-447. doi: 10.1037/abn0000355. PMID: 30010366; PMCID: PMC6054475.
  5. Westbrook C, Creswell JD, Tabibnia G, Julson E, Kober H, Tindle HA. Mindful attention reduces neural and self-reported cue-induced craving in smokers. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2013 Jan;8(1):73-84. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsr076. Epub 2011 Nov 22. PMID: 22114078; PMCID: PMC3541484.
  6. Westbrook C, Spada M, Hovis E, Larkin J, Nicholas A, Swider L, Yadlosky J, DeRenzo J, Dunmore A, Kloesz J, Dudas L, SIlipigni J & Gopalan P (2025). Planned induction of labor in a patient with acute late-pregnancy psychosis: A case report. Psychiatric Times, February 18, 2025
  7. Westbrook C, Subramaniam T, Seagren RM, Tarula E, Co D, Furstenberg-Knauff M, Wallace A, Hsu D, Payne E. Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome treated successfully with Anakinra in a 21-year-old woman. WMJ. 2019 Oct;118(3):135-139. PMID: 31682750; PMCID: PMC7082129
  8. Keil MA, Westbrook C, Stephens JJ, Spada M, Hafeman D, Jacobson SL, Travis MJ, Gopalan P. Longitudinal Outcomes of a Resident Academic Administrator, Clinician Educator Track. Acad Psychiatry. 2024 Dec;48(6):598-602. doi: 10.1007/s40596-024-02004-7. Epub 2024 Jul 1. PMID: 38954159.

Education & Credentials

Education & Training

Education
MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Education
PhD, Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Education
MS, Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Residency
Psychiatry, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Fellowship
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Postdoctoral
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Society of Biological Psychiatry
  • Member, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • SIG Leader & Member, Conference Planning Committee, Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Selected Honors & Awards

  • Fellow, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Research Institute (CAPRI), American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • AACAP Pilot Research Award, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

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