The annual Mindscapes PGH art exhibition merges art and science to promote community awareness of mental illness, and raise funds for local organizations that provide services for individuals with mental illness. Mindscapes 2022 was a hybrid event, with an online sale and an in-person reception at Imagebox gallery in Pittsburgh. The exhibition was organized by Rebecca A. DeGiosio (University of Pittsburgh Center...

Depression is one of the most prevalent and costly mental health conditions. Though effective treatments have been available for decades, remission rates are low, relapse rates are high, and disorder prevalence rates remain notably consistent or increased, with only 12.7% of patients receiving minimally adequate treatment. In recent years, two potential breakthroughs have ignited hopes for turning a corner in the...

Congratulations to Angela Ianni, MD, PhD (PGY3), who has received a 2022 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Outstanding Resident Award, which recognizes residents with outstanding research and academic potential. Recipients were invited to participate in an award program, held October 2-3, 2022, to meet with NIMH leadership and to learn about the unique resources and research conducted in the NIMH...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. Children with ADHD followed to adulthood have been found to have lifelong impairments in educational, occupational, and interpersonal domains even if symptoms subside. ADHD is commonly identified in childhood, and affective and cognitive characteristics that are identifiable in infancy could be signals of risk for...

Scientists specializing in the field of psychosis research have characterized schizophrenia as a syndrome of brain dysconnectivity. Visual working memory, an executive function that relies upon coordinated activity across distributed brain regions to support various cognitive operations, has consistently exhibited impairments in schizophrenia. Indeed, cognitive symptoms account for significant functional and...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to three new faculty members: Ashley Parr, PhD (Research Instructor in Psychiatry) Dr. Parr earned her PhD in neuroscience, with a focus on neuroeconomics, from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. She then came to the University of Pittsburgh for postdoctoral research training under the mentorship of Bea Luna, PhD (Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology and...

Suicide is a major public health problem and the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults. Identifying risk factors for suicidal ideation that are modifiable and relevant, such as sleep disturbances and interpersonal stress, is critical for suicide prevention. A group of investigators including Jessica Hamilton, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University; former postdoctoral...

We are delighted to announce that Anneliese (Lisa) Murphree (Department of Psychiatry Director of Faculty Recruitment & Program Innovation) has been named the 2022 Healthy HERO Award recipient! The award is sponsored by Workpartners, a health solutions company and affiliate of UPMC, and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated commitment to personal well-being and inspired others. Last year, Lisa was named a...

In Alzheimer’s disease, reactive astrocytes can play an important role in the pathophysiology of the disease. Amyloid-β and tau tangles—the two main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease—are associated with astrocyte reactivity. However, knowledge about amyloid-β- and tau-specific contributions to reactive astrocyte biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer’s disease is limited. To improve our understanding of...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to three new faculty members: David Bortz, PhD (Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry) Dr. Bortz received his PhD in behavioral neuroscience from The Ohio State University, then joined the Pitt Department of Neuroscience as a postdoctoral scholar funded by a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. Under the...